Assessment
Once your VET provider application is submitted, the system will automatically send an email advising that your submission has been received. This will be sent to the email address you nominated at the time of creating your Logon Id and Password.
Once your application is acknowledged as being submitted you will be notified in writing of the Minister’s (or the Minister's delegate) decision within 90 days.
If further information in relation to the application is requested, a further 60 days from the end date of this request will apply (i.e. if the Request for Information (RFI) is by 26 July 2011, the 60 days will commence from 26 July 2011).
The length of time taken for an applicant to become an approved VET provider is dependent on the completeness and quality of the information provided in meeting the legislative requirements under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA).
Note: Registered Training Organisations cannot advertise or advise students of any information relating to their status as an approved VET provider until they receive their notice of approval under HESA.
Approval
When your application has been approved by the Minister (or the Minister's delegate) and is lodged on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI), you will receive a letter notifying you of the status of your application. VET provider approvals are legislative instruments subject to a disallowance period. Each notice of approval is subject to a disallowance period of 15 sitting days (not calendar days) in both Houses of Parliament. You can view the parliamentary sitting calendar at the Parliament of Australia website.
Offering VET FEE-HELP Assistance
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) cannot advertise themselves as a VET provider until their notice of approval as a VET provider has been registered on the FRLI. While it is acceptable in certain circumstances for RTOs to advise students that they have applied for VET provider approval, it is not acceptable for RTOs to advise that they are in the process of becoming an approved VET provider, or to make general information about the VET FEE-HELP Assistance Scheme available on their website.
VET FEE-HELP cannot be offered to students until after a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) has been approved as a VET provider by the Minister, (or the Minister's delegate) and the VET provider approval lodged on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI). If you choose to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance during the disallowance period, you should be aware that if your approval become subject to disallowance by Parliament, your students will be unable to access VET FEE-HELP for the remainder of the course in which they are enrolled. They will only incur a VET FEE-HELP debt for units with a census date prior to any disallowance motions being passed. You must advise students that you are in the disallowance period before they enrol.