Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au C2012A00038 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012

 

No. 38, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Amendments

Part 1—Amendments relating to indexation

Higher Education Support Act 2003

Part 2—Other amendments

Higher Education Support Act 2003

 

 

 

Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012

No. 38, 2012

 

 

 

An Act to amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and for related purposes

[Assented to 15 April 2012]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

15 April 2012

2.  Schedule 1, items 1 to 4

1 January 2012.

1 January 2012

3.  Schedule 1, item 5

1 January 2011.

1 January 2011

4.  Schedule 1, item 6

1 January 2012.

1 January 2012

5.  Schedule 1, items 7 and 8

1 January 2011.

1 January 2011

6.  Schedule 1, items 9 and 10

1 January 2012.

1 January 2012

7.  Schedule 1, item 11

1 January 2013.

1 January 2013

8.  Schedule 1, items 12 to 17

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

16 April 2012

Note:  This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Amendments

Part 1—Amendments relating to indexation

Higher Education Support Act 2003

1  Paragraph 1937(5)(a)

Omit “1 January 2011”, substitute “1 January 2012”.

2  Paragraph 1937(5)(e)

Omit “$250”, substitute “$263”.

3  Paragraph 1937(5)(e)

Omit “1 January 2011”, substitute “1 January 2012”.

4  Subsection 1937(5) (note 2)

Omit “$250”, substitute “$263”.

5  Section 1985

Before “This table”, insert “(1)”.

6  Section 1985 (table item 1AA)

Repeal the item, substitute:

1A

Amount mentioned in paragraph 1937(5)(e)

Section 1937

7  At the end of section 1985

Add:

 (2) The amount mentioned in the section referred to in an item of the table, for a calendar year with an indexation factor greater than 1, is replaced by the amount worked out in accordance with section 19810.

8  Indexation of amounts in 2011

The amounts set out in the table in section 1985 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, as in force immediately before the commencement of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Indexation) Act 2010, are to be indexed on 1 January 2011 in accordance with Part 56 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, as in force immediately before the commencement of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Indexation) Act 2010.

9  Indexation of amount in 2012

Despite section 19810 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, the amount set out in item 1A of the table in section 1985 of that Act, as inserted by item 6 of this Part, is not to be indexed on 1 January 2012 in accordance with Part 56 of that Act.


Part 2—Other amendments

Higher Education Support Act 2003

10  Subsection 1620(1) (table)

Omit “Melbourne College of Divinity”, substitute “MCD University of Divinity”.

11  Subsection 1515(4)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

Rounding

 (4) If an amount worked out using the formula in subsection (2) is an amount made up of dollars and cents, round the amount down to the nearest dollar.

 (5) If an amount worked out using the formula in subsection (3) is an amount made up of dollars and cents, round the amount up to the nearest dollar.

12  Subclause 1(1) of Schedule 1 (definition of course of study in dentistry)

Before “academic requirements”, insert “minimum”.

13  Subclause 1(1) of Schedule 1 (at the end of the definition of course of study in dentistry)

Add “, regardless of whether further dentistry study is completed before registration is sought”.

14  Subclause 1(1) of Schedule 1 (definition of course of study in veterinary science)

Before “academic requirements”, insert “minimum”.

15  Subclause 1(1) of Schedule 1 (at the end of the definition of course of study in veterinary science)

Add “, regardless of whether further veterinary science study is completed before registration is sought”.

16  Application—item 11

The amendment made by item 11 applies in relation to payments made under section 1511 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 on or after the day that item commences.

17  Application—items 12 to 15

The amendments made by items 12 to 15 apply for the purposes of working out the FEEHELP limit in relation to the following persons:

 (a) a person who is enrolled in a course of study in dentistry or a course of study in veterinary science on the day this item commences;

 (b) a person who enrols in a course of study in dentistry or a course of study in veterinary science on or after the day this item commences.

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 15 February 2012

Senate on 15 March 2012]

(17/12)

 

Overview

The Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and address certain issues within the higher education system, particularly concerning student financial support. This Act was assented to on 15 April 2012 and includes provisions for the amendment of indexation dates and amounts, as well as other miscellaneous changes designed to refine the application and administration of student financial support mechanisms. The overarching policy objective of this Act is to ensure that the student financial support system remains responsive to economic changes and provides appropriate assistance to students pursuing higher education. This legislative amendment introduces changes to the indexation of certain financial support amounts, modifies the rounding rules for financial calculations, and updates the nomenclature of educational institutions to reflect their current status. For example, the Melbourne College of Divinity is now referred to as MCD University of Divinity. Additionally, the Act specifies that the indexing of certain amounts will not occur as per the general indexation provisions, thereby maintaining control over specific financial support figures. These changes aim to enhance the accuracy and fairness of the financial support provided to students, ensuring it aligns with current economic conditions and institutional developments.

Scope and Application

The Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012 amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003, introducing changes primarily focused on indexation adjustments and other specific amendments to the operation and administration of the higher education support scheme. The Act applies to various entities including students, educational institutions, and the Commonwealth Government in the context of higher education support and funding. The amendments affect students enrolled in or seeking to enrol in specific courses, such as dentistry and veterinary science, by adjusting the FEE-HELP limits relevant to these fields. The geographic reach of the Act is national, as it applies to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, affecting all entities and persons involved in higher education within the country. The amendments are effective from dates specified in the Act, with some provisions commencing on 1 January 2011 and others on 1 January 2012, with further provisions taking effect on 1 January 2013 and the day after the Act receives Royal Assent. The Act does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, meaning that all eligible students and institutions within the scope of the amendments must comply with the new provisions. The application of these amendments is extended through subordinate instruments as necessary to ensure the correct implementation of the changes outlined in the Act.

Key Provisions

The Higher Education Support Amendment Act (No. 1) 2012 amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to adjust indexation dates and amounts, and to make other minor changes. Key provisions include modifications to the indexation of certain amounts, updates to the names of educational institutions, and adjustments to the rounding rules for certain calculations. For example, Section 19-37(5)(a) and (e) of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 now references 1 January 2012 instead of 1 January 2011, and the indexed amount has been updated from $250 to $263. Additionally, the institution formerly known as Melbourne College of Divinity is now referred to as MCD University of Divinity. The Act imposes several obligations on parties governed by it. Educational institutions and students must adhere to the updated indexation dates and amounts as specified in the Higher Education Support Act 2003. Institutions must also comply with the new rounding rules for certain financial calculations. Furthermore, any references to Melbourne College of Divinity must be updated to MCD University of Divinity in all relevant documentation and communications. There are no explicit offences or penalties outlined in the Act itself. However, non-compliance with the amended provisions could lead to administrative or financial discrepancies, potentially impacting funding allocations and student support entitlements. Institutions and students may face audits or reviews to ensure adherence to the new requirements. Any financial miscalculations due to non-compliance could result in overpayments or underpayments, which would need to be rectified as per the provisions of the Higher Education Support Act 2003. Essentially, while the Act does not detail specific penalties, failure to comply with its provisions could lead to significant administrative and financial consequences.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.