EDUCATION SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS ACT 2000

This compilation was prepared on 1 July 2007
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 70 of 2007

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General's Department, Canberra

Contents

Part 1--Introduction 1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Crown to be bound ............................................................................. 1

4............ Criminal Code applies ........................................................................ 1

4A......... Objects ................................................................................................ 1

4B......... Extension of this Act to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands 2

5............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 2

6............ Meaning of associate .......................................................................... 6

7............ Meaning of course money ................................................................... 9

Part 2--Registration of approved providers 10

8............ Offence: providing or promoting a course without a registered provider 10

9............ Registering approved providers ........................................................ 11

10.......... The Register ...................................................................................... 14

11.......... Approved providers must notify the Secretary and designated authority of previous breaches etc. 14

12.......... Initial registration charge ................................................................... 15

13.......... Fund Manager may require information ........................................... 15

14.......... Notifying States if the Secretary suspects non‑compliance with this Act or the national code 16

Part 3--Obligations on registered providers 17

Division 1--General obligations 17

15.......... Registered providers must not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct 17

16.......... Only Australian residents and Table C providers may be registered 17

17.......... Registered providers must notify the Secretary of breaches etc. by associates and high managerial agents 17

18.......... Payments to providers ..................................................................... 18

19.......... Giving information about accepted students .................................... 19

20.......... Sending students notice of visa breaches .......................................... 19

21.......... Record keeping ................................................................................. 20

22.......... Registered providers must belong to a tuition assurance scheme ..... 21

23.......... Annual registration charge ................................................................ 21

24.......... Annual Fund contributions ............................................................... 22

25.......... Special levies for the Fund ................................................................ 22

26.......... Disclosure obligations of registered providers .................................. 22

Division 2--Refunds of course money 24

27.......... When this Division applies .............................................................. 24

28.......... Refund under a written agreement about student default ................. 25

29.......... Refund in other cases ........................................................................ 26

30.......... Recovering the amount ..................................................................... 26

31.......... Providers' liabilities may be satisfied by alternative arrangements .. 27

32.......... Registered provider must tell the Secretary and the Fund Manager of non‑compliance 28

Part 4--The national code 29

33.......... The national code .............................................................................. 29

34.......... Purpose of the national code ............................................................ 29

36.......... Minister must consult States and industry representatives ............. 29

38.......... Contents of the national code ........................................................... 30

40.......... Legal effects of the national code ...................................................... 30

41.......... Notification of the national code ...................................................... 30

43.......... States to investigate breaches of the national code ........................... 31

44.......... Regulations may prescribe penalties ................................................ 31

Part 5--The ESOS Assurance Fund 32

Division 1--Basics of the Fund 32

45.......... Establishment of the Fund ................................................................ 32

46.......... Purpose of the Fund ......................................................................... 32

47.......... What money goes into the Fund ....................................................... 32

48.......... What money comes out of the Fund ................................................ 33

Division 2--The Fund Manager 34

49.......... Appointment of the Fund Manager ................................................. 34

50.......... Functions and powers of the Fund Manager .................................... 34

51.......... Terms and conditions of the appointment of the Fund Manager ..... 34

52.......... Acting Fund Manager ....................................................................... 35

53.......... Indemnity ......................................................................................... 35

Division 3--The Contributions Review Panel 36

54.......... Establishment of the Panel ............................................................... 36

55.......... Functions and powers of the Panel .................................................. 37

56.......... Terms and conditions of Panel members .......................................... 37

57.......... Procedures of the Panel .................................................................... 37

Division 4--Annual Fund contributions and special levies 38

Subdivision A--Annual Fund contributions 38

58.......... Fund Manager to set contributions .................................................. 38

59.......... How the contributions criteria are determined ................................. 38

60.......... Content of the contributions criteria ................................................ 39

61.......... Changing the contributions criteria ................................................... 39

62.......... Dissemination of contributions criteria ............................................ 40

63.......... Notice of amount of annual Fund contribution ................................ 40

64.......... Notifying the Secretary of initial contributions ................................ 40

65.......... Increasing annual Fund contributions ............................................... 40

Subdivision B--Rights of review 41

66.......... Applying to the Fund Manager for a review of the contribution amount 41

67.......... Review by the Fund Manager .......................................................... 42

68.......... Applying for review by the Panel .................................................... 42

69.......... Review by the Panel ......................................................................... 43

70.......... Fees for review ................................................................................. 43

71.......... Refund of overpaid contributions ..................................................... 44

Subdivision C--Special levies 44

72.......... Special levies ..................................................................................... 44

73.......... Amount of the levy .......................................................................... 44

74.......... Fund Manager must give written notice ........................................... 44

Subdivision D--Reminder notices for late payers 45

75.......... Reminder notices .............................................................................. 45

Division 5--Calls on the Fund 46

76.......... When a call is made on the Fund ...................................................... 46

77.......... What the Fund Manager must do when a call is made ..................... 46

77A....... Fund Manager may ask provider of new course about academic credit or recognition of prior learning 47

78.......... Consequences of a payment under section 77 .................................. 48

Division 6--Miscellaneous 49

79.......... Investments ...................................................................................... 49

80.......... Financial accountability .................................................................... 49

81.......... No income tax ................................................................................... 50

82.......... Future cessation of the Fund ............................................................ 50

Part 6--Enforcement 51

Division 1--Conditions, suspension and cancellation 51

Subdivision A--Sanctions for non‑compliance etc. 51

83.......... Minister may impose sanctions for non‑compliance etc. ................. 51

84.......... Minister may take further action ...................................................... 52

85.......... Minister may take action for breaches occurring before provider was registered 52

86.......... Examples of conditions ..................................................................... 52

88.......... Cancellation if suspended providers cease to provide courses ......... 53

Subdivision C--Automatic suspension and cancellation 53

89.......... Automatic suspension for loss of approval ..................................... 53

89A....... Automatic suspension if not fit and proper ..................................... 54

90.......... Automatic suspension for non‑payment of annual Fund contribution, special levy or annual registration charge 54

91.......... Automatic cancellation of registration for provider who ceases to be approved for a course for a State 55

92.......... Automatic cancellation for bankruptcy ............................................ 55

Subdivision D--Common rules for conditions, suspension and cancellation 55

93.......... Procedure for taking action etc. ........................................................ 55

94.......... Minister may authorise removal of condition or suspension ........... 56

95.......... Effect of suspension ......................................................................... 56

96.......... Updating the Register ....................................................................... 57

Division 2--Immigration Minister's suspension certificate 58

97.......... Immigration Minister may give a registered provider a suspension certificate 58

98.......... Procedure for issuing certificate ........................................................ 59

99.......... Content of certificate ........................................................................ 59

100........ Duration of certificate ....................................................................... 60

101........ Effect of certificate: offence .............................................................. 60

102........ Further certificates ............................................................................ 61

103........ Updating the Register ....................................................................... 61

Division 3--Offences 62

104........ Notification requirements ................................................................. 62

105........ Record‑keeping ................................................................................. 62

106........ Infringement notices ......................................................................... 63

107........ Failing to identify registered provider in written material ................ 63

108........ Providing false or misleading information ......................................... 64

109........ Access to electronic notification system .......................................... 64

110........ Bogus providers ................................................................................ 65

Part 7--Monitoring and searching providers 66

Division 1--Introduction 66

111........ Powers conferred on magistrates in their personal capacity ............ 66

112........ Immunity of magistrates ................................................................... 66

Division 2--Notices requiring information and documents 67

Subdivision A--Production notices 67

113........ Production notices ............................................................................ 67

114........ Contents of the production notice .................................................... 67

115........ Serving production notices ............................................................... 68

Subdivision B--Attendance notices 68

116........ Attendance notices ........................................................................... 68

117........ Contents of the attendance notice .................................................... 69

Subdivision C--Common rules for production and attendance notices 69

118........ Scales of expenses ............................................................................. 69

119........ Reasonable compensation for giving copies ..................................... 70

120........ Offence: failing to comply with a notice .......................................... 70

121........ Offence: giving false or misleading information ................................ 70

122........ Offence: giving false or misleading document ................................... 70

123........ Information and documents that incriminate a person ..................... 71

124........ Copies of documents ........................................................................ 71

125........ Employee may retain documents ..................................................... 71

126........ Owner of document must be given copy .......................................... 72

127........ Retaining documents ......................................................................... 72

128........ Employee may apply to magistrate or tribunal member for a further period 73

129........ Magistrate or tribunal member may order retention for further period 73

Division 3--Monitoring warrants 75

Subdivision A--Monitoring powers 75

130........ Authorised employee may enter premises for a monitoring purpose 75

131........ Monitoring powers of authorised employees .................................. 75

132........ Authorised employee on premises with consent may ask questions 77

133........ Authorised employee on premises under warrant may ask questions 78

134........ Offence: failure to answer question .................................................. 78

135........ Offence: giving false or misleading information ................................ 79

136........ Offence: giving or showing documents that are false or misleading in material particulars 79

Subdivision B--Applying for monitoring warrants 79

137........ Authorised employee may apply for a monitoring warrant ............. 79

138........ Magistrate or tribunal member may issue a monitoring warrant ...... 80

139........ Magistrate or tribunal member may require more information ......... 80

140........ Contents of monitoring warrant ....................................................... 80

Division 4--Search warrants 81

Subdivision A--Search powers 81

141........ Authorised employee may enter premises to look for evidential material 81

142........ Search powers of authorised employees .......................................... 81

Subdivision B--Applying for search warrants 83

143........ Authorised employee may apply for a search warrant .................... 83

144........ Magistrate or tribunal member may issue a search warrant ............. 83

145........ Magistrate or tribunal member may require more information ......... 84

146........ Contents of a search warrant ............................................................ 84

Division 5--Common rules for monitoring warrants and search warrants 85

Subdivision A--Common powers etc. under monitoring warrants and search warrants 85

147........ Use of reasonable force and assistance ............................................. 85

148........ Use of electronic equipment in exercising search or monitoring powers 85

149........ Securing electronic equipment for use by experts ............................ 85

150........ Extension of period ........................................................................... 86

151........ Powers without warrant in emergency situations ............................ 86

152........ Retaining seized things ..................................................................... 87

153........ Authorised employee may apply for a thing to be retained for a further period 88

154........ Magistrate or tribunal member may order that the thing be retained 88

155........ Occupier to provide authorised employee with all facilities and assistance 89

Subdivision B--Obligations on authorised employees etc. 89

156........ Being on premises with consent ....................................................... 89

157........ Consent ............................................................................................. 89

158........ Announcement before entry ............................................................. 90

159........ Copy of warrant to be given to the occupier before entry ............... 90

160........ Compensation for damage to electronic equipment or data .............. 90

161........ Occupier entitled to be present during execution of the monitoring warrant 91

162........ Identity cards .................................................................................... 91

163........ Authorised employee must produce identity card on request ......... 92

Subdivision C--Issue of warrants by telephone etc. 92

164........ Employee may apply for warrants by telephone etc. ...................... 92

165........ Magistrate or tribunal member may grant warrant by telephone etc. 93

166........ Procedure for issuing warrant by telephone etc. .............................. 94

167........ Procedure after telephone warrant ceases or is executed .................. 94

168........ Form of warrant authorises exercise of power ................................. 95

169........ Court to assume that exercise of power not authorised by telephone etc. warrant 95

Part 8--Miscellaneous 96

170........ Delegation ......................................................................................... 96

171........ Reinstatement fee ............................................................................. 96

172........ Late payment penalty ...................................................................... 97

173........ Debts due to the Commonwealth ..................................................... 98

174........ Amounts payable by unincorporated bodies ................................... 98

175........ Giving information to relevant bodies .............................................. 98

176........ Review of decisions .......................................................................... 99

176A..... Review of this Act .......................................................................... 100

177........ Regulations ..................................................................................... 100

Notes 101

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000	164, 2000	21 Dec 2000	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Remainder: 4 June 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S175)
Education Services for Overseas Students (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2000	166, 2000	21 Dec 2000	Schedule 4: (a)	--
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	Schedule 3 (items 168--171): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (b)	--
Cybercrime Act 2001	161, 2001	1 Oct 2001	21 Dec 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S529)	--
Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Act 2002	101, 2002	10 Nov 2002	11 Nov 2002	Sch. 1 (items 20, 23, 27)
Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Act 2005	157, 2005	19 Dec 2005	Schedule 1: 20 Dec 2005 (see s. 2(1)) Schedule 2: 20 Dec 2005 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (item 4)
Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment (2006 Measures No. 1) Act 2006	143, 2006	6 Dec 2006	1 Jan 2007	Sch. 1 (items 37, 38)
Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment (2006 Measures No. 2) Act 2006	144, 2006	6 Dec 2006	Schedule 1, Schedule 2 (item 1), Schedule 3 and Schedule 4: 1 Jan 2007 Schedule 2 (items 2--7): 1 July 2007 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (item 2), Sch. 2 (item 3), Sch. 3 (items 3, 5, 7, 11) and Sch. 4 (item 11)
Private Health Insurance (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2007	32, 2007	30 Mar 2007	Schedule 2 (item 9): 1 Apr 2007 (see s. 2(1))	--
Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment Act 2007	70, 2007	28 May 2007	Schedule 1: 1 July 2007 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (item 23)

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
Ss. 4A, 4B...........................	ad. No. 70, 2007
S. 5......................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 157, 2005; Nos. 143 and 144, 2006; No. 70, 2007
S. 6......................................	am. No. 55, 2001
S. 7......................................	am. No. 32, 2007
Part 2
S. 8......................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 70, 2007
Note 1 to s. 8(1)..................	am. No. 70, 2007
Subhead. to s. 9(1).............	ad. No. 143, 2006
Subhead. to s. 9(2).............	ad. No. 143, 2006
Subhead. to s. 9(5).............	ad. No. 143, 2006
S. 9......................................	am. No. 55, 2001; No. 101, 2002; No. 157, 2005; Nos. 143 and 144, 2006; No. 70, 2007
Note to s. 9(2)(d)................	am. No. 101, 2002
S. 10....................................	am. No. 70, 2007
S. 11....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 143, 2006
S. 12....................................	rs. No. 143, 2006
Heading to s. 14.................. ........................................	am. No. 101, 2002
S. 14....................................	am. No. 101, 2002
Part 3
Division 1
S. 16....................................	rs. No. 157, 2005
Heading to s. 17..................	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 17....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 143, 2006
Heading to s. 18..................	rs. No. 157, 2005
	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 18....................................	am. No. 157, 2005; No. 143, 2006
S. 19....................................	am. No. 144, 2006
S. 20....................................	am. No. 144, 2006; No. 70, 2007
S. 22....................................	am. No. 143, 2006
Note 2 to s. 23.....................	rs. No. 143, 2006
Note 1 to s. 26(3)................	am. No. 101, 2002
Division 2
S. 27....................................	am. No. 144, 2006
Heading to s. 28..................	am. No. 70, 2007
S. 28....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 144, 2006; No. 70, 2007
S. 29....................................	am. No. 70, 2007
S. 30....................................	am. No. 101, 2002
S. 31....................................	rs. No. 143, 2006
Heading to s. 32..................	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 32....................................	am. No. 143, 2006
Part 4
S. 33....................................	am. No. 157, 2005; No. 144, 2006
S. 35....................................	rep. No. 144, 2006
S. 36....................................	am. No. 144, 2006
S. 37....................................	rep. No. 144, 2006
S. 39....................................	rep. No. 144, 2006
S. 41....................................	am. No. 144, 2006
S. 42....................................	rep. No. 144, 2006
S. 43....................................	am. No. 70, 2007
Part 5
Division 4
Subdivision A
S. 60....................................	am. No. 143, 2006
Division 5
S. 76....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; Nos. 143 and 144, 2006
Note to s. 76(1)...................	ad. No. 143, 2006
S. 77....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 144, 2006
S. 77A.................................	ad. No. 144, 2006
Heading to s. 78..................	rs. No. 101, 2002
S. 78....................................	am. No. 101, 2002
Division 6
S. 80....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
Part 6
Division 1
Subdivision A
Subhead. to s. 83(1)...........	ad. No. 143, 2006
Subhead. to s. 83(3)...........	ad. No. 143, 2006
Subhead. to s. 83(4)...........	ad. No. 143, 2006
S. 83....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 143, 2006
Heading to Subdiv. B........... of Div. 1 of Part 6	rep. No. 101, 2002
S. 87....................................	rep. No. 101, 2002
S. 88....................................	am. No. 70, 2007
Subdivision C
S. 89....................................	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 89A.................................	ad. No. 143, 2006
S. 90....................................	rs. No. 143, 2006
Subdivision D
S. 93....................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 143, 2006
S. 94....................................	rs. No. 143, 2006
S. 95....................................	rs. No. 101, 2002
S. 96....................................	am. No. 101, 2002
Division 3
S. 104..................................	am. No. 144, 2006
S. 107..................................	am. No. 70, 2007
Note 2 to s. 109(5)..............	rs. No. 161, 2001
Part 8
Subhead. to s. 171(5).........	ad. No. 143, 2006
S. 171..................................	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 172..................................	am. No. 143, 2006; No. 70, 2007
Note to s. 172(1).................	ad. No. 143, 2006
S. 173..................................	am. No. 143, 2006
Subhead. to s. 175(1).........	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 175..................................	am. No. 143, 2006
S. 176..................................	am. No. 101, 2002; No. 143, 2006

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Act 2002
(No. 101, 2002)

Schedule 1

20 Application of items 17, 18 and 19

The amendments made by items 17, 18 and 19 apply to any action taken after the items commence (irrespective of when the conduct, or the situation, that results in the action occurred).

23 Saving suspensions under section 87

The repeal of section 87 of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 by item 22 does not affect the suspension of a registered provider's registration:

(a) that was done under that section; and

(b) that is in force when the item commences.

27 Application of items 24, 25 and 26

The amendments made by items 24, 25 and 26 apply to any decision to take action that is made after the items commence (irrespective of when the conduct, or the situation, that results in the decision to take the action occurred).

Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Act 2005 (No. 157, 2005)

Schedule 1

4 Application of items 1 to 3

A Table C provider (within the meaning of the Higher Education Support Act 2003) does not breach its obligations under the national code established under Part 4 of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 merely because the provider is not a resident of Australia.

Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment (2006 Measures No. 1) Act 2006 (No. 143, 2006)

Schedule 1

37 Application

(1) The amendments:

(a) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 made by items 2, 3, 4, 8, 30, 31 and 33 of this Schedule; and

(b) of the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Act 1997 made by item 36 of this Schedule;

do not apply to a liability to pay the initial registration charge or a reinstatement fee if the liability existed immediately before the commencement of this item.

(2) The amendments of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 made by items 9, 10, 11 and 12 of this Schedule apply to a provider becoming aware as mentioned in subsection 17(1) of that Act (as amended by this Schedule) before, on or after the commencement of this item.

(3) The amendments of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 made by items 25, 27 and 35 of this Schedule, so far as they relate to section 89 of that Act, do not apply to suspensions under that section that happened before the commencement of this item. To avoid doubt, subsection 176(1) of that Act, as in force immediately before that commencement, continues to apply to suspensions under section 89 of that Act that happened before that commencement.

(4) The amendment of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 made by item 26 of this Schedule, so far as it relates to paragraph 90(1)(b) of that Act, applies to a failure to pay an annual registration charge that:

(a) becomes due for payment on or after the commencement of this item; or

(b) became due for payment before the commencement of this item and remained unpaid immediately before that commencement.

(5) The amendment of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 made by item 26 of this Schedule, so far as it relates to subsection 90(2) of that Act, applies to suspensions under subsection 90(1) of that Act that happen on or after the commencement of this item.

38 Saving

(1) Regulations:

(a) made for the purposes of paragraph 22(1)(a) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000; and

(b) that are in force immediately before the commencement of this item;

have effect from that commencement as if they had been made for the purposes of subparagraph 22(1)(a)(i) of that Act after that commencement.

(2) The amendments made by items 14 and 16 of this Schedule do not affect the continuity of:

(a) rules referred to in paragraph 22(1)(b) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000; or

(b) regulations made for the purposes of subsection 22(3) of that Act;

that are in force immediately before the commencement of this item.

(3) The amendment made by item 21 of this Schedule does not affect the continuity of determinations made under subsection 76(1) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 that are in force immediately before the commencement of this item.

Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment (2006 Measures No. 2) Act 2006 (No. 144, 2006)

Schedule 1

2 Application

Paragraph 9(2)(ba) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 applies in relation to the registration of providers on and after the commencement of this Schedule.

Schedule 2

3 Application

The amendment of subsections 19(2) and 20(1) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 made by this Part applies to breaches of conditions of visas that occur on or after the commencement of this Part.

Schedule 3

3 Application

The amendments of section 27 of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 by this Schedule apply to refusals because of acts and omissions by overseas students and intending overseas students occurring on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

5 Application

Section 28 of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 as amended by this Schedule applies in relation to agreements made on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

7 Application

Subsection 76(1A) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 applies in relation to default days that are on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

11 Application

Subsection 77(1A) and section 77A of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 apply in relation to calls made on the Fund on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

Schedule 4

11 Transitional provision

The national code that was in force immediately before the commencement of this Schedule continues in force after that commencement as if it had been made under Part 4 of the Education Services for Overs

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

EDUCATION SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS ACT 2000 - NOTES