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Eligibility
What is a body corporate?
The term 'body corporate' is not defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) however, a definition can be found on the Australian Business Register website. DEEWR recommends that Registered Training Organisations seek legal advice regarding their body corporate status before lodging an application to become an approved VET provider.
Application
Can Higher Education Providers offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to students?
No. Existing Higher Education Providers approved to offer FEE-HELP will need to apply to be approved as a VET provider to offer VET FEE-HELP. A streamlined application process for Higher Education Providers applies. Approved Higher Education Providers will not need to undergo a full financial viability assessment if they are already approved to offer FEE-HELP.
Is the application process different for approved Higher Education Providers?
Yes. The process is slightly altered to recognise the previous information provided for approval to offer FEE-HELP. HEPs will not need to provide a financial viability assessment if they are already approved to offer FEE-HELP.
How much does it cost to apply?
Whilst the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) does not charge a fee for the submission or assessment of an application there are indirect fees associated with the preparation of an application and meeting the ongoing requirements of a VET provider.
The indirect application fees can include the following:
- RTOs are required to provide audited financial statements (minimum requirement being the most recent set of financial statements be audited) by an independent qualified auditor as part of the Financial Viability assessment. The application is designed to provide evidence to DEEWR to allow an assessment that an RTO meets the legislative requirements for financial viability whilst keeping the financial burden on participating RTOs to a minimum.
- RTOs applying to become VET providers are not required to meet the VET tuition assurance requirements upon application, however, they will be required to demonstrate they meet the requirements immediately prior to their approval.
- RTOs must ensure that they have fair treatment procedures, equal benefits and opportunities procedures, student grievance procedures, student review procedures and personal information procedures in place.
Once approved, providers are required to meet ongoing VET quality and accountability requirements and have the capacity to meet administrative and reporting requirements. You can find more information about the ongoing requirements on the Approved VET Providers page.
Why am I not able to access an application that I began previously?
DEEWR reserves the right to remove applications that are more than 60 days old and have no activity recorded against the application. To keep an application active, applicants must complete the questionnaire and upload information required in a timely manner.
If your application has been removed because no activity has occurred, you may still apply by lodging another application. You will still be able to use your existing user ID and password when starting a new application.
When will my application be approved?
A decision on an application must be made by the Minister (or Minister’s delegate), within 90 days after receiving a complete application. In determining an application, further information may be requested. If further information is requested, the Minister’s (or Minister’s delegate) decision must be made within 60 days after the end of the period, or within 60 days after the end of the period the information was required to be provided.
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 within the application to meet the legislative requirements.
I submitted an application for my organisation to be approved as VET provider but no longer wish to continue, what should I do?
If you no longer wish to proceed with an application that you have submitted you can email the VET FEE-HELP Team at VETFEEHelpdesk@deewr.gov.au and ask for your application to be discarded. Please note that only administrators can request for applications to be withdrawn/discarded.
Credit Transfer
What is Credit Transfer for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP?
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who do not deliver graduate certificate and/or graduate diploma courses, need to ensure that at least one formal Credit Transfer Arrangement is in place for at least one of their VET diploma and advanced diploma courses before seeking approval as a VET provider to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to students. RTOs cannot submit an application to become a VET provider unless they deliver at least one eligible course.
How many Credit Transfer Arrangements need to be in place before I can lodge an application?
If your organisation only offers VET diploma or advanced diploma courses you must have in place at least one Credit Transfer Arrangement for at least one of these courses in order to be approved as a VET provider.
For each VET diploma and advanced diploma course you intend to offer using VET FEE-HELP assistance you must have in place at least one approved Credit Transfer Arrangement. Any VET diploma and advanced diploma courses you offer that do not have an approved Credit Transfer Arrangement in place will not be eligible for VET FEE-HELP assistance*.
Credit Transfer Arrangements are not required for VET graduate certificate and graduate diploma courses.
*Bodies corporate with registration in a Reform State or Territory or with the National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA) and offering a diploma or advanced diploma in a Reform State or Territory, will not have to meet the requirement to have a Credit Transfer Arrangement in place in order to be approved as a VET provider. For further information refer to the Information for Victorian RTOs and HEPs page.
Courses
What is a unit of study?
For VET FEE-HELP, a unit of study means a subject or unit a student undertakes as part of a course of study (i.e. VET accredited diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate or graduate diploma course) where the student may access VET FEE-HELP to pay for all or part of their tuition fees.
What is a course of study?
For VET FEE-HELP, a course of study comprises a number of units of study that make up a VET accredited diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certificate or graduate diploma course. '
What is a unit of competency?
A unit of competency is a specification of industry knowledge and skill and the application of that knowledge and skill to the standard of performance expected in the workplace that is part of a nationally endorsed training package or an accredited course.
Units of competency may comprise a number of smaller elements of competency. Training packages specify the competencies and qualifications used to recognise and assess the skills and knowledge people need to perform effectively in the workplace.
A unit of study is therefore likely to contain a number of competencies.
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