Over the past 4 years, 140 student volunteers have provided more than 6,000 hours of community service and have assisted more than 1,500 community members.
Edith Cowan University's (ECU) Tax Clinic has been granted a further $287,615 in federal funding from the Australian Government, allowing the student-run clinic to operate for another three years.
The ECU Tax Clinic is part of a national tax clinic initiative operating independently from the Australian Taxation Office, offering advice from taxation students, under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners to individuals and small businesses in hardship, as well as to other vulnerable community members including those under financial hardship, suffering from medical conditions, seniors and pensioners, and victims of domestic violence, just to name a few.
The free ECU Tax Clinic operates from Perth and Carnarvon.
The latest government grant is the second round of funding awarded to the ECU Tax Clinic under the Federal Government’s National Tax Clinic Program. There are some 15 university-associated tax clinics operational across Australia which jointly service regional communities.
The Federal Government is planning to add a further five tax clinics by January next year, expanding eligibility to TAFE institutions, delivering on its 2023 Budget commitment to increase funding for the programme to $2 million a year.
"The tax clinics operate as a group, and we are required to adhere to a Behaviour and Expectation Charter as part of this group. We are also required to report on the Tax Clinic's operations at the end of each term," ECU Associate Professor Prafula Pearce said.
She noted that over the past 4 years, 140 student volunteers have provided more than 6,000 hours of community service and have assisted more than 1,500 community members. A trip this year to Broome and Fitzroy Crossing resulted in over $250,000 of tax refunds.
"Residents in regional and remote Australia often don’t have access to tax practitioners to assist them in filing their returns. Tax Clinics like those provided by ECU's School of Business and Law provides these people with a much-needed service," Professor Pearce said.
"The assistance that we provide is invaluable to the residents of these communities."
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones said that having access to free and simple tax advice can make a big difference for a small business or individual who would otherwise be priced out of this service.
"This program is already a huge success and expanding it to reach more people is a no brainer.
"The additional five tax clinics will allow more Australians to get the tax advice they need, as soon as they need it, while providing a training opportunity for students.
"These clinics are one of many measures the Albanese Government is implementing to help consumers make better‑informed decisions and keep more of what they earn."
