EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Notice of approval pursuant to subclause 11(1) of Schedule 1A
of the Higher Education Support Act 2003
VET Provider Approval No. 27 of 2009
Issued by the authority of the
Minister for Education
Subject: Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA)
VET Provider approval pursuant to clause 6 and subclause (11)(1) of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
Notice of Approval
The Notice of Approval is made pursuant to subclause 11(1) of Schedule 1A of HESA. The purpose of this notice is to revoke the current notice of approval of The Board of Gordon Institute of Technical and Further Education as a VET provider and remake the notice.
Purpose
Under Schedule 2 of the Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP and Providers) Act 2009 certain amendments to Schedule 1A of HESA commenced on 24 June 2009. The amendments enable a decision to approve a body corporate as a VET provider to take effect in accordance with provisions of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 rather than at the end of the disallowance period. The purpose of remaking the notice of approval is to enable the body corporate to take advantage of the beneficial effect of these amendments.
Background
VET FEE-HELP is an income contingent loan scheme for the vocational education and training (VET) sector that is part of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). It is an extension of the higher education FEE-HELP arrangements.
VET FEE-HELP assists eligible, full fee-paying students to pay for all or part of their VET tuition fees when studying one or more of the following eligible accredited VET courses of study: diploma; advanced diploma; graduate certificate; and graduate diploma.
Bodies corporate which are also Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are able to apply to become approved as VET providers. If approved, a VET provider will be able to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to their eligible students.
Commencement
In accordance with clause 12 of Schedule 1A of HESA, the approval takes effect on the day after the notice of approval is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Amendments.
Consultation
Consultation was not undertaken and was not considered necessary in this case because the notice confers a benefit on The Board of Gordon Institute of Technical and Further Education and this body is the only body affected by the notice. This notice will not have a direct or substantial indirect effect on business, nor will it restrict competition.