Table of contents
Government eCAF
Some providers have asked if the department will be mandating the Government eCAF from 1 January 2022. The department can confirm that it will not be mandating the Government eCAF in this timeframe.
The department will be in contact with providers with further information regarding plans for the Government eCAF in the coming months.
Undergraduate Certificate sunsets 31 December 2021
Extending availability of the Undergraduate Certificate (UC) beyond 2021 requires agreement from Commonwealth, State and Territory Education and Skills Ministers. Ministers are expected to make a decision on this by the end of 2021.
Providers must not issue a UC qualification after 31 December 2021, unless Ministers agree to extend the availability of the UC.
Changes to HELP eligibility for former permanent humanitarian visa holders
From 1 January 2022, the citizenship and residency requirements for HELP assistance will be expanded to include eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holders.
The Higher Education Support Act 2003 has been amended to expand eligibility to eligible former humanitarian visa holders through the Education Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No.2) Act 2021, which received royal assent on 21 June 2021.
An eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder means a person who is:
- not a permanent humanitarian visa holder; and
- was previously a permanent humanitarian visa holder; and
- is the holder of a visa in a class or subclass of visas specified by the relevant Ministerial determination.
The relevant Ministerial determination has been made to specify that visa subclasses 155 and 157 (Resident Return) are the specified visa types that a former permanent humanitarian visa holder may transition to and retain their eligibility for HELP.
These visa classes have been chosen because if a permanent humanitarian visa holder travels outside of Australia outside of the travel facility of their visa, they must apply for a Resident Return visa (visa subclasses 155 or 157) to retain permanent residence in Australia. This change from 1 January 2022 ensures fairness and continuity of access to Commonwealth assistance for this cohort of vulnerable students.
From 1 January 2022, to be satisfied a person is an eligible former humanitarian visa holder, higher education providers may conduct a check using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online System (VEVO) as well as requesting further information from the student if necessary. Higher education providers will be contacted shortly for further guidance on assessing eligible former humanitarian visa holders.
A copy of the Ministerial determination is available.
Unique Student Identifiers in higher education
The Government has extended the USI from VET to higher education, legislated under the Education Legislation Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Act 2020. This will further reduce red tape for providers and give students access to a simpler, more streamlined tertiary identifier. It will also provide valuable data on pathways between VET and higher education, which will help inform future policy development and program delivery.
Who needs a USI?
From 1 January 2021, domestic students commencing a course of study and accessing Commonwealth assistance will need a USI prior to census date. Providers are encouraged to include creation of a USI in their enrolment processes for students who do not already have one.
Students accessing OS-HELP from 1 January will need a USI.
A USI is not a requirement for students accessing SA-HELP until 1 January 2023.
From 1 January 2023, all higher education students will need a USI in order to graduate and receive their award (unless an exemption applies).
New onshore international students are encouraged to obtain and provide their USI as part of the enrolment process, but it is not yet mandatory.
Reporting and verifying USIs in TCSI?
A student who does not supply their USI cannot be determined to be eligible for Commonwealth assistance. Evidence of the student’s USI must be obtained by the provider and reported to the department through TCSI. Verification and notification of the verification status of USI is now enabled in TCSI. Unverified USIs will continue to attempt to verify. Currently, unverified USIs do not prevent loans from being transmitted to the ATO, but the department expects that to change in the future.
Verification of the USI is required to ensure that the student is a unique individual and the information they are providing is true and correct. This allows the Government to manage a student’s HELP entitlement and decreases the instance of loans being rejected where a student has exceeded their HELP balance or is otherwise not entitled.
Where do I get help?
Providers are able to verify USIs prior to submission to TCSI through the USI Registry System. Higher education providers can access the USI Registry System by:
- integrating USI web services with Student Management Systems
- accessing the USI Organisation Portal.
More information is available from the Accessing the USI Registry System page of the USI website.
Troubleshooting verification issues
Analysis of a provider’s data shows two typical verification issues as well as a range of other issues:
Very common issues:
- A middle name appears in a different field to what is in the USI Registry, such as the middle name appearing with the first name. The issue often lies with what appears on the student’s identity documents. Sometimes it is the identity documents that have recorded the name incorrectly and the student should resolve this with the relevant agency.
- Students who marry and change their surname since creating their USI.
Common issues:
- Students putting preferred names rather than the name as it appears on their identity documents (e.g. Stan instead of Stanley).
- Students who have a native language name and chosen English name; it’s common for these students to use their English name on many forms but the USI will have their native language name as this is what is on their identity documents, such as passports.
- In some cases, there may be a name change due to a change in gender identity.
- If the USI is valid but no other features match: while it’s possible that there may be genuine discrepancies in every field, it’s more likely this is an indication that the USI is valid but does not belong to the student with those details.
- Where the date of birth does not match, it is most common that the first and middle names don’t either, indicating that the wrong USI has been supplied. Otherwise it is typically just an error in the date of birth such as a transposition.
- Names with extended characters, for example O’Connor vs Oconnor. The USI Registry typically supports the extended characters, but some systems do not.
- Other minor typographical errors such as extra spaces or additional punctuation such as period characters as in J C Doe vs J.C. Doe.
Less common issues and how to address them:
- USI has been revoked - the student needs to supply their current USI.
- Invalid USI - the student’s CHESSN has been provided instead of a USI.
- USI account is suspended - the student should contact the Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar (OSIR) to resolve any issues with their account and advise the provider of the outcome so the USI can be reverified or appropriate other action.
2022 HELP publications
HELP Booklets: The department is working to incorporate legislative and other changes to the content for the 2022 suite of HELP booklets. Electronic versions will be available by the end of the year ready for your new 2022 enrolments. While the department does not print hard copy booklets, providers can request the relevant print files of the various HELP booklets from the department and print hard copies themselves, or direct students to download/read the booklets from Study Assist. For reference, the 2021 HELP Booklets are available from the Study Assist website.
Commonwealth assistance forms: As is the case this year, there will be no forms printed in 2022. The Government eCAF makes changes as and when required and instructs providers to make the changes to their own eCAFs when necessary to ensure that they remain compliant.
HELP Brochures: In 2022, the department would like to bring back the HELP brochures. However, in lieu of a three-fold design, an A4 factsheet may be more suitable and printer friendly for providers and students. If you have any suggestion that you would like to share or you are interested in providing input to the design process of this new product, please email HEenquiries@dese.gov.au.
2021 HELP provider workshops
Due to COVID-19 the department’s 2020 annual HELP provider workshop was cancelled. We are currently exploring options to host the workshop virtually in December this year. The event is an opportunity for participants to engage with the department in operational workshops relating to the higher education sector.
Once details of the event have been finalised, you will receive event registration information via email. Please ensure your institution's details are up to date in HITS to ensure you receive the invitation.
We are seeking your input for workshop topics. Please send your topic idea(s) with a contact phone number to HEenquiries@dese.gov.au by 31 October 2021.
University Mission based Compacts 2021–23
The 2021–23 Mission based Compacts (compacts) were submitted by universities on 31 July 2021 and are expected to be finalised and published on the department’s website by the end of October 2021. The compacts are part of an iterative process of engaging with universities and will form the basis for conversations between the department and each university on challenges and opportunities for higher education and ways to improve student outcomes. Discussions are expected to commence in late 2021 and continue through 2022, with a view to informing future compacts.
Compacts are a legislative requirement under subsection 19 110(1) of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) for all Table A and Table B providers to receive Commonwealth grant funding. Compacts demonstrate that the Australian Government and higher education providers have a shared and mutual commitment to provide students with high quality educational experiences and outcomes and to building research, innovation capabilities and international competitiveness. They are a quality and accountability mechanism intended to provide transparency about how a provider’s strategic mission aligns with the Government’s goals for higher education, innovation, teaching and learning, research and research training, equity and other relevant issues.
The 2021–23 compacts will operate for three years to align with the three-year funding agreement cycle for universities. Further information can be found on the Mission based Compacts page.
The National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF)
The National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF), which commenced on 1 January 2021, aims to enhance university-industry engagement. The fund provides grants to Table A providers, supporting activities in the following three priority areas to produce job-ready graduates: increasing work-integrated learning, STEM-skilled graduates and industry partnerships. Universities are preparing for the three-year NPILF pilot (2022–24), and submitted their NPILF Pilot Plans in August 2021, which are currently being assessed by the department.
The NPILF framework has been designed to promote innovation, the expansion of best practice, and to provide universities with flexibility in developing their plan in order to respond to individual missions, local circumstances and community needs. The Pilot Plans present a set of priorities identified by universities for the 2022–24 pilot cycle. Each Plan proposes a metric (with target) and case study for each of the NPILF priority areas, capturing six activities in total.
The department thanks all participating universities for submitting their Pilot Plans. The department intends to provide feedback to universities on their plan by the end of October 2021. Please email NPILF@dese.gov.au with any questions you have.
Tuition protection review
The Former Minister for Education and Youth, the Hon Alan Tudge MP and the Former Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, the Hon Stuart Robert MP, have initiated a review of Australia’s tuition protection arrangements across the higher education sector, the international education sector, and the VET Student Loans (VSL) program.
Government managed tuition protection provides significant surety to students and encourages them to invest in their education, contribute to the Australian economy and gain a qualification.
The Tuition Protection Review will provide an invaluable opportunity to consider the suitability of current tuition protection arrangements and to identify any areas for improvement. The review will also consider the suitability and feasibility of expanding the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) across the VET sector.
The purpose and scope of the review are outlined in the Terms of Reference, available on the department’s website, 2021 Tuition Protection Review - Terms of Reference.
Nous Group has been engaged by the department to undertake the review. A consultation process will be undertaken across the higher education, VET, and international education sectors to inform the review.
If you wish to contribute to this review, please contact Nous Group at jamie.tang@nousgroup.com.
Enhancing graduate employability with the Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement
The Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) is an official document that can be issued by providers to students upon graduation. It explains the Australian higher education system, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), and supplies details on the course(s) undertaken by an individual student.
Introduced in 2008, the AHEGS is based on the European Diploma Supplement and is designed to assist graduates seeking employment, both within Australia and overseas, by improving recognition and understanding of Australian higher education qualifications.
The AHEGS helps explain Australian higher education awards to people outside Australia and thus enhances the mobility of graduates and Australia’s competitiveness in the international higher education market.
Take-up of the AHEGS has been very strong. But while all Australian universities issue an AHEGS to graduates, fewer than half of independent providers are currently issuing their graduates with AHEGS. Doing so would help to enhance the international portability and acceptance of the qualifications being awarded.
If your institution wishes to start issuing AHEGS to graduating students, please read the instructions contained in the Guidelines for the presentation of Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement and the FAQs. As use of the trademarked AHEGS words and logo is licensed to the department, you must enter into a licence deed prior to issuing.
- The licensing process is free of charge.
- The first step in the process is for your institution to produce a draft template of how your AHEGS would appear (in line with the Guidelines).
- The department will check your draft for consistency, and then a licence deed is created between your institution and the department.
For enquiries, please contact ahegs@dese.gov.au.
Short courses for NUHEPs in semester 2, 2021
On 30 April 2021 the Australian Government announced a package of measures to support the non-university higher education providers (NUHEPs) most affected by COVID-19 and border closures. This package includes $26.1 million for 5,000 short course places for domestic students at NUHEPs for delivery in Semester 2, 2021. This is in addition to the 2,500 short course places already allocated to NUHEPs this year, bringing the total number of NUHEP short course places to 7,500 in 2021.
Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Program, and Creative Arts Scholarships
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) program and the Creative Arts Scholarships are intended to improve access to, and completion of, tertiary education courses for students commencing a new course of study in 2021 from a regional or remote area in Australia.
These scholarships are for regional and remote students. The RRES program is in its fifth round and is available for students studying across all disciplines. The Creative Arts Scholarships are for students commencing (or that have already commenced) an eligible creative arts bachelor degree in 2021. Scholarships are valued at up to $18,000 for study Australia-wide.
Providers should promote this great opportunity to regional and remote students. Both scholarships will be available until fully allocated in 2021. Information and applications for the scholarships are through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
The application process for both scholarships includes special considerations for students, including:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- those from remote or very remote areas, or areas of high unemployment
- women studying in fields with low female representation
- people with disability
- those affected by natural disasters (such as drought, flood or bushfire).
Students in these situations are encouraged to contact QTAC directly to discuss their circumstances and eligibility on 1800 290 979 or at scholarships@qtac.edu.au.
Tertiary Access Payment
Thank you to universities, students and peak organisations who recently took part in the independent evaluation of the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) with Callida Indigenous consulting. Feedback is vital in assessing outcomes of the program in 2021 and identifying ways to improve future delivery. Advice on the rollout of the program for 2022 will be provided following receipt of the evaluation report.
More information on the TAP is available on the department’s Tertiary Access Payment page. Please email regional@dese.gov.au if you have questions.
TCSI Update
The Tertiary Collection of Student Information (TCSI) team provides regular communications to the sector to support its implementation. The webinars offer providers an opportunity to listen in to new information about 2022 reporting requirements and cover off hot issues coming from the TCSI Support inbox. If you’re not already attending the webinars or receiving the TCSI newsletters, please make your request to TCSIsupport@dese.gov.au.