Statutory Rules 1981 No. 231
Student Assistance Regulations2 (Amendment)
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Student Assistance Act 1973.
Dated 18 February 1981.
ZELMAN COWEN
Governor-General
By His Excellency’s Command,
(Sgd) wal Fife
Minister of State for Education
Minimum workload
Regulation 44 of the Student Assistance Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (3) “or where sub-regulation (3a) applies for each half of that relevant year”; and
(b) by omitting sub-regulations (3a) and (3b) and substituting the following sub-regulation:
“(3a) For the purposes of sub-regulation (3), where in the relevant year a student is enrolled to undertake full-time studies in an undergraduate course of study (including a combined course of study) at Macquarie University—
(a) the reference in that sub-regulation to three-quarters of the amount of work for the relevant year shall, where the duration of the course in the relevant year is more
S.R. No. 22/81 Cat. No. —Recommended retail price 20c 15/27.1.1981.
than 1 semester, be read as a reference to an amount of work that if successfully undertaken would entitle the student to 17 of the credit points required for completion of the course; and
(b) the reference in that sub-regulation to three-quarters of the amount of work for the whole of the duration, of a course in the relevant year shall, where that duration is not more that 1 semester, be read as a reference to an amount of work that if successfully undertaken would entitle the student to 8½ of the credit points required for completion of the course.”.
NOTES
1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 February 1981.
2. Statutory Rules 1974 No. 179 as amended by Statutory Rules 1974 Nos. 235 and 258; 1975 Nos. 136, 203 and 219; 1976 Nos. 92, 121, 286, 287, 292 and 293; 1977 Nos. 147, 209, 210, 211, 219, 242 and 243; 1978 Nos, 108, 148, 189, 199, 200, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264 and 265; 1979 Nos. 139, 216, 267, 268 and 304; 1980 Nos. 14, 15, 29, 50, 194, 271, 343, 365, 366, 387 and 388.
Printed by Authority by the Commonwealth Government Printer
Overview
The Student Assistance Regulations 1981 (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1981 No. 231, were introduced to refine the minimum workload requirements for students enrolled in undergraduate courses at Macquarie University. This legislative instrument was made under the authority of the Student Assistance Act 1973 by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The regulation aimed to address discrepancies in workload expectations for students at Macquarie University, ensuring that credit points awarded align more accurately with the workload required for successful completion of their courses. This amendment was designed to provide clearer guidelines and ensure fairness in the assessment of student workload, ultimately supporting equitable educational outcomes.
Scope and Application
The Student Assistance Regulations 1981, as amended, applies to students enrolled in undergraduate courses of study in institutions governed by the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically those seeking financial assistance under the Student Assistance Act 1973. This Act and its subsequent regulations are designed to support students in their pursuit of higher education by providing financial assistance, and the regulations detail the specific criteria for eligibility. The amendments in this legislative instrument focus on the minimum workload requirements for students to qualify for such assistance, particularly concerning their enrolment status and the amount of work expected of them within the academic year. The regulations set out detailed rules about the amount of work required from students, such as credit points, and how this varies depending on the length of the course. The amendments made by this legislative instrument specifically target students enrolled in full-time undergraduate courses at Macquarie University, adjusting the criteria for the minimum workload based on the duration of their courses. The scope of the Act and these regulations is national, applying to all students seeking financial assistance under the Student Assistance Act 1973 across the Commonwealth. The regulations do not explicitly state any exclusions, but they implicitly apply only to students enrolled in courses recognised under the Act and seeking financial assistance. The Act’s application can be extended or restricted through further subordinate instruments, as evidenced by the amendments detailed in this legislative instrument.
Key Provisions
The Student Assistance Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1981 No. 231 primarily revise Regulation 44 to adjust the minimum workload requirements for students enrolled in undergraduate courses at Macquarie University. Specifically, Regulation 44(3a) modifies the calculation of the minimum workload, defining it in terms of credit points rather than a fixed proportion of the course duration. For courses lasting more than one semester, the regulation specifies that students must undertake work equivalent to 17 credit points to meet the minimum workload requirement. For courses of one semester or less, the requirement is 8½ credit points.
The amended regulation imposes specific obligations on students enrolled in undergraduate courses at Macquarie University. These students must ensure that their academic workload meets the new credit point thresholds outlined in Regulation 44(3a). This means students need to plan their studies to accumulate the required credit points within the specified timeframes, thereby complying with the minimum workload provisions. Institutions like Macquarie University may also need to adjust their internal policies and support mechanisms to help students meet these new requirements effectively.
Failure to meet the minimum workload requirements as specified in the amended Regulation 44(3a) could have significant implications. While the legislation does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance, breaches of such requirements might affect a student's eligibility for student assistance under the Student Assistance Act 1973. Consequently, students might lose access to financial support, impacting their ability to continue their studies. The precise consequences of non-compliance would depend on the specific terms of the student assistance agreements and the policies of the educational institutions involved.