Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT ACT 2003

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

            

CHAPTER 1--Introduction
            

           Division 1--Preliminary

   1.1.    Short title [see Note 1]  
   1.5.    Commencement  
   1.10.   Identifying defined terms  

           Division 2--Objects

   2.1.    Objects of this Act  

           Division 3--Overview of this Act

   3.1.    General  
   3.5.    Grants for higher education assistance etc. (Chapter 2)  
   3.10.   Assistance to students (Chapter 3)  
   3.15.   Repayment of loans (Chapter 4)  
   3.20.   Administration (Chapter 5)  
   3.30.   VET FEE-HELP Assistance Scheme (Schedule 1A)  

           Division 5--Application of Act to Table C providers

   5.1.    Application of Act to Table C providers  

           Division 6--Schedule 1A

   6.1.    Schedule 1A  
            

CHAPTER 2--Grants for higher education assistance etc
            

           Division 8--Introduction

   8.1.    What this Chapter is about  

   PART 2-1--HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS

           Division 13--Introduction

   13.1.   What this Part is about  
   13.5.   The Higher Education Provider Guidelines  

           Division 16--What is a higher education provider

              Subdivision 16-A--General

   16.1.   Meaning of higher education provider  
   16.5.   When a body becomes or ceases to be a higher education provider  

              Subdivision 16-B--Which bodies are listed providers

   16.10.  Listed providers  
   16.15.  Table A providers  
   16.20.  Table B providers  
   16.22.  Table C providers  

              Subdivision 16-C--How are bodies approved as higher education providers

   16.25.  Approval by the Minister  
   16.27.  Body must be a registered higher education provider  
   16.30.  The tuition assurance requirements  
   16.31.  Tuition assurance requirements exemption for approvals  
   16.40.  Application  
   16.42.  Minister may seek information from TEQSA  
   16.45.  Minister may seek further information  
   16.50.  Minister to decide application  
   16.55.  Approvals are legislative instruments  
   16.60.  Conditions of approval  
   16.65.  Minister to cause higher education provider to be notified of change in condition of approval  

           Division 19--What are the quality and accountability requirements

              Subdivision 19-A--General

   19.1.   The quality and accountability requirements  

              Subdivision 19-B--The financial viability requirements

   19.5.   Basic requirement  
   19.10.  Financial information must be provided  
   19.12.  Minister to have regard to financial information  

              Subdivision 19-C--The quality requirements

   19.15.  Provider must maintain quality  

              Subdivision 19-D--The fairness requirements

   19.30.  Basic requirement  
   19.35.  Benefits and opportunities must be available equally to all students  
   19.37.  Requiring membership of certain organisations or payment of certain amounts  
   19.38.  Higher education providers' expenditure of student services and amenities fees  
   19.40.  Compliance with the tuition assurance requirements  
   19.45.  Student grievance and review procedures  
   19.50.  Higher education providers to appoint review officers  
   19.55.  Review officers not to review own decisions  
   19.60.  Procedures relating to personal information  

              Subdivision 19-E--The compliance requirements

   19.65.  Basic requirements  
   19.67.  Special requirements for student services, amenities, representation and advocacy in 2012 and later years  
   19.70.  Provider to provide statement of general information  
   19.75.  Notice of events that affect provider's ability to comply with conditions of Commonwealth assistance  
   19.77.  Notice of events affecting accreditation  
   19.78.  Notice of events significantly affecting TEQSA registration  
   19.80.  Compliance assurance--provider (other than Table A provider)  

              Subdivision 19-F--What are the contribution and fee requirements

   19.85.  Basic requirement  
   19.87.  Determining student contribution amounts for all places in units  
   19.90.  Determining tuition fees for all students  
   19.95.  Schedules of student contribution amounts for places and tuition fees  
   19.100. Limits on fees for courses of study  
   19.102. Meaning of fee  
   19.105. Meaning of tuition fee  

              Subdivision 19-G--The compact and academic freedom requirements

   19.110. Table A providers and Table B providers must enter into mission based compacts  
   19.115. Provider to have policy upholding free intellectual inquiry  

           Division 22--When does a body cease to be a higher education provider

              Subdivision 22-A--General

   22.1.   Cessation of approval as a provider  

              Subdivision 22-B----Revocation for cause

   22.5.   Revocation of approval if application for approval as a provider is false or misleading  
   22.7.   Revocation of approval if providing education and/or conducting research ceases to be the body's principal purpose  
   22.10.  Revocation of approval if status or accreditation changes  
   22.15.  Revocation of approval as a provider for a breach of conditions or the quality and accountability requirements  
   22.17.  Revocation of approval as a provider if provider etc. not a fit and proper person  

              Subdivision 22-C--Process for decisions on revocation under Subdivision 22-B

   22.20.  Process for revoking approval  
   22.22.  Minister may seek information from TEQSA  
   22.25.  Determination retaining approval as a provider in respect of existing students  
   22.30.  Suspension of approval as a provider  
   22.32.  Determination retaining approval as a provider in respect of existing students following suspension of approval  
   22.35.  Revocations are legislative instruments  

              Subdivision 22-D--Revocation of approval on application

   22.40.  Revocation of approval as a provider on application  

              Subdivision 22-E--Notice of approval ceasing to have effect under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003

   22.45.  Notice of approval ceasing to have effect under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003  

   PART 2-2--COMMONWEALTH GRANT SCHEME

           Division 27--Introduction

   27.1.   What this Part is about  
   27.5.   Guidelines  

           Division 30--Which higher education providers are eligible for a grant

              Subdivision 30-A--Basic rules

   30.1.   Eligibility for grants  

              Subdivision 30-B--Allocation of places

   30.10.  Allocation of places  
   30.12.  Designated courses of study  
   30.15.  Funding clusters  
   30.20.  National priorities  

              Subdivision 30-C--Funding agreements

   30.25.  Funding agreements  
   30.27.  Funding agreement may specify maximum basic grant amounts  
   30.28.  Funding agreement to be published  

           Division 33--How are grant amounts worked out

              Subdivision 33-A--Basic rule

   33.1.   How grant amount is worked out  

              Subdivision 33-B--Basic grant amounts

   33.5.   Basic grant amounts  
   33.10.  Commonwealth contribution amounts  
   33.30.  Working out the number of Commonwealth supported places provided  
   33.35.  Funding clusters in which units of study are included  

              Subdivision 33-C--Adjustments

   33.37.  Adjustments for breach of section 19-37  

              Subdivision 33-D--Special purpose advances

   33.40.  Advances for certain purposes  

           Division 36--What are the conditions of receiving a grant

              Subdivision 36-A--General

   36.1.   Condition of grant to comply with this Division  

              Subdivision 36-B--Conditions relating to Commonwealth supported students

   36.5.   Meaning of Commonwealth supported student  
   36.10.  Advice on whether a person is a Commonwealth supported student  
   36.15.  Persons not to be advised they are Commonwealth supported  
   36.20.  Providers to repay amounts--special circumstances  
   36.21.  Special circumstances  
   36.22.  Application period  
   36.23.  Dealing with applications  
   36.24A. Providers to repay amounts--provider ceases to provide course  
   36.24B. Providers to repay amounts--no tax file numbers  
   36.24C. Secretary may act if provider is unable to  

              Subdivision 36-C--Conditions relating to enrolment

   36.25.  Continued support for Commonwealth supported students  
   36.30.  Providers to enrol persons as Commonwealth supported students  
   36.40.  Providers to cancel enrolments in certain circumstances  

              Subdivision 36-D--Conditions relating to student contribution amounts

   36.45.  Limits on student contribution amounts  
   36.50.  Provider must not accept up-front payments of more than 90% of student contribution amounts  

              Subdivision 36-E--Conditions relating to tuition fees

   36.55.  Tuition fees for non-Commonwealth supported students  

              Subdivision 36-F--Other conditions

   36.60.  Providers to meet the quality and accountability requirements  
   36.65.  Providers to comply with funding agreement  
   36.70.  Providers to comply with the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines  

   PART 2-3--OTHER GRANTS

           Division 41--Other grants

   41.1.   What this Part is about  
   41.5.   The Other Grants Guidelines  
   41.10.  Eligibility for grants under this Part  
   41.15.  Grants may be paid under programs  
   41.20.  Approval of grants  
   41.25.  Conditions on grants  
   41.30.  Amount of a grant  
   41.35.  Amounts payable under this Part  
   41.40.  Rollover of grant amounts  
   41.45.  Maximum payments for other grants under this Part  
   41.50.  List of maximum grant amounts  

   PART 2-4--COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS

           Division 46--Commonwealth scholarships

   46.1.   What this Part is about  
   46.5.   The Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines  
   46.10.  Classes of Commonwealth scholarships  
   46.13.  Eligibility of students to receive directly-paid standard Commonwealth scholarships  
   46.15.  Eligibility of higher education providers to receive grants for certain Commonwealth scholarships  
   46.20.  Other matters relating to Commonwealth scholarships  
   46.25.  Condition of grants  
   46.30.  Amounts payable under this Part  
   46.35.  Rollover of grant amounts  
   46.40.  Maximum payments for Commonwealth scholarships  

   PART 2-5--REDUCTION AND REPAYMENT OF GRANTS

           Division 51--Introduction

   51.1.   What this Part is about  
   51.5.   The Reduction and Repayment Guidelines  

           Division 54--In what circumstances may a grant be reduced or required to be repaid

   54.1.   Decision as to reduction or repayment of a grant  
   54.5.   Appropriateness of requiring reduction or repayment of grant  

           Division 57--What is the amount of a reduction or repayment

   57.1.   Reduction in amount of grants  
   57.5.   Amount of the repayment  

           Division 60--How are decisions reducing a grant or requiring repayment of a grant made

   60.1.   Procedure prior to decision  
   60.5.   Notification of decision  
   60.10.  When a decision takes effect  
            

CHAPTER 3--Assistance to students
            

           Division 65--Introduction

   65.1.   What this Chapter is about  

   PART 3-2--HECS-HELP ASSISTANCE

           Division 87--Introduction

   87.1.   What this Part is about  
   87.5.   The HECS-HELP Guidelines  

           Division 90--Who is entitled to HECS-HELP assistance

   90.1.   Entitlement to HECS-HELP assistance  
   90.5.   Citizenship or residency requirements  
   90.10.  Students not entitled to HECS-HELP assistance  

           Division 93--How are amounts of HECS-HELP assistance worked out

   93.1.   The amount of HECS-HELP assistance for a unit of study  
   93.5.   Student contribution amounts  
   93.10.  Maximum student contribution amounts for places  
   93.15.  Up-front payments  

           Division 96--How are amounts of HECS-HELP assistance paid

   96.1.   Payments to higher education providers--no up-front payment of student contribution amount  
   96.5.   Payments to higher education providers--partial up-front payment of student contribution amount  
   96.10.  Payments to higher education providers--full up-front payment of student contribution amount  

   PART 3-3--FEE-HELP ASSISTANCE

           Division 101--Introduction

   101.1.  What this Part is about  
   101.5.  The FEE-HELP Guidelines  

           Division 104--Who is entitled to FEE-HELP assistance

              Subdivision 104-A--Basic rules

   104.1.  Entitlement to FEE-HELP assistance  
   104.2.  Failure by a student to complete previous units accessed through Open Universities Australia  
   104.3.  Failure by Open Universities Australia to comply with FEE-HELP Guidelines etc.  
   104.4.  Failure by Open Universities Australia to set tuition fees and census date  
   104.5.  Citizenship or residency requirements  
   104.10. Course requirements  

              Subdivision 104-B--FEE-HELP balances

   104.15. A person's FEE-HELP balance  
   104.20. The FEE-HELP limit  
   104.25. Main case of re-crediting a person's FEE-HELP balance  
   104.27. Re-crediting a person's FEE-HELP balance--no tax file number  
   104.30. Special circumstances  
   104.35. Application period  
   104.40. Dealing with applications  
   104.42. Re-crediting a person's FEE-HELP balance if provider ceases to provide course of which unit forms part  

              Subdivision 104-C--Bridging courses for overseas-trained professionals

   104.45. Meaning of bridging course for overseas-trained professionals  
   104.50. Assessment statements  
   104.55. Meaning of assessing body  
   104.60. Meaning of listed professional occupations  
   104.65. Occupation includes part of an occupation  
   104.70. Requirements for entry to an occupation  

           Division 107--How are amounts of FEE-HELP assistance worked out

   107.1.  The amount of FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study  
   107.5.  Up-front payments  
   107.10. Amounts of FEE-HELP assistance and VET FEE-HELP assistance must not exceed the FEE-HELP balance  

           Division 110--How are amounts of FEE-HELP assistance paid

   110.1.  Payments  
   110.5.  Effect of FEE-HELP balance being re-credited  

   PART 3-4--OS-HELP ASSISTANCE

           Division 115--Introduction

   115.1.  What this Part is about  
   115.5.  The OS-HELP Guidelines  

           Division 118--Who is entitled to OS-HELP assistance

   118.1.  Entitlement to OS-HELP assistance  
   118.5.  Citizenship or residency requirements  
   118.7.  Prior study requirements  
   118.10. Overseas study requirements  
   118.15. Selection of students for receipt of OS-HELP assistance  

           Division 121--How are amounts of OS-HELP assistance worked out

   121.1.  The amount of OS-HELP assistance for a period  
   121.5.  Maximum OS-HELP amount  
   121.10. Minimum OS-HELP amounts  

           Division 124--How are amounts of OS-HELP assistance paid

   124.1.  Amounts of OS-HELP assistance are lent to students  

   PART 3-5--SA-HELP ASSISTANCE

           Division 125--Introduction

   125.1.  What this Part is about  

           Division 126--Who is entitled to SA-HELP assistance

   126.1.  Entitlement to SA-HELP assistance  
   126.5.  Citizenship or residency requirements  

           Division 127--How are amounts of SA-HELP assistance worked out

   127.1.  The amount of SA-HELP assistance for a student services and amenities fee  

           Division 128--How are amounts of SA-HELP assistance paid

   128.1.  Payments to higher education providers of loans to students  
   128.5.  Repayment by higher education provider if student does not have tax file number  
            

CHAPTER 4--Repayment of loans
            

           Division 129--Introduction

   129.1.  What this Chapter is about  

   PART 4-1--INDEBTEDNESS

           Division 134--Introduction

   134.1.  What this Part is about  

           Division 137--How do HELP debts arise

   137.1.  HELP debts  
   137.5.  HECS-HELP debts  
   137.10. FEE-HELP debts  
   137.15. OS-HELP debts  
   137.16. SA-HELP debts  
   137.18. VET FEE-HELP debts  
   137.20. HELP debt discharged by death  

           Division 140--How are accumulated HELP debts worked out

              Subdivision 140-A--Outline of this Division

   140.1.  Outline of this Division  
   140.5.  Working out a former accumulated HELP debt  
   140.10. HELP debt indexation factor  
   140.15. Index numbers  
   140.20. Publishing HELP debt indexation factors  

              Subdivision 140-C--Accumulated HELP debts

   140.25. Working out an accumulated HELP debt  
   140.30. Rounding of amounts  
   140.35. Accumulated HELP debt discharges earlier debts  
   140.40. Accumulated HELP debt discharged by death  

   PART 4-2--DISCHARGE OF INDEBTEDNESS

           Division 148--Introduction

   148.1.  What this Part is about  
   148.5.  The HECS-HELP Benefit Guidelines  

           Division 151--How is indebtedness voluntarily discharged

   151.1.  Voluntary repayments in respect of debts  
   151.5.  Voluntary repayment bonus relating to HELP debts  
   151.10. Application of voluntary repayments  
   151.15. Refunding of payments  

           Division 154--How is indebtedness compulsorily discharged

              Subdivision 154-A--Liability to repay amounts

   154.1.  Liability to repay amounts  
   154.3.  Reduction of liability by HECS-HELP benefit  
   154.5.  Repayment income  
   154.10. Minimum repayment income  
   154.15. Repayable debt for an income year  

              Subdivision 154-B--Amounts payable to the Commonwealth

   154.20. Amounts payable to the Commonwealth  
   154.25. Indexation  
   154.30. Publishing indexed amounts  

              Subdivision 154-C--Assessments

   154.35. Commissioner may make assessments  
   154.40. Notification of notices of assessment of tax  
   154.45. Commissioner may defer making assessments  
   154.50. Commissioner may amend assessments  
   154.55. Higher education providers etc. to provide information to Commissioner  

              Subdivision 154-D--Application of tax legislation

   154.60. Returns, assessments, collection and recovery  
   154.65. Charges and civil penalties for failing to meet obligations  
   154.70. Pay as you go (PAYG) withholding  
   154.80. Pay as you go (PAYG) instalments  
   154.85. Reduction of compulsory repayment amount by HECS-HELP benefit  

           Division 157--HECS-HELP benefit

              Subdivision 157-A--Who is eligible for the HECS-HELP benefit

   157.1.  Application for the HECS-HELP benefit  
   157.10. Providing application to Commissioner  

              Subdivision 157-B--What is the amount of the HECS-HELP benefit

   157.15. Amount of HECS-HELP benefit  

              Subdivision 157-C--Determination of applications

   157.20. Commissioner must determine application  
   157.25. Notifying applicant of determination  
   157.30. Review of determinations  
            

CHAPTER 5--Administration
            

           Division 159--Introduction

   159.1.  What this Chapter is about  
   159.5.  The Administration Guidelines  

   PART 5-1--PAYMENTS BY THE COMMONWEALTH

           Division 164--Payments by the Commonwealth

   164.1.  What this Part is about  
   164.5.  Time and manner of payments  
   164.10. Advances  
   164.15. Overpayments of Commonwealth grants  
   164.17. Overpayments of Commonwealth scholarships to students  
   164.18. Repayment of Commonwealth scholarships paid to students--breach of condition  
   164.20. Rounding of amounts  

   PART 5-2--ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS ON HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS

           Division 169--Administrative requirements on higher education providers

   169.1.  What this Part is about  
   169.5.  Notices  
   169.10. Correction of notices  
   169.15. Charging student contribution amounts and tuition fees  
   169.20. Exempt students  
   169.25. Determining census dates and EFTSL values  
   169.27. Meaning of EFTSL  
   169.28. Meaning of EFTSL value  
   169.30. Communications with the Commonwealth concerning students etc.  
   169.35. 6 week cut off for corrections affecting entitlement to Commonwealth assistance  

   PART 5-3--ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

           Division 174--Electronic communications

   174.1.  What this Part is about  
   174.5.  Guidelines may deal with electronic communications  

   PART 5-4--MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION

           Division 179--Protection of personal information

   179.1.  What this Division is about  
   179.5.  Meaning of personal information  
   179.10. Use of personal information  
   179.15. Meanings of officer etc. and official employment  
   179.20. When information is disclosed in the course of official employment  
   179.25. Commissioner may disclose information  
   179.30. Oath or affirmation to protect information  
   179.35. Unauthorised access to, or modification of, personal information  

           Division 180--Other rules about information

   180.1.  Authorisation of certain uses and disclosures of information  

   PART 5-5--TAX FILE NUMBERS

           Division 184--Introduction

   184.1.  What this Part is about  

           Division 187--What are the tax file number requirements for assistance under Chapter 3

   187.1.  Meeting the tax file number requirements  
   187.2.  Who is an appropriate officer?  
   187.5.  Student to notify tax file number when issued  

           Division 190--In what circumstances can higher education providers and

   190.1.  When tax file numbers are issued etc.  
   190.5.  When tax file numbers are altered  
   190.10. When tax file numbers are incorrectly notified--students with tax file numbers  
   190.15. When tax file numbers are incorrectly notified--students without tax file numbers  
   190.20. When applications are refused or tax file numbers are cancelled  

           Division 193--Other provisions relating to tax file numbers

   193.1.  Giving information about tax file number requirements  
   193.5.  No entitlement to HECS-HELP assistance for students without tax file numbers  
   193.10. No entitlement to FEE-HELP assistance for students without tax file numbers  
   193.15. No entitlement to SA-HELP assistance for students without tax file numbers  

   PART 5-6--INDEXATION

           Division 198--Indexation

   198.1.  What this Part is about  
   198.5.  The amounts that are to be indexed  
   198.10. Indexing amounts  
   198.15. Meaning of indexation factor  
   198.20. Meaning of index number  

   PART 5-7--REVIEW OF DECISIONS

           Division 203--Introduction

   203.1.  What this Part is about  

           Division 206--Which decisions are subject to review

   206.1.  Reviewable decisions etc.  
   206.5.  Deadlines for making reviewable decisions  
   206.10. Decision maker must give reasons for reviewable decisions  

           Division 209--How are decisions reconsidered

   209.1.  Reviewer of decisions  
   209.5.  Reviewer may reconsider reviewable decisions  
   209.10. Reconsideration of reviewable decisions on request  

           Division 212--Which decisions are subject to AAT review

   212.1.  AAT review of reviewable decisions  
            

CHAPTER 7--Miscellaneous
            

   238.1.  Delegations by Secretary  
   238.5.  Delegations by Minister  
   238.7.  Review of impact of Act  
   238.8.  Extent of Commissioner's general administration of this Act  
   238.10. Guidelines  
   238.12. Appropriation  
   238.15. Regulations  
           SCHEDULE 1A VET FEE-HELP Assistance Scheme
           SCHEDULE 1 Dictionary