EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Higher Education (Designated Courses of Study) Specification 2011
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations
Subject: Higher Education Support Act 2003
Higher Education (Designated Courses of Study) Specification 2011
Authority
Subsection 30-12(2) of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act) allows the Minister to specify, by legislative instrument, courses of study that are designated courses of study for the purposes of paragraph 30-12(1)(c) of the Act.
Purpose and operation
The purpose of the Determination is to specify all higher education courses leading to a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree qualification and enabling courses as designated courses of study in relation to a Table A provider to allow the Government to allocate Commonwealth supported places to Table A providers under paragraph 30‑10(1)(a) of the Act.
From 2012, funding agreements between higher education providers and the Commonwealth will specify the number of places in courses that lead to a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree qualification and enabling courses, for which the Government will provide Commonwealth funding.
Consultation
The Government indicated that it would retain the power to allocate Commonwealth supported places for particular disciplines as part of the implementation of the demand driven system, when, and if it was appropriate.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations wrote to the Vice Chancellor of each affected institution, advising them of the Minister’s decision to specify all courses leading to a diploma, advanced diploma or associated degree qualification and enabling courses as designated courses of study.
Commencement and Application
This Determination is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 and will commence on the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
This Determination shall apply to the 2012 grant year and subsequent years.