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NIDA Open Equity Subsidy

Apply for a NIDA Open Equity Subsidy

The NIDA Open Equity Subsidy offers subsidised tuition to help secondary school students (Grades 7-12) and young adults (aged 18-25) nationally, who are experiencing financial hardship or other disadvantage, to achieve their full creative potential regardless of previous experience or professional ambition.  

Applications can be made by individuals or by an organisation on behalf of a young person identified as a suitable subsidy applicant.

The subsidy provides a 50% discount off the full cost of a NIDA Open course of your choice – visit the courses pages to see what is available. Participants (or their supporting organisation) are required to pay the remaining 50% of the course fee before commencing the course.

If you or someone you know wants to experience a NIDA Open course and would like some support to achieve this goal, we want to hear from you.

When: Term, holiday or online courses valid to 20 December 2024

Where: Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane or where a NIDA Open course is being offered. See the location links below to view all courses on offer. (Excludes Screen NT sponsored courses in Darwin)

Who: Student in the following age brackets are eligible to apply:

  • Young people in school grades 7–12
  • Adults aged 18-25

Application process:

Apply by email to open@nida.edu.au

1. Provide details for the young person including name, date of birth and address and contact details for parent/carer/organisational contact.

2. Does the young person identify with any of the following communities?

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander*
  • Refugee or asylum seeker background
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
  • Deaf and/or person with disability
  • LGBTQI+

NOTE: If the young person identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander they should apply for the First Nations Subsidy.

3. Indicate which course(s) the young person is interested in (including location).

For organisations

4. If you are an organisation nominating a young person for the subsidy, please write a short statement about why the person you are nominating would benefit from this opportunity. The purpose of this subsidy is to provide access for young and emerging artists who may not be able to pay the full enrolment fees due to economic hardship or social disadvantage. Consider how your organisation or community may need to provide additional support, should it be required, to ensure the young person gets the most out of their NIDA Open experience.

Please also indicate if your organisation will pay the remaining 50% of the fee.

For individuals and families

5. If you are applying for yourself or your dependent please write a personal statement about how you/they would benefit from this subsidy including financial barriers and any other disadvantage you may be facing. Please also confirm that you will be able to pay the remaining 50% fee.

6. Indicate if the applicant or their guardian receives any Commonwealth Government allowances or payments. Please attach evidence such as a Government letter confirming the support. We do not need to know the financial details of the level of support.

If you have a question about the 2024 NIDA Open Equity Subsidy program, please contact us on 1300 450 417 or email at open@nida.edu.au

Please read carefully:

Equity subsidies are conferred at the discretion of NIDA Open staff. We will endeavor to provide support to as many eligible people as possible, however there are location limits and a combined total limit to the value in any calendar year. The decision of NIDA staff is final and no further correspondence shall be entered into.

50% of the full cost of tuition for your nominated course is covered by this subsidy. Participants are required to pay the remaining 50% of the course fee before commencing the course. Costs of travel, accommodation, food and any additional supports required remain at the participants' expense.

Applicants should nominate by preference which course they would like a subsidy for in their application.

All applicants must be able to attend and fully contribute to the course for the entire subsidy period as awarded. The subsidy place cannot be transferred to another time period or person.

Successful applicants will be asked to complete a course feedback survey and may be asked to complete a short interview about their experience for use on NIDA’s online channels, marketing materials or in other media communications. Participants may decline to be interviewed for personal, cultural or legal reasons.

Applications close when all subsidy funds have been awarded.

Applications will be assessed by the Senior Program Manager and Head of NIDA Open.

Successful applicants will be notified by phone and email.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email to the email address submitted in your application.

Please note that the subsidy cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts.