EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Approval and Notice of Approval under subclauses 6(1) and 11(1) of Schedule 1A
to the Higher Education Support Act 2003
VET Provider Approval No. 7 of 2015
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education and Training
Authority
Subclause 6(1) of Schedule 1A to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act) provides for the approval of bodies as VET Providers by the Minister. Subclause 12A(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act provides for the Minister to impose conditions on a body’s approval as a VET Provider. Paragraph 11(1)(a) of Schedule 1A to the Act provides that the Minister must decide an application for approval as a VET Provider and under paragraph 11(1)(b) cause the applicant to be notified in writing whether or not the applicant is approved as a VET provider.
Under section 238‑5 of the Act the Minister has delegated his powers under clauses 6 and 11 of Schedule 1A to the Act to an APS employee responsible for administering the Act.
Subclause 12(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act stipulates that a notice of approval under paragraph 11(1)(b) of the Act is a legislative instrument.
Purpose
This instrument:
a. approves Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd (ACN: 153 317 821 ABN: 15 153 317 821) as a VET Provider under subclause 6(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act;
b. imposes conditions on the approval of Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd as a VET Provider under subclause 12A(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act;
c. decides the application of Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd for the purposes of paragraph 11(1)(a) of Schedule 1A to the Act; and
d. gives Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd notice of that approval for the purposes of paragraph 11(1)(b) of Schedule 1A to the Act.
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 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.
In accordance with subclause 6(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act, bodies corporate that are also Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are able to apply to become approved as a VET provider. If approved, a VET provider will be able to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to its eligible students.
Conditions
The Minister has the power under Clause 12A of Schedule 1A to the Act, to impose or vary conditions on a body’s approval as a VET Provider. Conditions imposed under that provision are set out in the Notice of Approval for Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd’s approval as a VET Provider.
Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd is required to comply with the conditions from the date of commencement of the approval as a VET provider for the period stipulated for each condition in the Notice of Approval for Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd ’s approval as a VET Provider.
In accordance with subclauses 33(1) and 36(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act, the Minister may suspend or revoke Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd ’s approval as a VET provider if Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd breaches any of the conditions imposed on Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd ’s approval as a VET provider.
Commencement
In accordance with subclause 12(2) of Schedule 1A to the Act and paragraph 12(1)(d) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, the notice and the decision to approve Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd as a VET provider take effect on the day after the notice is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
Consultation
Consultation was not undertaken and was not considered necessary in this case because the notice confers a benefit on Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd 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.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Notice of approval
This Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Legislative Instrument
The Instrument is made by the Minister under subclause 6(1), paragraph 11(1)(b) and subclause 12(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act. The purpose of the Instrument is to approve Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd as a VET provider for the purposes of the VET FEE‑HELP Assistance Scheme under the Act. For approval as a VET Provider the Minister must be satisfied that the body meets the requirements of subclause 6(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act.
Human rights implications
Right to education
The Instrument engages the right to education, contained in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. In particular, this Instrument has an effect on the provision of vocational education and training by Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd by approving it as a VET provider for the purposes of the VET FEE-HELP Assistance Scheme under the Act, enabling it to offer VET FEE‑HELP assistance to its eligible students.
The objective of the Instrument is to approve Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd as a VET provider under the Act and thereby enable eligible students of Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd to access VET FEE‑HELP assistance for VET courses of study.
To the extent that the right to education is engaged, this right is promoted by the Instrument as the Instrument approves Australian Skills Group Pty Ltd as a VET provider, thereby extending VET FEE‑HELP assistance and the availability of education to its eligible students.
Conclusion
This Instrument is compatible with human rights because it advances the protection of human rights.