School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

The School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) offers eligible students free internet at home until 31 December 2025.

Led by the National Broadband Network (NBN), the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) is a Federal Government initiative offering free home internet to up to 30,000 eligible households with school-aged students.

The initiative seeks to boost educational opportunities and narrow the digital divide.

About the initiative

The SSBI enables eligible households to access free internet on the NBN network until 31 December 2025, starting from the time the service is activated with the internet provider. Other household members can use the internet service provided by the initiative.

Households can continue to apply up to 31 December 2024 to receive a free service.

After the free period, households cannot be placed on a paid service without consent. The government is currently exploring options for what happens to services beyond 2025.

Eligibility

To be eligible for SSBI, families must:

• have a child living at home who is enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep)
• not have an active NBN network internet service at home (excludes mobile internet services)
• live in a premises that can access the NBN network via a standard connection (NBN will confirm this)
• not have had an active NBN connection during the previous 14 days.

How families can access free home internet

Victorian families can contact the SSBI National Referral Centre directly to find out if they are eligible for free home internet.

• Call the National Referral Centre(opens in a new window) on 1800 954 610. They will check your nominated home address for an active NBN connection.
• You do not need to provide financial information.
• Translation and interpretation services are available.
• Visit anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet(opens in a new window). Leave your details to receive a call back at a time that suits you.

The Department of Education is also supporting schools to contact families who may be eligible under the initiative. The department has been working with NBN to review Victorian school student home addresses. Only home addresses have been provided to NBN to check. No other personal information has been shared with NBN. NBN handles this data in accordance with privacy law.

These will be uploaded to the school’s local U:\Drive for administration staff to access as follows:

1. Select Windows/search button within Microsoft Office
2. Type the following text into the search box - U:\SSBI_eligibility_letters and press the enter key on your keyboard.
3. This will return a zip folder* named SSBI_eligibility_letters and will contain the following files:
   • ‘School_number_school_name_All_Students’ file - which contains individual PDF files of eligible students.
   • ‘School_number_school_name_As_per_grade’ file - which contains letters combined in a pdf as per student grade.
   • ‘School_number_school_name’.xlsx file - which contains names of potential eligible students and their grade.
   • School Student Broadband Initiative.pdf file - which contains a copy of the school communication that will be sent via the School Update in August.
   • Translated Letters Folder - which contains letters translated into 14 languages: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Dinka, Farsi, Hindi, Karen, Khmer, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Tamil, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

*To unzip the file, simply double-click the ZIP folder. If they still don’t open, download the ZIP file, save it to your computer, and then double-click on the zip folder again to access the documents.

Alternative application process

Some schools may prefer to manage the communication with the department on behalf of the family.

Steps for the families and carers

1. Request a printed consent form (DOCX)(opens in a new window) from the school.
2. Complete the paper form.
3. Return it to the child’s teacher.
4. If eligible, the parent or carer will:
   1. receive a voucher to allow them to sign up
   2. need to choose a participating internet provider and redeem the voucher to get the service installed.
5. If they are not eligible, the parent or carer will receive a letter to inform them.
6. Note: vouchers must be activated with the internet provider by Tuesday 31 December 2024.

Steps for the school

School staff can complete an online application via the SSBI portal(opens in a new window). Please refer to CASES21 to confirm the nominated student address. You must enter the CASES21 ID into the online form.

The department will only share address information with NBN for eligibility confirmation. You will receive an update on your application within approximately 2 weeks.

You will receive outcomes letters via the SSBI portal(opens in a new window):

• Eligible – address is eligible, including sign-up instructions and voucher number.
• Not eligible – address is not eligible due to having an existing connection or being in a remote location (not covered by NBN).
• Invalid – address may be incomplete or need further validation.

Schools should pass on outcome letters to families/carers. This will include a helpline for questions regarding the assessment or connecting with an RSP.

Find out how to access the SSBI portal and complete an application form using the SSBI quick reference guide – Completing an application form (PDF)(opens in a new window).

If you have any questions or queries, raise a general enquiry via the Department of Education Service Portal(opens in a new window).

Information about Internet Providers

Eligible households can choose a provider from a list of participating internet providers(opens in a new window). Each internet provider will have their own connection process, which may involve the use of personal information provided by the primary carer or parent.

If a household relocates to a new address between now and 31 December 2025, they can continue to access the services in their new home (subject to the eligibility criteria). Participants must contact their internet provider if they are planning to move house. The internet provider will support them to move the service to their new property.

More information

• For more information about eligibility, contact the NBN National Referral Centre(opens in a new window) or 1800 954 610(opens in a new window).
• For more information on the SSBI, visit the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website(opens in a new window).
• If you are a parent or carer, please visit School Student Broadband Initiative: information for parents and carers(opens in a new window).

Enquiries

For school enquiries, please contact the School Student Broadband Initiative team at SSBI@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).

Resources

• Text for a newsletter or online post (DOCX, 20.51KB)(opens in a new window)

Translated letters for parents and carers

• Arabic(opens in a new window)
• Burmese(opens in a new window)
• Dari(opens in a new window)
• Dinka(opens in a new window)
• Farsi(opens in a new window)
• Hindi(opens in a new window)
• Karen(opens in a new window)
• Khmer(opens in a new window)
• Simplified Chinese(opens in a new window)
• Somali(opens in a new window)
• Tamil(opens in a new window)
• Traditional Chinese(opens in a new window)
• Turkish(opens in a new window)
• Vietnamese(opens in a new window)

Promotional materials

• SSBI - Initiative flyer (PDF, 345 KB)(opens in a new window)
• Social media tile - Facebook (PNG, 2MB)(opens in a new window)
• Social media tile - Instagram (PNG, 2MB)(opens in a new window)

Guidance for alternative application approach

• Quick reference guide – Completing an application form (PDF, 462KB)(opens in a new window)
• Quick reference guide – Downloading an outcome letter (PDF, 334KB)(opens in a new window)
• Consent form – must be printed and filled out (DOCX, 533KB)(opens in a new window)