{"id":"F2018L01450","name":"Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) (Full-time Study) Instrument 2018","slug":"safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":98134,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L01450-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\nThis instrument is the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) (Full‑time Study) Instrument 2018.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences on 1 November 2018.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under subsection 19(3AC) of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Purpose","content":"#### 4 Purpose\n\nThe purpose of this instrument is to determine the circumstances of undertaking full‑time study for the purposes of subsection 19(3AB) of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Full-time study","content":"#### 5 Full-time study\n\n    (1) For the purposes of subsection 19(3AB) of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988, a person is undertaking full‑time study in the circumstances set out in subsection (2).\n\n    (2) A person is undertaking full‑time study if:\n\n    (a) the person is enrolled in a course of study or instruction that:\n\n    (i) leads to the award of any of the types of qualifications referred to in subsection (3); or\n\n    (ii) is necessary to complete in order to meet the requirements for entry into a course of study or instruction referred to in subparagraph (i); and\n\n    (b) the person is undertaking in the particular study period (for example, a semester) for which he or she is enrolled in the course at least three‑quarters of the normal amount of full‑time study in respect of the course for that period; and\n\n    (c) in the Commission’s opinion, the person is making satisfactory progress towards completing the course.\n\n    (3) The types of qualifications are:\n\n    (a) the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education referred to in the Australian Qualifications Framework or a qualification that is equivalent to it; or\n\n    (b) a qualification accredited at any of the following levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework:\n\n    (i) Certificate I, II, III or IV;\n\n    (ii) diploma;\n\n    (iii) advanced diploma or associate degree;\n\n    (iv) bachelor degree;\n\n    (v) bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.\n\n    (4) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), the normal amount of full‑time study in respect of a course is:\n\n    (a) if the institution or body conducting the course defines an amount of\n    full‑time study that a full‑time student should typically undertake in respect of the course – the amount so defined; or\n\n    (b) otherwise – an amount of full‑time study equivalent to the average amount of full‑time study that a person would have to undertake for the duration of the course in order to complete the course in the minimum amount of time needed to complete it.\n\n    (5) In this section, “Australian Qualifications Framework” means the framework for recognition and endorsement of qualifications:\n\n    (a) that is established by the Council consisting of the Ministers for the Commonwealth and each State and Territory responsible for higher education; and\n\n    (b) that is to give effect to agreed standards in relation to the provision of education in Australia;\n\nas in force on the day of commencement of this instrument.\n\nNote: The version of the Australian Qualifications Framework that is in force on the day of commencement of this instrument is the Second Edition January 2013. The Australian Qualifications Framework is available at: [https://www.aqf.edu.au/sites/aqf/files/aqf-2nd-edition-january-2013.pdf](https://www.aqf.edu.au/sites/aqf/files/aqf-2nd-edition-january-2013.pdf).","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument does not change the Act’s substantive scope. It implements subsection 19(3AB) by specifying criteria for when someone is 'undertaking full‑time study'—defining qualifying course types, the 3/4 load threshold, and the Commission’s role in assessing progress (ss3–5)—but does not alter eligibility rules in the Act."},"complexity_factors":["Commission’s evaluative discretion to determine ‘satisfactory progress’ (s5(2)(c))","Cross‑reference to an external standard — the Australian Qualifications Framework as in force on commencement (s5(5) and Note)","Two alternative methods to determine the ‘normal amount’ of full‑time study (institutional definition or an average to complete in minimum time) (s5(4))","Listing multiple qualification levels that qualify (s5(3))","Instrument functions as a definitional specification under the parent Act rather than creating standalone entitlements (ss3–4)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument defines when a person is treated as undertaking full‑time study for the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988. It applies to claimants enrolled in specified AQF courses (from Senior Secondary Certificate through graduate diploma), requires enrolment in a qualifying course, at least three‑quarters of the normal full‑time load for that study period, and the Commission’s view that the student is making satisfactory progress (s5(2)–(4)). It also sets how to measure the ‘normal’ full‑time load."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains tightly focused on its original purpose: defining 'full-time study' for a specific compensation provision. It has not expanded beyond this narrow technical function."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument with only 5 operative sections","Single defined term ('Australian Qualifications Framework') with a detailed statutory incorporation by reference","Straightforward three-part test in section 5(2) with cumulative requirements (all must be met)","One nested structure: the qualification types in subsection (3) feed into the enrollment requirement in paragraph (2)(a)","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Act (SRC(Defence-related Claims) Act 1988)","Simple conditional logic in subsection (4) with an 'if/then/otherwise' structure for determining normal study load","No exceptions, exemptions, or penalty provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This law clarifies when injured defence personnel (or their dependants) receiving compensation count as “undertaking full‑time study.” It sets three gatekeeping tests—appropriate enrolment, completing at least 75% of a full‑time study load, and satisfactory course progress—using institutional or minimum‑completion definitions of full‑time. That status affects weekly compensation and access to retraining or upskilling while recovering."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018","history":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-defence-related-claims-full-time-study-instrument-2018/documents"}}