Government Payments
The Government offers financial support to Australian citizens. These are mostly from centrelink (for example, youth allowance), but there's also other incentives, such as the superannuation co-contribution. I'll give you a run down of them here, and I suggest you speak to the relevant people (Centrelink or the ATO) for more information. I'd also like to quickly bring your attention to a website set up by the Government - www.goingtouni.gov.au/, which may be of some use to you.
Youth Allowance
You can qualify for youth allowance two ways, the most common way for students is if you are classified as being independent. This means earning 75% of the national training wage award rate, which, at the time of writing was $18525 in 18 months. If you can earn that much, you will qualify for considerable payments (yes, that's right), of up to $348.10 if you're over 18 and living away from home, and $229.10 if you're living at home. You also automatically qualify for Rent Assitance if you are renting. If you have considerable assets, there will be a delay until you recieve payments, and the amount of youth allowance you get depends on your income.
More information at www.centrelink.gov.au
Rent Assistance
If you qualify for youth allowance, or almost any other centrelink benefit and are renting, you automatically qualify for rent assistance. This is a fortnightly payment which is meant to subsidise the rent you are paying. The rates vary if you're living by yourself, sharing, or living as a couple, but you are looking at recieving up to $50 a week.
More information at www.centrelink.gov.au
Superannuation Co-Contribution
If you are earning less than $58,000 a year and have a super fund set up, then you are elidgible for the government's superannuation co-contribution. The Government will pay $1.50 for each $1 you pay into super (not from your wage, but as a seperate payment), up to a Government payment of $1500. This means, you can put in $1000 into your super fund, and the Government will put in $1500. Being super, you can't access it until you retire, but this money will accumilate over time and should be considered by every student. Also, in the 2006 year, the Government made a one-off doubling of payments ($1000 matched with $3000!), and they may do so again.
More information at http://ato.gov.au