Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsNo. 98, 2016
Compilation No. 11
Compilation date: 14 October 2024
Includes amendments: Act No. 39, 2024
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the VET Student Loans Act 2016 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 October 2024 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part 1--Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Act binds the Crown
4 Objects
5 Simplified outline of this Act
Part 2--Loans to students
Division 1--Secretary may approve loans
7 Secretary may approve loans
8 Amount of loan
Division 2--Eligible students
9 Eligible students
10 Enrolment and loan application
11 Citizenship and residency
12 Academic suitability
Division 3--Approved courses
13 Approved courses
14 Kinds of courses
15 Provision and delivery
16 The courses and loan caps determination
Division 4--Applications for loans
17 Applications for loans
18 Decisions about loans
Part 3--Paying and repaying loan amounts
Division 1--Paying loan amounts
19 Loan must be used to pay tuition fees
20 When Secretary is not required to pay loan amount
21 Notice about payment of loan amount
Division 2--Repaying loan amounts
22 When course provider must repay loan amount
Part 3A--VETSL debts
Division 1--Simplified outline of this Part
23AA Simplified outline of this Part
Division 2--VETSL debts
23BA VETSL debt
23BB VETSL debt discharged by death
23BC Notice to Commissioner
Division 3--Accumulated VETSL debts
23CA Simplified outline of this Division
23CB Stage 1--working out a former accumulated VETSL debt
23CC Stage 2--working out an accumulated VETSL debt
23CD Rounding of amounts
23CE Accumulated VETSL debt discharges earlier debts
23CF Accumulated VETSL debt discharged by death
Division 4--Voluntary discharge of debt
23DA Voluntary repayments
23DB Application of voluntary repayments
23DC Refunding of payments
Division 5--Compulsory discharge of debt
Subdivision A--Compulsory repayments
23EA Compulsory repayments
23EB Repayable VETSL debt for an income year
Subdivision B--Levy for overseas debtors
23EC Liability of overseas debtors to repay amounts
23ED Notices to be given to the Commissioner
Subdivision C--Assessments
23EE Commissioner may make assessments
23EF Notification of notices of assessment of tax
23EG Commissioner may defer making assessments
23EH Commissioner may amend assessments
Division 6--Application of tax legislation
23FA Returns, assessments, collection and recovery
23FB Charges and civil penalties for failing to meet obligations
23FC Pay as you go (PAYG) withholding
23FD Pay as you go (PAYG) instalments
23FE Failures to comply with section 23ED
23FF Extent of Commissioner's general administration of this Act
Part 4--Approved course providers
Division 1--Approving course providers
24 Meaning of approved course provider
25 Secretary may approve a body
26 Provider suitability requirements
27 Listed course providers may be taken to meet requirements
28 Application for approval
29 Period of approval
30 Decisions about approval
31 Fees for applications
32 When Secretary is not required to consider application
33 Period of approval extends to cover decision on re-approval
Division 2--Conditions of approval
34 Secretary may impose conditions
Division 3--Revoking and suspending approvals
35 Automatic revocation on winding up
35A Automatic revocation if body ceases to be a registered training organisation
36 Secretary may revoke or suspend approval
37 Immediate suspension in certain circumstances
38 Secretary must revoke approval on provider request
39 Secretary to notify relevant VET Regulator and VSL Tuition Protection Director if approval is revoked or suspended
Division 4A--External dispute resolution
42A Minister may specify external dispute resolution scheme
42B Meaning of approved external dispute resolution scheme
42BA External dispute resolution scheme--VET Student Loans Ombudsman
42C Approved course provider must comply
Division 5--Ensuring compliance
43 Compliance notices
44 Varying and revoking compliance notices
45 Compliance audits
46 Approved course provider must cooperate
Part 5--Other requirements for approved course providers
Division 1--General
47 Conditions of approval and course provider requirements
48 Provider must have certain processes and procedures
49 Provider must not use broker or agent
49A VSL tuition protection levy
Division 2--Information
50 Information for students
51 Retaining information and documents
52 Ongoing information requirements
53 Secretary may request information
54 Dealing with personal information
Division 3--Fees
55 Determining tuition fees
56 Student not liable for covered fees
57 Publishing tuition fees
Division 4--Census days
58 Determining and publishing census days
59 No penalty for cancelling enrolment before census day
Division 5--Marketing
60 Misrepresenting VET student loans
61 Offering certain inducements
62 Engaging in cold-calling
63 Use of third party contact lists
64 Other marketing requirements
Division 6--Personal liability for executive officers
65 Personal liability for executive officers
66 Reasonable steps to prevent offence or contravention
Part 5A--Tuition protection
Division 1--Preliminary
66A Application of this Part
66B When an approved course provider defaults in relation to a student
Division 2--Obligations when a provider defaults in relation to a student
66C Approved course providers must give notice of default to VSL Tuition Protection Director
66D Approved course providers must give notice of default to affected students
66E Student placement service
66F Obligations of providers to provide information about replacement courses
66G Obligations of replacement provider
66H Obligations where there is no replacement course
Part 5B--VSL Tuition Protection Fund, VSL Tuition Protection Director and VSL Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Board
Division 1--VSL Tuition Protection Fund
66J Name of Fund
66K Credits to the VSL Tuition Protection Fund
66L Purposes of the VSL Tuition Protection Fund
Division 2--VSL Tuition Protection Director
66M VSL Tuition Protection Director
66N Functions of the VSL Tuition Protection Director
66P Administrative provisions relating to the VSL Tuition Protection Director
Division 3--VSL Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Board
66Q Establishment and membership
66R Function of the VSL Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Board
66S Administrative provisions relating to the VSL Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Board
Part 6--Re-crediting HELP balances
Division 1--General
67 When HELP balance may be re-credited
Division 2--Re-crediting by course provider
68 Special circumstances
70 Secretary may act in place of provider
Division 3--Re-crediting by Secretary other than on discharge of debt
71 When Secretary may re-credit HELP balance
72 Student may apply for re-crediting by Secretary
72A When Secretary must re-credit HELP balance
73 Secretary must invite submissions before re-crediting
Division 4--Re-crediting by Secretary on discharge of debt
73A When Secretary must re-credit HELP balance--discharge of debt
Part 7--Review of decisions
Division 1--Reviewable decisions
74 Reviewable decisions
75 When applications are taken to be refused
Division 2--Reconsideration of reviewable decisions
76 Application for reconsideration
77 Reconsideration without application
78 Reconsideration by delegates of the Secretary or Commissioner
78A Reconsideration by delegates of the VSL Tuition Protection Director
79 Approved course providers must have review officers
80 Review by the Administrative Review Tribunal
Division 3--Reconsideration of other decisions
81 Reconsideration of other decisions
Part 8--Regulatory powers
82 Monitoring powers
83 Investigation powers
84 Civil penalty provisions
85 Infringement notices
86 Enforceable undertakings
87 Injunctions
88 Appointment of investigators
89 Delegation of regulatory powers
90 Other enforcement action
Part 9--Use of information
Division 1--Authorised use and disclosure of information
91 Use and disclosure by Commonwealth officers
92 Use and disclosure by certain VET officers
93 Disclosure to certain agencies, bodies or persons
94 Disclosure for purposes of law enforcement
95 Disclosure to other bodies for permitted purposes
96 Disclosure of publicly available information
97 Commissioner may disclose VET information
98 This Division does not limit use or disclosure of VET information
Division 2--Offences for misuse of personal information
99 VET officers
100 Use of personal information for other purposes
101 Unauthorised access to, or modification of, personal information
Part 10--General provisions
102 Communicating electronically
103 Secretary may publish information
103A Secretary must publish information relating to operation of the VET student loans program
104 Secretary may require a person to provide information about compliance with this Act
104A VSL Tuition Protection Director may require a person to provide information about compliance with Part 5A
105 Secretary may use computer programs to make decisions
105A VSL Tuition Protection Director may use computer programs to make decisions
106 Giving false or misleading information
107 Verifying tax file numbers
108 Contravening offence and civil penalty provisions
109 Certain references to course provider include references to agent
110 Continuing application of Act to certain persons
111 No entitlement to future rights
112 Protection from civil actions
113 Compensation for acquisition of property
113A Review of operation of tuition protection
114 Delegations
115 Appropriation
115A Alternative constitutional basis
116 Rules
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
98, 2016 | 7 Dec 2016 | 1 Jan 2017 (s 2(1) item 1) |
| |
31, 2017 | 12 Apr 2017 | Sch 1 (items 7-10): 1 July 2017 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (Student Loan Sustainability) Act 2018 | 76, 2018 | 24 Aug 2018 | Sch 3 (items 122-147): 1 Jan 2020 (s 2(1) item 4) | Sch 3 (items 144-147) |
Education and Other Legislation Amendment (VET Student Loan Debt Separation) Act 2018 | 116, 2018 | 25 Sept 2018 | Sch 1 (items 13-23): 1 July 2019 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Education Legislation Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Act 2019 | 103, 2019 | 28 Nov 2019 | Sch 3 (items 19-24): 28 Nov 2019 (s 2(1) item 4) | Sch 3 (item 24) |
Education Legislation Amendment (Tuition Protection and Other Measures) Act 2019 | 111, 2019 | 6 Dec 2019 | Sch 1 (items 1-42): 1 Jan 2020 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (item 42) |
Education Legislation Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Act 2020 | 62, 2020 | 19 June 2020 | Sch 1 (items 6, 7): 1 Jan 2021 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (item 7) and Sch 2 |
77, 2020 | 3 Sept 2020 | Sch 1 (items 68-71): 1 Jan 2021 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
Education Legislation Amendment (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection) Act 2020 | 101, 2020 | 20 Nov 2020 | Sch 3 (items 16, 17): 1 Jan 2021 (s 2(1) item 1) | -- |
13, 2021 | 1 Mar 2021 | Sch 2 (items 796, 797): 1 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 5) | -- | |
VET Student Payment Arrangements (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2021 | 17, 2021 | 1 Mar 2021 | Sch 1 (items 6-8): 2 Mar 2021 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific) Act 2023 | 100, 2023 | 27 Nov 2023 | Sch 1 (items 17-21): 29 Mar 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (item 21) |
Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 2) Act 2024 | 39, 2024 | 31 May 2024 | Sch 6 (items 77-80): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Provision affected | How affected |
Part 1 |
|
s 5..................... | am No 76, 2018; No 116, 2018; No 111, 2019 |
s 6..................... | am No 31, 2017; No 76, 2018; No 116, 2018; No 111, 2019; No 77, 2020; No 13, 2021; No 100, 2023 |
Part 2 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 8..................... | am No 76, 2018 |
Division 2 |
|
s 11.................... | am No 100, 2023 |
Division 3 |
|
s 16.................... | am No 116, 2018 |
Division 4 |
|
s 17.................... | am No 62, 2020 |
Part 3 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 19.................... | am No 116, 2018 |
s 20.................... | am No 76, 2018; No 17, 2021 |
Division 2 |
|
s 22.................... | am No 76, 2018; No 116, 2018 |
s 23.................... | am No 76, 2018 |
| rep No 111, 2019 |
Part 3A |
|
Part 3A.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Division 1 |
|
s 23AA.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Division 2 |
|
s 23BA.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
| am No 116, 2018 |
s 23BB.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23BC.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Division 3 |
|
s 23CA.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23CB.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23CC.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23CD.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23CE.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23CF.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Division 4 |
|
s 23DA.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23DB.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23DC.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Division 5 |
|
Subdivision A |
|
s 23EA.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23EB.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Subdivision B |
|
s 23EC.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23ED.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Subdivision C |
|
s 23EE.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23EF.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23EG.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23EH.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
Division 6 |
|
s 23FA.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23FB.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23FC.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23FD.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23FE.................. | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 23FF.................. | ad No 116. 2018 |
Part 4 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 25.................... | am No 31, 2017; No 111, 2019 |
Division 3 |
|
s 35A................... | ad No 17, 2021 |
s 38.................... | am No 111, 2019 |
s 39.................... | rs No 111, 2019 |
Division 4................ | rep No 111, 2019 |
s 40.................... | rep No 111, 2019 |
s 41.................... | rep No 111, 2019 |
s 42.................... | rep No 111, 2019 |
Division 4A |
|
s 42BA.................. | ad No 31, 2017 |
Division 5 |
|
s 46.................... | am No 111, 2019 |
Part 5 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 48.................... | am No 111, 2019 |
s 49A................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
Division 2 |
|
s 52.................... | am No 111, 2019 |
Part 5A |
|
Part 5A.................. | ad No 111, 2019 |
Division 1 |
|
s 66A................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66B................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
Division 2 |
|
s 66C................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66D................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66E................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66F................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66G................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66H................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
Part 5B |
|
Part 5B.................. | ad No 111, 2019 |
Division 1 |
|
s 66J.................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66K................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66L................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
Division 2 |
|
s 66M................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
| am No 101, 2020 |
s 66N................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
| am No 101, 2020 |
s 66P................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
Division 3 |
|
s 66Q................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66R................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 66S................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
Part 6 |
|
Part 6 heading............. | rs No 76, 2018 |
Division 1 |
|
Division 1................ | rs No 17, 2021 |
s 67.................... | am No 76, 2018; No 116, 2018 |
| rs No 17, 2021 |
Division 2 |
|
s 68.................... | am No 76, 2018 |
s 69.................... | am No 76, 2018 |
| rep No 111, 2019 |
s 70.................... | am No 76, 2018 |
Division 3 |
|
Division 3 heading.......... | am No 116, 2018 |
s 71.................... | am No 76, 2018 |
s 72.................... | am No 76, 2018 |
s 72A................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 73.................... | am No 76, 2018; No 111, 2019 |
Division 4 |
|
Division 4................ | ad No 116, 2018 |
s 73A................... | ad No 116, 2018 |
Part 7 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 74.................... | am No 76, 2018; No 116, 2018; No 111, 2019 |
Division 2 |
|
s 77.................... | am No 39, 2024 |
s 78.................... | am No 116, 2018; No 111, 2019 |
s 78A................... | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 80.................... | am No 111, 2019; No 39, 2024 |
Part 8 |
|
s 82.................... | am No 77, 2020; No 13, 2021 |
s 83.................... | am No 77, 2020; No 13, 2021 |
s 84.................... | am No 111, 2019; No 13, 2021 |
s 85.................... | am No 111, 2019; No 77, 2020 |
s 86.................... | am No 13, 2021 |
s 87.................... | am No 13, 2021 |
s 88.................... | am No 77, 2020 |
s 89.................... | am No 111, 2019; No 77, 2020 |
Part 9 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 92.................... | am No 111, 2019 |
s 93.................... | am No 103, 2019 |
s 94.................... | am No 111, 2019 |
Division 2 |
|
s 99.................... | am No 103, 2019 |
s 100................... | am No 103, 2019 |
Part 10 |
|
s 104A.................. | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 105A.................. | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 110................... | am No 111, 2019 |
s 112................... | am No 111, 2019 |
s 113A.................. | ad No 111, 2019 |
s 114................... | am No 111, 2019 |