The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) to provide free home internet for up to 30,000 unconnected families with school aged students until the end of December, 2025.
To be eligible for SSBI, families must:
- Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep in Qld/Vic/Tas, Kindy in NSW, Reception in SA, Transition in NT/ACT and Pre-Primary in WA).
- Not have an active nbn® network internet service at home. Having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility.
- Live in a premises that can access the nbn network via a standard connection.
- Not have had an active nbn connection during the previous 14 days.
There are two potential ways to join the SSBI Program:
- Be identified and referred by a Nominating Organisation, or;
- Parents/carers not currently working directly with an existing Nominating Organisation will be able to self-nominate via the National Referral Centre (NRC). Eligibility rules will continue to apply, which will be determined via an assessment conducted by the NRC.
I’ve been nominated by a Nominating Organisation and I'm eligible
Step 1 - Receive your voucher
Once eligible, as a nominated family you should receive an eligibility letter that includes a voucher number from a nominating organisation. You’ll need to quote this voucher number to order your home internet service from your preferred participating internet provider. The eligibility letter should include a list of the internet providers that supply SSBI services to your area (current as at the date in the footer of the letter).
The voucher will start with the letters LOC and will be followed by a series of numbers. For example, LOC000000123456.
Step 2 - Contact a preferred participating internet provider to order your service
To make the most of this initiative, please contact your preferred participating internet provider as soon as you can once you have received your voucher. Spaces are limited and you are not guaranteed a spot because you are eligible and have received a voucher. Vouchers are valid until 31 December, 2024 unless the initiative reaches the limit of 30,000 activations ahead of this date. Vouchers can only be used once and can only be used in relation to the address listed, and they cannot be transferred to another family.
I want to self-nominate through the National Referral Centre
It’s important to note the SSBI program is primarily intended as an affordability measure to help those with school-aged children.
If you are a parent or carer, follow these 3 simple steps:
- Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm AEDT), or www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet. Callback and webchat functions are also available via the website.
- Check your eligibility – the National Referral Centre team will help determine your eligibility and confirm your suitability for the program, by checking your residential address and asking you some questions to determine if you meet the Government’s eligibility criteria.
- If eligible, you will be issued a voucher which can be redeemed at any of the participating School Student Broadband Initiative internet providers. The NRC will also be available to assist with contacting your chosen internet provider or providing follow-up support.
Find a participating internet provider
Below you’ll find the most up to date list of participating internet providers#. Your eligibility letter will list the specific SSBI internet providers that service your area (current as at the date in the footer of that letter). Your preferred internet provider will check your voucher when placing your order.
Not all internet providers operate in all parts of Australia, or provide services over all types of nbn technologies. If your preferred internet provider does not supply services at your address, please select another internet provider.
Customers in metro and regional areas (and some remote areas)
- Award winning customer service
- Free pre-configured modem for easy setup
- No hidden contracts or costs
- Regional & remote internet experts
- Free Wi-Fi 6 router
- Aussie based sales & support
- No fees, no lock in contract, free wi-fi modem
- Quick and easy online sign-up
- Belong is 100% owned by Telstra
- Double your speed free on 5 days per month
- Free premium WiFi-6 MESH modem/router for fast streaming
- No lock in contract or hidden costs
- Multilingual web content
- Free Premium Wifi 6 Modem/Router valued at $249.95
- Contact us via Live Chat or our toll free 1800 number
- Aussie based team
- No cost for plans or modems
- Supports regional and remote people
- Double your speed free on 5 days per month
- Free premium WiFi-6 MESH modem/router for fast streaming
- No lock in contract or hidden costs
- Unlimited Data – Stream, download and share what you love
- 4G Back up to power on through interruptions
- Wifi 6 Modem included at no cost.
Customers in remote areas (and some regional areas)
- Aussie based team
- No cost for plans or modems
- Supports regional and remote people
- Regional & remote internet experts
- Free Wi-Fi 6 router
- Aussie based sales & support
Important notes
The details above are provided to nbn by participating internet providers as at 15 August 2023. Please contact them directly for full details of their individual School Student Broadband Initiative retail offers. nbn is a wholesaler and does not supply services directly to customers.
Lemonade Broadband can only provide SSBI services to eligible families in Brisbane living in suburbs of Annerley, Auchenflower, Bardon, Bowen Hills, Coorparoo, Dutton park, East Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, Greenslopes, Herston, Holland Park, Holland Park West, Indooroopilly, Kangaroo Point, Kelvin Grove, New Farm, Newstead, South Brisbane, Spring Hill, St Lucia, Stones Corner, Tarragindi, Taringa, Teneriffe, Toowong and Woolloongabba.
More information and assistance
Have questions about the National Referral Centre or SSBI? Visit the National Referral Centre’s FAQs.