Final Report Released on HELP Debt Reduction Program
06 Mar 2026
The review looked at how well the program works for doctors and nurse practitioners in rural, remote or very remote areas, and teachers in very remote locations.
Source: Department of Education, Australian Government
The program aims to attract and retain these professionals in regional and remote areas by offering two types of help: a waiver of indexation on accumulated HELP debt, and/or a reduction of accumulated HELP debt. This supports better access to education and healthcare across Australia.
The review was led by Rachel Hunter AO PSM and used program documents, administrative data, surveys, and stakeholder consultations to inform its findings.
Under the Higher Education Support Act 2003, independent reviews of the HELP Debt Reduction Program are required in 2025 and 2028.
The Final Report includes nine recommendations aimed at increasing uptake, simplifying administration, and strengthening the evidence base ahead of the program’s next review in 2028.
Source: Independent Review of the HELP Debt Reduction Program – Final Report, Department of Education, Australian Government
