Higher Education Support Act 2003 - Amendment No. 1 to the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No. 1 (22/08/2007) (Cth)
Commonwealth of Australia
Higher Education Support Act 2003
COMMONWEALTH GRANT SCHEME GUIDELINES No.1
Guidelines made under subsection 238-10(1) of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the ‘Act’)
I, Julie Bishop, Minister for Education, Science and Training, make under subsection 238-10(1) of the Act the following amendments to the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No.1 for the purposes of Part 2-2 of the Act.
Dated this........................22nd..............................day of.............August........................2007.
_________________________________________
JULIE BISHOP
Minister for Education, Science and Training
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Higher Education Support Act 2003
COMMONWEALTH GRANT SCHEME GUIDELINES NO.1
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
(i) CITATION
These Guidelines may be cited as Amendment Number 1 to the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No.1.
(ii) AUTHORITY
These Guidelines are made under section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
(iii) DATE OF EFFECT
These Guidelines commence as follows:
Item 2 commences on the day after the day on which the Guidelines are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments; and
Items 1 and 3 commence on 1 January 2008.
(iv) AMENDMENT
These Guidelines amend the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No. 1 which were registered on 12 December 2006 and which commenced on 13 December 2006 (see F2006L04079).
PURPOSE
The purpose of these guidelines is to amend the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No. 1.
ITEM 1
Repeal Chapter 7 and replace the chapter with the following:
CHAPTER 7 REDUCTION IN ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS FAILING TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS
7.1 PURPOSE
7.1.1 The purpose of this chapter is to impose on higher education providers that receive funding under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme the requirements known as the:
National Governance Protocols under paragraph 33-17(1)(a) of the Act and to specify a date (the “Protocols Compliance Date”) under paragraph 33-17(1)(c) of the Act; and
Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) under paragraph 33-17(1)(b) of the Act and to specify a date (the “HEWRRs Compliance Date”) under paragraph 33-17(1)(c) of the Act.
7.1.5 In this chapter, all references to the Corporations Act are to the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth) as in force from time to time.
7.5 NATIONAL GOVERNANCE PROTOCOLS
7.5.1 The following requirements known as the National Governance Protocols are imposed under paragraph 33-17(1)(a) of the Act on higher education providers that receive funding under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme according to whether such provider are or are not Table A providers.
Table A providers
7.5.5 In the case of the Australian Catholic University, where a Protocol refers to enabling legislation, it is taken to mean its constitution and/or where applicable, the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
7.5.10 Protocol 1: the higher education provider must have its objectives and/or functions specified in its enabling legislation.
7.5.15 Protocol 2: the higher education provider’s governing body must adopt a statement of its primary responsibilities, which must include:
a)appointing the vice-chancellor as the chief executive officer of the higher education provider, and monitoring his/her performance;
b)approving the mission and strategic direction of the higher education provider, as well as the annual budget and business plan;
c)overseeing and reviewing the management of the higher education provider and its performance;
d)establishing policy and procedural principles, consistent with legal requirements and community expectations;
e)approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability, including general overview of any controlled entities. A controlled entity is one that satisfies the test of control in section 50AA of the Corporations Act;
f)overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across the higher education provider, including commercial undertakings;
g)overseeing and monitoring the academic activities of the higher education provider;
h)approving significant commercial activities of the higher education provider.
7.5.20 The higher education provider’s governing body, while retaining its ultimate governance responsibilities, may have an appropriate system of delegations to ensure the effective discharge of these responsibilities.
7.5.25 Protocol 3: the higher education provider must have the duties of the members of the governing body and sanctions for the breach of these duties specified in its enabling legislation. Other than the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and the Presiding Member of the Academic Board (s) each member must be appointed or elected ad personam. All members of the governing body must be responsible and accountable to the governing body. When exercising the functions of a member of the governing body, a member of the governing body must always act in the best interests of the higher education provider.
7.5.30 Duties of members must include the requirements to:
a)act always in the best interests of the higher education provider as a whole, with this obligation to be observed in priority to any duty a member may owe to those electing or appointing him or her;
b)act in good faith, honestly and for a proper purpose;
c)exercise appropriate care and diligence;
d)not improperly use their position to gain an advantage for themselves or someone else; and
e)disclose and avoid conflicts of interest (with appropriate procedures for that purpose similar to those for public companies).
7.5.35 There should be safeguards, exemptions and protections for members of a higher education provider’s governing body for matters or things done or omitted in good faith in pursuance of the relevant legislation. Without limitation, this should include such safeguards, exemptions and protections as are the equivalent of those that would be available were the member a director under the Corporations Act. The higher education provider (with the exception of those subject to the Corporations Act) must have a requirement that the governing body has the power (by a two-thirds majority) to remove any member of the governing body from office if the member breaches the duties specified above included in its enabling legislation. A member must automatically vacate the office if he or she is, or becomes, disqualified from acting as a Director of a company or managing corporations under Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act.
7.5.40 Protocol 4: each governing body must make available a programme of induction and professional development for members to build the expertise of the governing body and to ensure that all members are aware of the nature of their duties and responsibilities. At regular intervals the governing body must assess both its performance and its conformance with these Protocols and identify needed skills and expertise for the future.
7.5.45 Protocol 5: the size of the governing body must not exceed 22 members. There must be at least two members having financial expertise (as demonstrated by relevant qualifications and financial management experience at a senior level in the public or private sector) and at least one member with commercial expertise (as demonstrated by relevant experience at a senior level in the public or private sector). Where the size of the governing body is limited to less than 10 members, one member with financial expertise and one with commercial expertise would be considered as meeting the requirements. There must be a majority of external independent members who are neither enrolled as a student nor employed by the higher education provider. There must not be current members of any State or Commonwealth parliament or legislative assembly other than where specifically selected by the governing body itself.
7.5.50 Protocol 6: the higher education provider must adopt systematic procedures for the nomination of prospective members of the governing body for those categories of members that are not elected. The responsibility for proposing such nominations for the governing body may be delegated to a nominations committee of the governing body that the Chancellor would ordinarily chair.
7.5.55 Members so appointed must be selected on the basis of their ability to contribute to the effective working of the governing body by having needed skills, knowledge and experience, an appreciation of the values of a higher education provider and its core activities of teaching and research, its independence and academic freedom and the capacity to appreciate what the higher education provider’s external community needs from that higher education provider.
7.5.60 To provide for the introduction of new members consistent with maintaining continuity and experience, members’ terms must generally overlap and governing bodies must establish the maximum period to be served. This should not generally exceed 12 years unless otherwise specifically agreed by the majority of the governing body.
7.5.65 Protocol 7: the higher education provider is to codify its internal grievance procedures and publish them with information about the procedure for submitting complaints to the relevant ombudsman or the equivalent relevant agency.
7.5.70 Protocol 8: the annual report of the higher education provider must be used for reporting on high level outcomes.
7.5.75 Protocol 9: the annual report of the higher education provider must include a report on risk management within the organisation.
7.5.80 Protocol 10: the governing body is required to oversee controlled entities by taking reasonable steps to bring about the following:
a)ensuring that the entity’s board possesses the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to provide proper stewardship and control of the entity;
b)appointing some directors to the board of the entity who are not members of the governing body or officers or students of the higher education provider, where possible;
c)ensuring that the board adopts and regularly evaluates a written statement of its own governance principles;
d)ensuring that the board documents a clear corporate and business strategy which reports on and updates annually the entity’s long-term objectives and includes an annual business plan containing achievable and measurable performance targets and milestones; and
e)establishing and documenting clear expectations of reporting to the governing body, such as a draft business plan for consideration and approval before the commencement of each financial year and at least quarterly reports against the business plan.
7.5.85 Protocol 11: A higher education provider must assess the risk arising from its part ownership of any entity (including an associated company as defined in the Accounting Standards issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board), partnership and joint venture. The governing body of the provider must, where appropriate in light of the risk assessment, use its best endeavours to obtain an auditor’s report (including audit certification and management letter) of the entity by a State, Territory or Commonwealth Auditor-General or by an external auditor.
Non-Table A providers
7.5.90 Protocol 1: the higher education provider must have its objectives specified in a constitution or such other document that establishes the higher education provider as a legal entity.
7.5.95 Protocol 2: the governing body of the higher education provider must adopt a statement of its primary responsibilities, which must include:
a)appointing the chief executive officer of the higher education provider and monitoring his/her performance;
b)appointing, where necessary, the secretary or public officer of the higher education provider;
c)ensuring that the processes of the governing body are carried out in accordance with the constitution of the governing body;
d)approving the mission and strategic direction of the higher education provider, as well as the annual budget and business plan;
e)appointing an external auditor;
f)appointing, where necessary, an audit committee that consists of at least three independent members (excluding the chair) of the governing body;
g)establishing policy and procedural principles consistent with legal requirements and community expectations;
h)approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability, including general overview of any controlled entities. A controlled entity is one that satisfies the test of control in section 50AA of the Corporations Act;
i)overseeing and reviewing the management of the higher education provider and its performance as a higher education provider;
j)overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across the higher education provider, including commercial undertakings;
k)overseeing and monitoring academic activities of the higher education provider; and
l)approving significant commercial activities of the higher education provider.
7.5.100 The higher education provider’s governing body, while retaining its ultimate governance responsibilities, may have an appropriate system of delegations to ensure the effective discharge of these responsibilities.
7.5.105 Protocol 3: the higher education provider must have the duties of the members of the governing body and sanctions for the breach of these duties specified in its constitution or other such document of the higher education provider. Other than the Chair of the Governing Body, Chief Executive Officer and the Presiding Member of the Academic Board (or the equivalent officer) each member must be appointed or elected ad personam. All members of the governing body must be responsible and accountable to the governing body. When exercising the functions of a member of the governing body, a member of the governing body must always act in the best interests of the higher education provider.
7.5.110 Duties of members must include the requirements to:
a)act always in the best interests of the higher education provider as a whole, with this obligation to be observed in priority to any duty a member may owe to those electing or appointing him or her;
b)act in good faith, honestly and for a proper purpose;
c)exercise appropriate care and diligence;
d)not improperly use their position to gain an advantage for themselves or someone else; and
e)disclose and avoid conflicts of interest (with appropriate procedures for that purpose similar to those for public companies).
7.5.115 There should be safeguards, exemptions and protections for members of a higher education provider’s governing body for matters or things done or omitted in good faith. Without limitation, this should include such safeguards, exemptions and protections as are the equivalent of those that would be available were the member a director under the Corporations Act. The higher education provider (with the exception of those subject to the Corporations Act) must have a requirement that the governing body has the power to remove any member of the governing body from office if the member breaches the duties specified above included in its constitution or other such document of the higher education provider. A member must automatically vacate the office if he or she is, or becomes, disqualified from acting as a Director of a company or managing corporations under Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act.
7.5.120 Protocol 4: each governing body must make available a programme of induction and professional development for members to build the expertise of the governing body and to ensure that all members are aware of the nature of their duties and responsibilities. At regular intervals the governing body must assess both its performance and its conformance with these Protocols and identify needed skills and expertise for the future.
7.5.125 Protocol 5: the size of governing body must not exceed 22 members. There must be at least two members having financial expertise (as demonstrated by relevant qualifications and financial management experience at a senior level in the public or private sector) and at least one member with commercial expertise (as demonstrated by relevant experience at a senior level in the public or private sector). Where the size of the governing body is limited to less than 10 members, one member with financial expertise and one with commercial expertise would be considered as meeting the requirements. A majority of the members must be external independent members who are neither enrolled as a student nor employed by the higher education provider. There must not be current members of any State or Commonwealth parliament or legislative assembly other than where specifically selected by the governing body itself.
7.5.130 Protocol 6: the higher education provider must adopt systematic procedures for the nomination of prospective members of the governing body for those categories of members that are not elected.
7.5.135 Protocol 7: the higher education provider is to codify its internal grievance procedures and publish them with information about the procedure for submitting complaints to the relevant ombudsman or the equivalent relevant agency.
7.5.140 Protocol 8: the annual report of the higher education provider must be used for reporting on high level outcomes required by the Commonwealth.
7.5.145 Protocol 9: the annual report of the higher education provider must include a report on risk management within the organisation.
7.5.150 Protocol 10: the governing body is required to oversee controlled entities by taking reasonable steps to bring about the following:
a)ensuring that the entity’s board possesses the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to provide proper stewardship and control of the entity;
b)appointing some directors to the board of the entity who are not members of the governing body or officers or students of the higher education provider, where possible;
c)ensuring that the board regularly adopts and evaluates a written statement of its own governance principles;
d)ensuring that the board documents a clear corporate and business strategy which reports and updates annually the entity’s long-term objectives and includes an annual business plan containing achievable and measurable performance targets and milestones; and
e)establishing and documenting clear expectations of reporting to the governing body, such as a draft business plan for consideration and approval before the commencement of each financial year and at least quarterly reports against the business plan.
7.5.155 Protocol 11: the higher education provider and its associated entities shall be audited by an external auditor and the auditor’s report (including audit certification and management letter) provided to the higher education provider’s governing body or the higher education provider’s audit committee.
7.10 DATE TO MEET THE NATIONAL GOVERNANCE PROTOCOLS (paragraph 33‑17(1)(c))
7.10.1 For the purposes of paragraph 33-17(1)(c) of the Act, the Protocols Compliance Date for a higher education provider in relation to the provider’s basic grant amount for a year under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme is 31 August of the preceding year.
7.15 HIGHER EDUCATION WORKPLACE RELATIONS REQUIREMENTS
7.15.1 The following requirements known as the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) are imposed under paragraph 33-17(1)(b) of the Act on higher education providers that receive funding under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme.
7.15.5 A higher education provider’s workplace arrangements, including collective and individual workplace agreements and workplace policies and practices, are to comply with the HEWRRs.
7.15.10 The HEWRRs apply to all workplace agreements:
a)made and approved or certified after 29 April 2005 and before 27 March 2006; and
b)lodged on or after 27 March 2006.
Non-Table A providers
7.15.15 Higher education providers that are not Table A providers who employ all staff on individual arrangements, will be assessed on the content of their workplace agreements, policies and practices, for compliance with the HEWRRs.
Obligation to demonstrate compliance and access to documents
7.15.20 The Vice-Chancellor, or a person in an equivalent position, of the higher education provider is required to provide a signed statement accompanying a submission outlining compliance with each of the HEWRRs by the HEWRRs compliance date if the provider wishes the Minister to consider whether he or she is satisfied that the provider is compliant with the HEWRRs. The submission must include reference to relevant clauses and sections in workplace agreements and in other relevant documents, such as workplace policies, practices and guidelines. The provider must provide the Department with access to the relevant documents, including any template for and or common elements of its individual agreements upon request.
7.15.25 A higher education provider must comply with the HEWRRs during any year in which the provider receives no reduction in its basic grant amount under section 33-17. If the provider fails to do so, a reduction in the basic grant amount will occur in the following year. There will be no retrospective reductions in assistance.
7.15.30 At the request of the Department, a higher education provider must at any time (and whether before or after the Minister makes a decision under paragraph 33-17(1)(c)):
a)allow the Department or its representative full access to the premises and staff of the higher education provider; and
b)during the access described above, provide all assistance requested,
to enable the Department or its representatives to undertake a detailed specific assessment of the higher education provider’s compliance with the HEWRRs.
7.15.35 The Department may choose not to undertake a specific assessment or choose to undertake more than one assessment. Assessments may be undertaken at any reasonable time. Assessments may be used by the Minister to decide if he or she is satisfied that the higher education provider has complied with the HEWRRs for the purposes of making a decision under paragraph 33-17(1)(c) of the Act, or otherwise to assess compliance by the higher education provider with the HEWRRs.
7.15.40 The Minister may reduce future Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding payable to a higher education provider where the higher education provider makes a false or misleading statement in relation to the higher education provider’s compliance with the HEWRRs.
Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs)
7.15.45 HEWRR 1 Choice in Agreement Making: the higher education provider must provide employees with genuine choice and flexibility in agreement making by offering Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) to all employees
7.15.50 The higher education provider’s certified agreements, made (or varied) and certified after 29 April 2005 and before 27 March 2006, are to include a clause that expressly allows for AWAs to operate to the exclusion of the certified agreement or prevail over the certified agreement to the extent of any inconsistency. The following clause is recommended:
The [insert higher education provider’s name] may enter into AWAs with its employees. Those AWAs may either operate to the exclusion of this certified agreement or prevail over the terms of this certified agreement to the extent of any inconsistency, as specified in each AWA.
7.15.55 HEWRR 2 Direct relationships with employees: the higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices must provide for direct consultation between employees and the higher education provider on workplace relations and human resources matters. The involvement of third parties representing employees must only occur at the request of an affected employee.
7.15.60 Workplace relations consultative committees and associated committee processes must include direct employee involvement. Employee involvement in negotiations and discussions on workplace relations and human resources issues must not be restricted to third party representation only.
7.15.65 HEWRR 3 Workplace Flexibility: the higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices are to facilitate and promote fair and flexible arrangements. The higher education provider must have working arrangements and conditions of employment which are tailored to the circumstances of the higher education provider and which benefit both the higher education provider and its employees.
7.15.70 The higher education provider’s workplace agreements should expressly displace previous workplace agreements and relevant awards.
7.15.75 The higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices are not to inhibit the capacity of the higher education provider and its employees to respond to changing circumstances. The higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices must not limit or restrict the higher education provider’s ability to make decisions and implement change in respect of course offerings and associated staffing requirements, including not placing limitations on the forms and mix of employment arrangements.
7.15.80 The higher education provider’s workplace agreements must be simple, flexible and principle-based documents which avoid excessive detail and prescription.
7.15.85 HEWRR 4 Productivity and Performance: the higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices must support organisational productivity and performance.
7.15.90 The higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices must include a fair and transparent performance management scheme which rewards high performing individual staff. Consistent with this, the higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices must also include efficient processes for managing poor performing staff.
7.15.95 HEWRR 5 Freedom of Association: the higher education provider’s workplace agreements, policies and practices must be consistent with freedom of association principles contained in the Workplace Relations Act 1996. The higher education provider must neither encourage nor discourage union membership.
7.15.100 The higher education provider must not use Commonwealth Grant Scheme funds to pay union staff salaries, or fund union facilities and activities.
7.20 DATE TO MEET THE HIGHER EDUCATION WORKPLACE RELATIONS REQUIREMENTS (paragraph 33-17(1)(c))
7.20.1 For the purposes of paragraph 33-17(1)(c) of the Act, the HEWRRs Compliance Date for a higher education provider in relation to the provider’s basic grant amount for a year under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme is 31 August of the preceding year.
ITEM 2
Delete paragraph 8.5 of Chapter 8 of the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No.1 and replace the paragraph with the following:
8.5 ADJUSTMENTS TO BASIC GRANT AMOUNT (section 33-20): Table A providers
8.5.1 The adjustments set out in section 33-25 of the Act apply only to a Table A provider’s basic grant amount.
2007 Adjustments
8.5.5 Except as provided in paragraphs 8.5.10a, 8.5.10b and 8.5.10c, the adjustment referred to in subsections 33-25(3) and 33-25(4) of the Act does not apply to a provider’s basic grant amount for the 2007 grant year.
8.5.10a If a provider’s corrected basic amount for 2006 is less than 99% of the provider’s basic grant amount for that year, an adjustment to the provider's basic grant amount for the year 2007 will be calculated using the methodology specified in subsections 33-25(4) and 33-25(5) of the Act (‘the adjustment’), unless the Minister determines in a particular case that it would be reasonable to make an adjustment of a lesser amount, being 25% of the adjustment calculated using that methodology (the ‘lesser adjustment’).
8.5.10b In a case where the Minister determines that it would be reasonable to make a lesser adjustment under paragraph 8.5.10a, the Minister may determine that the portion of the provider’s basic grant amount that is the difference between the adjustment and the lesser adjustment is subject to conditions in relation to the expenditure of that funding that are to be specified in the provider’s funding agreement for the 2007 grant year.
8.5.10c A provider’s basic grant amount for 2007 shall be reduced by the adjustment or lesser adjustment, whichever is applicable.
ITEM 3
Delete Chapter 9 and replace the chapter with the following:
CHAPTER 9 DETERMINING THE FUNDING CLUSTERS
9.1 PURPOSE
9.1.1 The purpose of this chapter is, pursuant to section 33-35 of the Act, to specify how to determine the funding clusters, or particular parts of funding clusters, in which units of study are included or the particular funding cluster, or a particular part of a funding cluster, in which a particular unit of study is included for the purposes of the Act.
9.5 DETERMINING THE FUNDING CLUSTERS (section 33-35)
9.5.1 The funding cluster, or a particular part of a funding cluster, in which a unit of study is included is determined in the following way. Clusters are defined by the field of education (FOE) code arising from applying the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) as set out in the table below. A unit with an FOE code of 090701 (psychology) is allocated to ‘behavioural science’ or ‘clinical psychology’ within a funding cluster according to whether the course of study of which it forms part is accredited for the purposes of professional registration by the specified colleges of the Australian Psychological Society.
| Funding cluster | Part of funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 1 Law, accounting, administration, economics, commerce | Law | 0909 | |
| Accounting | 0801 | ||
| Business and Management | 0803 | ||
| Sales and Marketing | 0805 | ||
| Tourism | 0807 | ||
| Office Studies | 0809 | ||
| Banking, Finance and Related Fields | 0811 | ||
| Other Management and Commerce | 0899 | ||
| Economics and Econometrics | 0919 | ||
| Food and Hospitality | 1101 | ||
| Personal Services | 1103 | ||
| General Education Programmes | 1201 | ||
| Other Mixed Field Programmes | 1299 | ||
| Funding cluster 2 Humanities | History | 090305 | |
| Archaeology | 090307 | ||
| Indigenous Studies | 090311 | ||
| Justice and Law Enforcement | 0911 | ||
| Language and Literature | 091500 | ||
| English Language | 091501 | ||
| Linguistics | 091521 | ||
| Literature | 091523 | ||
| Language and Literature not elsewhere classified | 091599 | ||
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 0917 |
| Funding cluster | Part of funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 3 Mathematics, statistics, behavioural science, social studies, education, computing, built environment, other health | Mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment or other health | Mathematical Sciences | 0101 |
| Computer Science | 0201 | ||
| Information Systems | 0203 | ||
| Other Information Technology | 0299 | ||
| Architecture and Urban Environment | 0401 | ||
| Building | 0403 | ||
| Public Health | 061300 | ||
| Occupational Health and Safety | 061301 | ||
| Environmental Health | 061303 | ||
| Health Promotion | 061307 | ||
| Community Health | 061309 | ||
| Epidemiology | 061311 | ||
| Public Health not elsewhere classified | 061399 | ||
| Rehabilitation Therapies | 061700 | ||
| Massage Therapy | 061711 | ||
| Rehabilitation Therapies not elsewhere classified | 061799 | ||
| Complementary Therapies | 0619 | ||
| Other Health | 069900 | ||
| First Aid | 069907 | ||
| Health not elsewhere classified | 069999 | ||
| Behavioural science or social studies | Human Movement | 069903 | |
| Political Science and Policy Studies | 0901 | ||
| Studies in Human Society | 090300 | ||
| Sociology | 090301 | ||
| Anthropology | 090303 | ||
| Human Geography | 090309 | ||
| Gender Specific Studies | 090313 | ||
| Studies in Human Society not elsewhere classified | 090399 | ||
| Human Welfare Studies and Services | 090500 | ||
| Social Work | 090501 | ||
| Children’s Services | 090503 | ||
| Youth Work | 090505 | ||
| Care for the Aged | 090507 | ||
| Care for the Disabled | 090509 | ||
| Residential Client Care | 090511 | ||
| Counselling | 090513 | ||
| Welfare Studies | 090515 | ||
| Human Welfare Studies and Services not elsewhere classified | 090599 | ||
| Behavioural Science1 | 0907 | ||
| Librarianship, Information Management and Curatorial Studies | 0913 | ||
| Sport and Recreation | 0921 | ||
| Other Society and Culture | 0999 | ||
| Education | Teacher Education | 0701 | |
| Curriculum and Education Studies | 0703 | ||
| Other Education | 0799 |
| Funding cluster | Part of funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 4 Clinical psychology, allied health, foreign languages, visual and performing arts | Clinical psychology, foreign languages, or visual and performing arts | Clinical psychology | 0907012 |
| Northern European Languages | 091503 | ||
| Southern European Languages | 091505 | ||
| Eastern European Languages | 091507 | ||
| Southwest Asian and North African Languages | 091509 | ||
| Southern Asian Languages | 091511 | ||
| Southeast Asian Languages | 091513 | ||
| Eastern Asian Languages | 091515 | ||
| Australian Indigenous Languages | 091517 | ||
| Translating and Interpreting | 091519 | ||
| Performing Arts | 1001 | ||
| Visual Arts and Crafts | 1003 | ||
| Graphic and Design Studies | 1005 | ||
| Communication and Media Studies | 1007 | ||
| Other Creative Arts | 1099 | ||
| Allied health | Pharmacy | 0605 | |
| Optical Science | 0609 | ||
| Indigenous Health | 061305 | ||
| Radiography | 0615 | ||
| Physiotherapy | 061701 | ||
| Occupational Therapy | 061703 | ||
| Chiropractic and Osteopathy | 061705 | ||
| Speech Pathology | 061707 | ||
| Audiology | 061709 | ||
| Podiatry | 061713 | ||
| Nutrition and Dietetics | 069901 | ||
| Paramedical Studies | 069905 | ||
| Funding cluster 5 Nursing | Nursing | 0603 | |
| Funding cluster 6 Engineering, science, surveying | Physics and Astronomy | 0103 | |
| Chemical Sciences | 0105 | ||
| Earth Sciences | 0107 | ||
| Biological Sciences | 0109 | ||
| Other Natural and Physical Sciences | 019900 | ||
| Forensic Science | 019903 | ||
| Food Science and Biotechnology | 019905 | ||
| Pharmacology | 019907 | ||
| Laboratory Technology | 019909 | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified | 019999 | ||
| Manufacturing Engineering and Technology | 0301 | ||
| Process and Resources Engineering | 0303 | ||
| Automotive Engineering and Technology | 0305 | ||
| Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Technology | 0307 | ||
| Civil Engineering | 0309 | ||
| Geomatic Engineering | 0311 | ||
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology | 0313 | ||
| Aerospace Engineering and Technology | 0315 | ||
| Maritime Engineering and Technology | 0317 | ||
| Other Engineering and Related Technologies | 0399 |
| Funding cluster | Part of funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 7 Dentistry, medicine, veterinary science, agriculture | Dentistry, medicine or veterinary science | Medical Science | 019901 |
| Medical Studies | 060100 | ||
| General Medicine | 060101 | ||
| Surgery | 060103 | ||
| Psychiatry | 060105 | ||
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 060107 | ||
| Paediatrics | 060109 | ||
| Anaesthesiology | 060111 | ||
| Radiology | 060115 | ||
| Internal Medicine | 060117 | ||
| General Practice | 060119 | ||
| Medical Studies not elsewhere classified | 060199 | ||
| Dental Studies | 0607 | ||
| Veterinary Studies | 0611 | ||
| Agriculture | Agriculture | 0501 | |
| Horticulture and Viticulture | 0503 | ||
| Forestry Sciences | 0505 | ||
| Fisheries Sciences | 0507 | ||
| Environmental Studies | 0509 | ||
| Other Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 0599 | ||
| Pathology | 060113 |
Excluding clinical psychology, which is in cluster 4.
Clinical psychology units of study are psychology units of study (Field of Education code 090701) that contribute to courses that are accredited for the purposes of professional registration by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Clinical Psychologists, the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, the APS College of Counselling Psychologists, the APS College of Educational & Developmental Psychologists, the APS College of Forensic Psychologists, the APS College of Health Psychologists, the APS College of Sport Psychologists or the APS College of Community Psychologists.
9.5.5For the purposes of:
a)calculating a reduction in assistance for higher education providers failing to meet certain requirements under section 33-17 of the Act;
b)working out if and how a higher education provider’s basic grant amount for the year 2008 or an earlier grant year is to be adjusted under subdivision 33-C of the Act;
c)determining the maximum student contribution amount for a place in a unit of study for a person to whom Item 7 of Schedule 7 of the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 applies; or
d)determining the maximum student contribution amount for a place in a unit of study under Item 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003;
the funding clusters in which units of study are included are the funding clusters that existed immediately before the commencement of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 and shall, pursuant to section 33-35 of the Act, be determined as outlined in the following table.
Clusters are defined by the field of education (FOE) code arising from applying the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) as set out in the table below.
| Funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 1 Law | Law | 0909 |
| Funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 2 Accounting, administration, economics, commerce | Accounting | 0801 |
| Business and Management | 0803 | |
| Sales and Marketing | 0805 | |
| Tourism | 0807 | |
| Office Studies | 0809 | |
| Banking, Finance and Related Fields | 0811 | |
| Other Management and Commerce | 0899 | |
| Economics and Econometrics | 0919 | |
| Food and Hospitality | 1101 | |
| Personal Services | 1103 | |
| General Education Programmes | 1201 | |
| Other Mixed Field Programmes | 1299 | |
| Funding cluster 3 Humanities | History | 090305 |
| Archaeology | 090307 | |
| Indigenous Studies | 090311 | |
| Justice and Law Enforcement | 0911 | |
| Language and Literature | 091500 | |
| English Language | 091501 | |
| Linguistics | 091521 | |
| Literature | 091523 | |
| Language and Literature not elsewhere classified | 091599 | |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 0917 | |
| Funding cluster 4 Mathematics, statistics | Mathematical Sciences | 0101 |
| Funding cluster 5 Behavioural Science, Social Studies | Human Movement | 069903 |
| Political Science and Policy Studies | 0901 | |
| Studies in Human Society | 090300 | |
| Sociology | 090301 | |
| Anthropology | 090303 | |
| Human Geography | 090309 | |
| Gender Specific Studies | 090313 | |
| Studies in Human Society not elsewhere classified | 090399 | |
| Human Welfare Studies and Services | 090500 | |
| Social Work | 090501 | |
| Children’s Services | 090503 | |
| Youth Work | 090505 | |
| Care for the Aged | 090507 | |
| Care for the Disabled | 090509 | |
| Residential Client Care | 090511 | |
| Counselling | 090513 | |
| Welfare Studies | 090515 | |
| Human Welfare Studies and Services not elsewhere classified | 090599 | |
| Behavioural Science | 0907 | |
| Librarianship, Information Management and Curatorial Studies | 0913 | |
| Sport and Recreation | 0921 | |
| Other Society and Culture | 0999 |
| Funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 6 Computing, built environment, health | Computer Science | 0201 |
| Information Systems | 0203 | |
| Other Information Technology | 0299 | |
| Architecture and Urban Environment | 0401 | |
| Building | 0403 | |
| Pharmacy | 0605 | |
| Optical Science | 0609 | |
| Public Health | 0613 | |
| Radiography | 0615 | |
| Rehabilitation Therapies | 0617 | |
| Complementary Therapies | 0619 | |
| Other Health | 069900 | |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | 069901 | |
| Paramedical Studies | 069905 | |
| First Aid | 069907 | |
| Health not elsewhere classified | 069999 | |
| Funding cluster 7 Foreign languages, visual and performing arts | Northern European Languages | 091503 |
| Southern European Languages | 091505 | |
| Eastern European Languages | 091507 | |
| Southwest Asian and North African Languages | 091509 | |
| Southern Asian Languages | 091511 | |
| Southeast Asian Languages | 091513 | |
| Eastern Asian Languages | 091515 | |
| Australian Indigenous Languages | 091517 | |
| Translating and Interpreting | 091519 | |
| Performing Arts | 1001 | |
| Visual Arts and Crafts | 1003 | |
| Graphic and Design Studies | 1005 | |
| Communication and Media Studies | 1007 | |
| Other Creative Arts | 1099 | |
| Funding cluster 8 Engineering, science, surveying | Physics and Astronomy | 0103 |
| Chemical Sciences | 0105 | |
| Earth Sciences | 0107 | |
| Biological Sciences | 0109 | |
| Other Natural and Physical Sciences | 019900 | |
| Forensic Science | 019903 | |
| Food Science and Biotechnology | 019905 | |
| Pharmacology | 019907 | |
| Laboratory Technology | 019909 | |
| Natural and Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified | 019999 | |
| Manufacturing Engineering and Technology | 0301 | |
| Process and Resources Engineering | 0303 | |
| Automotive Engineering and Technology | 0305 | |
| Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Technology | 0307 | |
| Civil Engineering | 0309 | |
| Geomatic Engineering | 0311 | |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology | 0313 | |
| Aerospace Engineering and Technology | 0315 | |
| Maritime Engineering and Technology | 0317 | |
| Other Engineering and Related Technologies | 0399 |
| Funding cluster | Unit description | FOE code |
| Funding cluster 9 Dentistry, medicine, veterinary science | Medical Science | 019901 |
| Medical Studies | 060100 | |
| General Medicine | 060101 | |
| Surgery | 060103 | |
| Psychiatry | 060105 | |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 060107 | |
| Paediatrics | 060109 | |
| Anaesthesiology | 060111 | |
| Radiology | 060115 | |
| Internal Medicine | 060117 | |
| General Practice | 060119 | |
| Medical Studies not elsewhere classified | 060199 | |
| Dental Studies | 0607 | |
| Veterinary Studies | 0611 | |
| Funding cluster 10 Agriculture | Agriculture | 0501 |
| Horticulture and Viticulture | 0503 | |
| Forestry Sciences | 0505 | |
| Fisheries Sciences | 0507 | |
| Environmental Studies | 0509 | |
| Other Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies | 0599 | |
| Pathology | 060113 | |
| Funding cluster 11 Education | Teacher Education | 0701 |
| Curriculum and Education Studies | 0703 | |
| Other Education | 0799 | |
| Funding cluster 12 Nursing | Nursing | 0603 |
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