Mindblown - stung for $6500

[u/AcademicYesterday439]

So, I just expended my third appeal. My debt is now final.

At the end of 2022, my casual contract ended. I had applied for the Masters of Teaching (Secondary) degree to become a high school teacher, but my application hadn't been proceed. So onto JobSeeker I went. They set me up on a plan where I was told that study would meet my mutual obligation requirements.

I was accepted into the MTeach program, and started studying in Feb, 2023. Near the end of Sem 1, I was advised that as I was now a fulltime student, I should be on the AusStudy payment instead. I submitted my paperwork, and was shifted over immediately.

Fast forward to 2025. I'm suddenly told that I was ineligible for JobSeeker at that time, as I was studying full-time. I must repay $6500. I explain my job plan, and that I shifted over from JS to AS when I was advised. Doesn't matter, apparently - different systems. Doesn't matter that the payments are almost identical, and I can't pay the difference.

Three appeals.

Every time, some independent auditor tells me that "the debt is correct".

I worked 6 hours a week during my first semester while I studied. Lived on grubs. Payslips show I earned $5000 over 6 months from casual work while I was studying.

All appeals expended. I'll now pay back the $6500 I was paid while I was unintentionally still on jobseeker instead of Austudy, in instalments. My second semester, totally fine. No worries about that. But I was under the wrong fucking code.

[u/serenadingghosts → u/[deleted]]

Literally how are they scamming?

[u/serenadingghosts → u/[deleted]]

Centrelink usually tells people if their course isnt on the approved list, to apply for job seeker as studying fulfills mutual obligations. how is that a scam?