ATTACHMENT B
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Guidelines issued under subsection 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training
Subject:- Higher Education Support Act 2003
Amendment number 7 to the Other Grants Guidelines
– Chapter 9 Grants to Foster Collaboration and Reform in Higher Education
Section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 provides that the Minister may make guidelines for the purposes of the Act. In particular, section 238-10 specifies that the Minister may make Other Grants Guidelines to give effect to matters set out in Part 2-3 of the Act.
Chapter 9 of the Other Grants Guidelines sets out the requirements relevant to the Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund (CASR). The objective of CASR is to achieve better higher education outcomes in teaching, learning, research and innovation by promoting structural reform and collaboration in the sector.
Chapter 9 has been amended as follows:
1. Item 9.15.5, which reserves up to 20% of each year’s funding allocation for projects approved by the Minister outside of a competitive funding round, has been deleted and replaced with:
9.15.1 In each year the Allocation will be available for:
(a) meeting existing CASR funding commitments for the year;
(b) grants in response to proposals invited by the Department (a maximum of two rounds will be conducted per year); and
(c) grants in response to proposals outside the submission-based rounds referred to in 2.15.1(b) that address specific priorities set by the Minister from time to time.
2. Item 9.20 - Two bodies corporate have been added to the list of organisations that are eligible to receive CASR grants:
(xii) Gippsland Education Precinct Inc; and
(xiii) TRISH MS Company Limited
The total funds to be allocated under the CASR Fund will be $46.797 million over five years 2005-2009. The yearly provision will be indexed in accordance with Division 198 of Part 5-6 of the Act, as in force from time to time.
University Vice-Chancellors were invited to comment on the amendments to the guidelines in January 2006. The Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee and thirteen universities responded to this invitation and, where appropriate, their comments have been incorporated into the guidelines.
The Guidelines commence the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.