Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

EDUCATION SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS ACT 2000

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART 1--INTRODUCTION

           Division 1--Preliminary

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Crown to be bound  
   4.      Criminal Code applies  
   4A.     Objects  
   4B.     Extension of this Act to Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands  
   5.      Definitions  
   5AA.    Definition of course  
   5A.     When registered higher education providers are taken to have the principal purpose of providing education  
   6.      Meaning of associate  
   6A.     Meaning of authorised officer  
   6B.     Meaning of DSA assessment certificate and DSA recommendation certificate  
   6C.     Meaning of ESOS agency  
   6D.     Meaning of exempt provider  
   6E.     Meaning of provider  
   7.      Meaning of tuition fees  
   7A.     Deciding whether a provider or registered provider is fit and proper to be registered etc.  
   7AA.    No duty imposed on designated State authorities  
   7AB.    Application to former registered providers  

           Division 2--Guide to this Act

   7B.     Guide to this Act  

   PART 2--REGISTRATION--OF PROVIDERS

           Division 1--Guide to this Part

   8A.     Guide to this Part  

           Division 2--Offence for providing or promoting a course without a registered provider

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

           Division 3--Registration of providers

              Subdivision A--Application for registration

   9.      Provider may apply to be registered  
   10.     ESOS agency for provider may register provider  
   10A.    Notice of registration  

              Subdivision B--Conditions of registration

   10B.    Conditions of registration  
   10C.    Conditions imposed by designated State authorities on the approval of school providers after registration  

              Subdivision C--Renewal of registration

   10D.    Registered provider may apply to renew registration  
   10E.    ESOS agency for registered provider may renew registration  
   10F.    Registration continues until decision on renewal takes effect  
   10G.    Notice of renewal of registration  

              Subdivision D--Changes to registration etc.

   10H.    Registered provider may apply to add one or more courses at one or more locations to registration  
   10J.    ESOS agency for registered provider may add one or more courses at one or more locations to registration  
   10K.    Notice of addition of one or more courses at one or more locations to registration  
   10L.    Extension of a registered provider's period of registration  
   10M.    Continuation of registration if provider has not finished providing course before expiry of registration  

              Subdivision E--Other registration provisions

   11.     When a provider or registered provider meets the registration requirements  
   11A.    Rules relating to applications for registration etc.  
   11B.    ESOS agency may request further information or documents  
   11C.    Copies of decision notices to be given by the ESOS agency  
   13.     TPS Director may require information  
   14.     Notifying designated State authorities for approved school providers of non - compliance with this Act etc.  

           Division 4--The Register

   14A.    The Register  
   14B.    Updating the Register  

   PART 3--OBLIGATIONS--ON REGISTERED PROVIDERS

           Division 1A--Guide to this Part

   15A.    Guide to this Part  

           Division 1--General obligations

   15.     Registered providers must not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct  
   16.     Only Australian residents and Table C providers may be registered  
   17.     Registered providers must notify their ESOS agency of offences etc. by associates and high managerial agents  
   17A.    Registered providers must notify their ESOS agency of certain other events  
   18.     Payments to providers  
   19.     Giving information about accepted students  
   21.     Record keeping  
   21A.    Obligations relating to the agents of registered providers  
   23.     CRICOS annual registration charge  
   24.     TPS levies  
   26.     Disclosure obligations of registered providers  

           Division 2--Tuition fees

   27.     Tuition fees  
   28.     Obligation for registered provider to maintain account  
   29.     Obligations in relation to account money  
   30.     Regulations  
   31.      Exemption from requirement  
   32.     Offence  

   PART 4--THE--NATIONAL CODE

           Division 1--Guide to this Part

   33A.    Guide to this Part  

           Division 2--The national code

   33.     The national code  
   34.     Purpose of the national code  
   38.     Contents of the national code  
   40.     Legal effects of the national code  
   41.     Notification of the national code  
   44.     Regulations may prescribe penalties  

   PART 5--TUITION--PROTECTION SERVICE

           Division 1--Guide to this Part

   45.     Guide to this Part  

           Division 2--Obligations on registered providers when a provider or student defaults

              Subdivision A--Provider defaults

   46A.    When a registered provider defaults  
   46B.    Registered providers to notify of provider default  
   46D.    Obligations on registered providers in case of provider default  
   46E.    Offence for failure to discharge obligations  
   46F.    Registered providers to notify of outcome of discharge of obligations  

              Subdivision B--Student defaults

   47A.    When a student defaults  
   47B.    Requirement to make written agreement about student default  
   47D.    Refund under a written agreement about student default  
   47E.    Refund in other cases  
   47F.    Offence for failure to enter agreement that complies with requirements  
   47G.    Offence for failure to provide refund  
   47H.    Registered providers to notify of outcome of discharge of obligations  

              Subdivision C--Recovering an amount

   48.     Recovering an amount  

           Division 3--Student placement service

   49.     Student placement service  

           Division 4--Calls on the OSTF

   50A.    When a call is made on the OSTF  
   50B.    What the TPS Director must do when a call is made  
   50C.    Consequences of a payment under section 50B  
   50D.    TPS Director to notify Immigration Secretary  
   50E.    Right to refund may be cancelled etc. without compensation  

   PART 5A--OVERSEAS--STUDENTS TUITION FUND, THE TPS DIRECTOR AND THE TPS ADVISORY BOARD

           Division 1--Guide to this Part

   51.     Guide to this Part  

           Division 2--Overseas Students Tuition Fund and TPS levies

              Subdivision A--Overseas Students Tuition Fund

   52A.    Name of Fund  
   52B.    Credits to the OSTF  
   52C.    Purposes of the OSTF  

              Subdivision B--TPS levies

   53A.    TPS Director to work out the amount of TPS levies  
   53B.    Notice of amount of TPS levy  
   53C.    Notifying the ESOS agency of payment of first TPS levy  
   53D.    Reminder notices  

           Division 3--TPS Director

   54A.    Appointment of TPS Director  
   54B.    Functions of the TPS Director  
   54C.    Remuneration and allowances  
   54D.    Leave of absence  
   54E.    Restrictions on outside employment  
   54F.    Disclosure of interests  
   54G.    Resignation  
   54H.    Termination of appointment  
   54J.    Other terms and conditions  
   54K.    Acting TPS Director  
   54L.    Consultants  
   54M.    Indemnity  
   54N.    Application of finance law  

           Division 4--TPS Advisory Board

              Subdivision A--Appointment of Board members

   55A.    Establishment  
   55B.    Function of the Board  
   55C.    Membership  
   55D.    Appointment of Board members  
   55E.    Remuneration and allowances  
   55F.    Leave of absence  
   55G.    Restrictions on outside employment  
   55H.    Disclosure of interests  
   55J.    Disclosure of interests to the Board  
   55K.    Resignation  
   55L.    Termination  
   55M.    Other terms and conditions  
   55N.    Acting appointments  

              Subdivision B--Meetings of the TPS Advisory Board

   56A.    Convening meetings  
   56B.    Presiding at meetings  
   56C.    Quorum  
   56D.    Voting at meetings  
   56E.    Conduct of meetings  
   56F.    Minutes  
   56G.    Decisions without meetings  

   PART 6--CONDITIONS--, SUSPENSION AND CANCELLATION ETC.

           Division 1A--Guide to this Part

   83A.    Guide to this Part  

           Division 1--Conditions, suspension and cancellation

              Subdivision A--Sanctions for non-compliance etc.

   83.     ESOS agency may impose sanctions for non - compliance etc.  
   84.     ESOS agency may take further action  
   85.     ESOS agency may take action for breaches occurring before provider was registered  
   86.     Examples of conditions  
   87.     Breaches of this Act etc. by approved school providers  

              Subdivision C--Automatic suspension and cancellation

   89.     Automatic suspension if registered provider is no longer fit and proper  
   90.     Automatic suspension for non - payment of levy or charge  
   92.     Automatic cancellation for bankruptcy  

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

   93.     Procedure for taking action etc.  
   94.     ESOS agency may remove condition of registration or suspension of registration  
   95.     Effect of suspension  

           Division 2--Immigration Minister's suspension certificate

   97.     Immigration Minister may give a registered provider a suspension certificate  
   98.     Procedure for issuing certificate  
   99.     Content of certificate  
   100.    Duration of certificate  
   101.    Effect of certificate: offence  
   102.    Further certificates  
   103.    Updating the Register  

           Division 3--Offences

   107.    Failing to identify registered provider in written material  
   108.    Providing false or misleading information  
   109.    Access to electronic notification system  

   PART 7--MONITORING--, INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--Guide to this Part

   111A.   Guide to this Part  

           Division 1B--Compliance audits

   112A.   Compliance audits  

           Division 2--Notices requiring information and documents

              Subdivision A--Production notices

   113.    ESOS agency for a registered provider may give a production notice  
   113A.   TPS Director may give a production notice  
   114.    Contents of the production notice  
   115.    Serving production notices  

              Subdivision B--Attendance notices

   116.    Attendance notices  
   117.    Contents of the attendance notice  

              Subdivision C--Common rules for production and attendance notices

   118.    Scales of expenses  
   120.    Offence: failing to comply with a notice  
   121.    Offence: giving false or misleading information  
   122.    Offence: giving false or misleading document to authorised officer  
   122A.   Offence: giving false or misleading document to TPS officer  
   123.    Information and documents that incriminate a person  
   124.    Copies of documents  
   125.    Retaining of documents by authorised officer etc.  
   125A.   Retaining of documents by TPS officer  
   126.    Owner of document must be given copy  
   127.    Returning of documents  
   128.    Authorised officer etc. may apply to retain document for a further period  
   128A.   TPS officer may apply to retain document for a further period  
   129.    Magistrate or ART member may order retention for further period  

           Division 3--Monitoring

   130.    Monitoring powers  

           Division 4--Investigation

   131.    Investigation powers  

           Division 5--Infringement notices

   132.    Infringement notices  

           Division 6--Enforceable undertakings

   133.    Enforceable undertakings  

   PART 7A--REVIEW--OF DECISIONS

           Division 1--Introduction

   169AA.  Guide to this Part  

           Division 2--Review of decisions

   169AB.  Reviewable decisions  
   169AC.  Notice of decision  
   169AD.  Application for internal review of reviewable decisions made by delegates  
   169AE.  Internal review of reviewable decisions  
   169AF.  Internal review decision must be made within 90 days  
   169AG.  Review by the Administrative Review Tribunal  

   PART 8--MISCELLANEOUS

   169A.   Guide to this Part  
   170A.   Publishing results of enforcement and monitoring  
   170B.   Annual report  
   170C.   Minister may give directions to the ESOS agency  
   170.    Delegation  
   171A.   Subdelegation by TEQSA or National VET Regulator  
   171.    Reinstatement fee  
   172.    Late payment penalty  
   173.    Debts due to the Commonwealth  
   174.    Amounts payable by unincorporated bodies  
   175.    Giving information to relevant bodies etc.  
   176A.   Review of operation of tuition protection  
   176B.   ELICOS Standards  
   176C.   Foundation Program Standards  
   176D.   Refund of charge in special circumstances  
   177.    Regulations