I went back to uni in 2012 after finishing a degree three years prior. I applied for Austudy as I received Youth Allowance for a year or two while undertaking my first degree. I notified Centrelink that I was unemployed for the duration of my new studies, and sent them transcripts from my first four year course. I was pretty stoked to be approved to receive Austudy for the first semester of my new degree. These payments ensured I was able to immerse myself in my study and really get back into the swing of being at uni.
Fast forward almost five years later, I'm still studying and working part time. I've had a tough year, I was doing honours year in science (which emotionally breaks everyone) and had lost a grandparent that year, along with being so sick I had to take time off work and uni while taking care of a suicidal friend.
Four days before Christmas, while my cat was in the ICU, I get a letter from Centrelink telling me I owe them $4.6k. So while I was crying over the prospect of my cat dying over Christmas, I was also now crying over where I'm going to get the money to pay back this debt, especially since I earn <$20k annually. Then it came time to do my taxes, I work two jobs so I always save up money to pay tax at the end of the year, but this year that money was spent on vet bills ($2k) and I was flat broke.
I couldn't work properly, could t eat, couldn't sleep, lost 4kg in one week from stress, and had everyone I knew asking me if I was ok because thy were worried I'd fallen into the depression + anxiety rabbit hole and was going to harm myself.
I won't lie, I thought about it. Christmas Eve I almost did it, I couldn't see how I could possibly repay all the debt.
Overall, my experience hasn't been terrible when it comes to the appeals process. I emailed Hank@humanservices.gov.au and was assigned a case officer who was very helpful. He admitted that a mistake had been made by Centrelink in regards to my Austudy payments in 2012, and helped me get through to the debt department to organise a future payment plan that starts late enough that my case should be resolved before I have to pay anything. They were very sympathetic to my situation.
The government though, that's a different story. Alan Tudge going on record saying there isn't a single person who legitimately thinks they don't owe anything is insensitive and shows how lowly he thinks of the middle class and welfare claimants. It's disgusting.