{"id":"F2014L01204","name":"Student Identifiers Regulation 2014","slug":"student-identifiers-regulation-2014","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"133 of 2014","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":92247,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2014L01204-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"## Part 1—Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of regulation","content":"#### 1 Name of regulation\n\n  This regulation is the Student Identifiers Regulation 2014.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This regulation is made under the Student Identifiers Act 2014.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n  In this regulation:\n\n> Act means the Student Identifiers Act 2014.\n\n> complete a unit of competency or module of a VET course includes withdraw from the unit or module, or receive credit for prior learning in relation to the unit or module.\n\n> former registered training organisation has the same meaning as in the NVETR Act.\n\n> NCVER means the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd.\n\n> NVETR Act means the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.\n\n> VET course has the same meaning as in the NVETR Act.\n\n> VET qualification has the same meaning as in the NVETR Act.\n\n> VET Regulator has the same meaning as in the NVETR Act.\n\n> VET standard means any of the following as in force from time to time:\n\n    (a) the Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations made under subsection 185(1) of the NVETR Act;\n    (b) the Data Provision Requirements made under subsection 187(1) of the NVETR Act;\n    (c) the Standards for VET Regulators made under subsection 189(1) of the NVETR Act;\n    (d) the Australian Quality Training Framework Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration, or any equivalent document prepared by a relevant Ministerial Council;\n    (e) the Australian Quality Training Framework Essential Conditions and Standards for Continuing Registration, or any equivalent document prepared by a relevant Ministerial Council.\n\n> Note: A number of expressions used in these regulations are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n    (a) entity;\n    (b) misconduct;\n    (c) registered training organisation;\n    (d) student identifier;\n    (e) VET;\n    (f) VET admission body;\n    (g) VET‑related body.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"General provisions","content":"## Part 2—General provisions","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authenticated VET transcripts","content":"#### 5 Authenticated VET transcripts\n\n  For paragraph (b) of the definition of authenticated VET transcript in subsection 4(1) of the Act, the following information is prescribed (to the extent known by the Registrar at the time the transcript is prepared):\n    (a) the full name of the individual to whom the transcript relates;\n    (b) the date the transcript was prepared;\n    (c) the name and identifier of each unit of competency or module of a VET course in respect of which either of the following conditions is met:\n    (i) the individual commences the unit or module on or after 1 January 2015;\n    (ii) the individual is enrolled in the unit or module on 1 January 2015 and the unit or module, or part of it, is delivered on or after that date;\n    (d) the following information for each unit of competency or module of a VET course referred to in paragraph (c):\n    (i) the date the unit or module was commenced;\n    (ii) if completed, the date the unit or module was completed;\n    (iii) the name and identifier of the registered training organisation that delivered the unit or module;\n    (iv) the source of funding for the unit or module;\n    (v) the outcome for each unit or module (for example, whether or not the competency was achieved);\n    (e) the name and identifier of each VET qualification completed by the individual on or after 1 January 2015 if any unit of competency or module of the VET course to which the qualification relates was delivered on or after that date;\n    (f) the issuer of each VET qualification referred to in paragraph (e).","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Prescribed conduct","content":"#### 6 Prescribed conduct\n\n  For paragraph 21(f) of the Act, each of the following kinds of conduct is prescribed:\n    (a) the fraudulent obtaining of a student identifier;\n    (b) the issue of a student identifier as a result of misconduct.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Extracts from authenticated VET transcripts","content":"#### 7 Extracts from authenticated VET transcripts\n\n  For paragraph 29(2)(a) of the Act, the following information is prescribed:\n    (a) the information mentioned in paragraph 5(c), if the individual has (to the extent known by the Registrar) not completed the unit or module referred to in that paragraph at the time access to the extract is given;\n    (b) the information mentioned in subparagraph 5(d)(iv).","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Collection, use or disclosure of student identifiers","content":"## Part 3—Collection, use or disclosure of student identifiers","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Purpose of Part","content":"#### 8 Purpose of Part\n\n  For section 22 of the Act, this Part sets out provisions authorising the collection, use and disclosure of student identifiers.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—registered training organisations","content":"#### 9 Authorisation—registered training organisations\n\n  (1) A registered training organisation is authorised to collect or use a student identifier of an individual for either or both of the following purposes:\n    (a) to meet the organisation’s reporting obligations under the VET standards;\n    (b) to assist in establishing the individual’s eligibility for a training subsidy.\n  (2) A registered training organisation is authorised to do any of the following for the purpose of the delivery of a VET course to an individual:\n    (a) collect the individual’s student identifier from, or disclose the individual’s student identifier to, another registered training organisation or a school;\n    (b) use the individual’s student identifier.\n  (3) A registered training organisation is authorised to do any of the following for the purposes of meeting its reporting obligations under the VET standards and its contractual obligations to a VET‑related body:\n    . (a) collect a student identifier from, and disclose a student identifier to, a VET‑related body;\n    (b) use a student identifier.\n  (4) A registered training organisation is authorised to disclose a student identifier of an individual to a VET‑related body (other than a VET Regulator) to assist the body in establishing the individual’s eligibility to a training subsidy.\n  (5) A registered training organisation is authorised to use or disclose a student identifier for the purposes of section 14 of the Act (request to verify or give a student identifier).\n  (6) A registered training organisation is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for the purpose of assisting the Registrar to identify, investigate and resolve a problem that occurred in relation to the assignment of student identifiers.\n  (7) A registered training organisation is authorised to disclose a student identifier to NCVER for the purpose of meeting the registered training organisation’s obligations under the VET standards.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—former registered training organisations","content":"#### 10 Authorisation—former registered training organisations\n\n  (1) A former registered training organisation is authorised to collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, a VET‑related body (other than a VET Regulator) for the purpose of enabling the organisation to meet its contractual obligations.\n  (2) A former registered training organisation is authorised to do either or both of the following for the purposes of acting in accordance with its current or former reporting obligations under the VET standards:\n    (a) collect or use a student identifier;\n    (b) disclose a student identifier to NCVER or to a VET‑related body.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—schools","content":"#### 11 Authorisation—schools\n\n  (1) A school is authorised to do any of the following for the purpose of delivering and reporting on a VET course that is being, or was, undertaken by an individual as part of the individual’s education at or through the school:\n    (a) collect the individual’s student identifier from, or disclose the individual’s student identifier to, any of the following:\n    (i) a registered training organisation;\n    (ii) another school;\n    (iii) a VET‑related body, other than a VET Regulator;\n    (b) use the individual’s student identifier.\n  (2) A school is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for the purpose of assisting the Registrar to identify, investigate and resolve a problem that occurred in relation to the assignment of student identifiers.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—NCVER","content":"#### 12 Authorisation—NCVER\n\n  (1) NCVER is authorised to do any of the following for purposes related to the collection and preparation of statistics relating to VET:\n    (a) collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, any of the following:\n    (i) a registered training organisation;\n    (ii) a former registered training organisation;\n    (iii) a VET‑related body;\n    (b) use a student identifier.\n  (2) NCVER is authorised to do any of the following for the purpose of auditing the accuracy and reliability of the national VET statistical collection:\n    (a) collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, any of the following:\n    (i) a registered training organisation;\n    (ii) a former registered training organisation;\n    (iii) a VET‑related body;\n    (b) use a student identifier.\n  (3) NCVER is authorised to collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, the Registrar, or use a student identifier, for either or both of the following purposes:\n    (a) for the purposes of research referred to in subsection 18(2) of the Act;\n    (b) to enable the Registrar to prepare an authenticated VET transcript.\n  (4) NCVER is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for the purpose of assisting the Registrar to identify, investigate and resolve a problem that occurred in relation to the assignment of student identifiers.\n  (5) NCVER is authorised to do any of the following:\n    (a) collect a student identifier from a VET Regulator;\n    (b) use a student identifier collected under paragraph (a);\n    (c) disclose a student identifier to a VET Regulator.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—VET‑related bodies other than a VET Regulator","content":"#### 13 Authorisation—VET‑related bodies other than a VET Regulator\n\n  (1) This section applies to a VET‑related body, other than a VET Regulator.\n  Reporting obligations under the VET standards\n  (2) The body is authorised to do any of the following to enable a registered training organisation to comply with the organisation’s reporting obligations under the VET standards:\n    (a) collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, a registered training organisation;\n    (b) use a student identifier.\n  Administration, development and research purposes\n  (3) The body is authorised to do any of the following for any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (4):\n    (a) collect and use a student identifier of an individual;\n    (b) disclose a student identifier of an individual to any of the following:\n    (i) a VET‑related body, other than a VET Regulator;\n    (ii) a registered training organisation;\n    (iii) a VET admission body.\n  (4) For subsection (3), the purposes are as follows:\n    (a) administering VET including VET programs;\n    (b) policy development or research relating to education;\n    (c) assisting in establishing the individual’s eligibility for a training subsidy.\n  Statistics relating to VET\n  (5) The body is authorised to do any of the following for purposes related to the collection and preparation of statistics relating to VET:\n    (a) collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, NCVER;\n    (b) use a student identifier.\n  Delivering and reporting on school education\n  (6) The body is authorised to do any of the following for the purpose of delivering and reporting on a VET course that is being, or was, undertaken by an individual as part of the individual’s education at or through a school:\n    (a) collect the individual’s student identifier from, or disclose the individual’s student identifier to, the school;\n    (b) use the individual’s student identifier.\n  Contractual and reporting obligations\n  (7) The body is authorised to collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, a former registered training organisation for purposes related to:\n    (a) the organisation’s contractual obligations; or\n    (b) the organisation’s current or former reporting obligations under the VET standards.\n  Other purposes\n  (8) The body is authorised to disclose a student identifier:\n    (a) to a VET Regulator; or\n    (b) to the Registrar for the purposes of subsection 18(2) of the Act (use or disclosure by Registrar for purposes of research).\n  (9) The body is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for either or both of the following purposes:\n    (a) auditing registered training organisations that receive funding from the Commonwealth or a State or Territory;\n    (b) assisting the Registrar to identify, investigate and resolve a problem that occurred in relation to the assignment of student identifiers.\n  (10) The body is authorised to use or disclose a student identifier for the purposes of section 14 of the Act (request to verify or give a student identifier).","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—VET Regulator","content":"#### 14 Authorisation—VET Regulator\n\n  (1) A VET Regulator is authorised to collect a student identifier from a registered training organisation, and use the student identifier, to enable the organisation to comply with its reporting obligations under the VET standards.\n  (2) A VET Regulator is authorised to use or disclose a student identifier for the purposes of section 14 of the Act (request to verify or give a student identifier).\n  (3) A VET Regulator is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for the purpose of performing its functions under the following as in force from time to time:\n    (a) its constituent legislation (see subsection (4));\n    (b) the Standards for VET Regulators made under subsection 189(1) of the NVETR Act;\n    (c) the Australian Quality Training Framework Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration, or any equivalent document prepared by a relevant Ministerial Council;\n    (d) the Australian Quality Training Framework Essential Conditions and Standards for Continuing Registration, or any equivalent document prepared by a relevant Ministerial Council.\n  (4) For subsection (3), constituent legislation for a VET Regulator means:\n    (a) for the National VET Regulator—the NVETR Act; or\n    (b) for the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority—the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.); or\n    (c) for the Training Accreditation Council—the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (WA).\n  (5) A VET Regulator is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for the purpose of assisting the Registrar to identify, investigate and resolve a problem that has occurred in relation to the assignment of student identifiers.\n  (6) A VET Regulator is authorised to disclose an individual’s identifier to NCVER for the purposes of meeting the VET Regulator’s obligations under the VET standards.","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—VET admission bodies","content":"#### 15 Authorisation—VET admission bodies\n\n  (1) A VET admission body is authorised to do any of the following for the purposes of its administration of VET, including VET programs:\n    (a) collect a student identifier from, or disclose a student identifier to, a VET‑related body (other than a VET Regulator);\n    (b) use a student identifier.\n  (2) A VET admission body is authorised to collect, use or disclose a student identifier for the purpose of assisting the Registrar to identify, investigate and resolve a problem that has occurred in relation to the assignment of student identifiers.","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"15A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—Regional University Study Hubs Program","content":"#### 15A Authorisation—Regional University Study Hubs Program\n\n  (1) This section applies if a grant has been made to an entity under Part 2‑3 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, under the program specified in subsection 64(1) of the Higher Education Support (Other Grants) Guidelines 2022 (that is, the Regional University Study Hubs Program).\n  (2) The entity is authorised to:\n    (a) collect or use a student identifier of an individual who is registered with the entity or to whom the entity provides support; or\n    (b) disclose a student identifier of such an individual to the Secretary of, or an APS employee in, the Education Department or a third party engaged by the Education Department;\n  for the purposes of assisting the Education Department to administer, or to undertake policy development in relation to, that program.","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"15B","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—Suburban University Study Hubs Program","content":"#### 15B Authorisation—Suburban University Study Hubs Program\n\n  (1) This section applies if a grant has been made to an entity under Part 2‑3 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, under the program specified in subsection 66A(1) of the Higher Education Support (Other Grants) Guidelines 2022 (that is, the Suburban University Study Hubs Program).\n  (2) The entity is authorised to:\n    (a) collect or use a student identifier of an individual who is registered with the entity or to whom the entity provides support; or\n    (b) disclose a student identifier of such an individual to the Secretary of, or an APS employee in, the Education Department or a third party engaged by the Education Department;\n  for the purposes of assisting the Education Department to administer, or to undertake policy development in relation to, that program.","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—research purpose","content":"#### 16 Authorisation—research purpose\n\n  An entity that receives a student identifier for a research purpose under subsection 18(2) of the Act is authorised to use the identifier for that purpose.\n\n> Note: Subsection 18(2) of the Act allows the Registrar to use or disclose a student identifier for purposes of certain research relating to education or training or requiring the use of student identifiers or information about education or training.","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authorisation—disclosure required by law","content":"#### 17 Authorisation—disclosure required by law\n\n  An entity is authorised to disclose a student identifier if required to do so by law.","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Unauthorised uses of student identifiers","content":"#### 18 Unauthorised uses of student identifiers\n\n  Nothing in this Part authorises an entity to use a student identifier of an individual:\n    (a) as the entity’s own identifier of the individual; or\n    (b) for the purposes of printing the individual’s student identifier on a student card issued by the entity for the individual.\n\n> Note: Subsection 19(2) of the Act contains a similar prohibition to paragraph (a) in relation to an individual consenting to an entity collecting, using or disclosing the individual’s student identifier.","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Application, saving and transitional provisions","content":"## Part 4—Application, saving and transitional provisions","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amendments made by the Student Identifiers Amendment (Authorised Collection, Use or Disclosure—Regional University Centres Program) Regulations 2021","content":"#### 19 Amendments made by the Student Identifiers Amendment (Authorised Collection, Use or Disclosure—Regional University Centres Program) Regulations 2021\n\n  Section 15A, as inserted by the Student Identifiers Amendment (Authorised Collection, Use or Disclosure—Regional University Centres Program) Regulations 2021, applies in relation to the use or disclosure of a student identifier on or after the commencement of this section, regardless of when the student identifier was collected.","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Amendments made by the Student Identifiers Amendment (Authorised Collection, Use or Disclosure—Study Hubs Programs) Regulations 2024","content":"#### 20 Amendments made by the Student Identifiers Amendment (Authorised Collection, Use or Disclosure—Study Hubs Programs) Regulations 2024\n\n  Section 15B, as inserted by the Student Identifiers Amendment (Authorised Collection, Use or Disclosure—Study Hubs Programs) Regulations 2024, applies in relation to the use or disclosure of a student identifier on or after the commencement of this section, regardless of when the student identifier was collected.","sortOrder":24}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulation expands authorised recipients and uses of student identifiers by adding explicit authorisations for entities funded under the Regional and Suburban University Study Hubs Programs (secs 15A–15B) and confirms those authorisations apply irrespective of when an identifier was collected (secs 19–20). It also prescribes the content of authenticated VET transcripts (s 5) and clarifies permitted disclosures for reporting, subsidy eligibility, research, auditing and Registrar/NCVER functions (ss 9–13, 16)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple categories of authorised entities with overlapping permissions and tailored purposes (registered training organisations, former RTOs, schools, NCVER, VET‑related bodies, VET Regulators, VET admission bodies, study‑hub grant recipients) (ss 9–16, 15A–15B).","Extensive cross‑references to other statutes and instruments for definitions and functions (Student Identifiers Act 2014, NVETR Act, VET standards, constituent legislation) (s 3; s 4; s 14(3)–(4)).","Date‑dependent rules and retrospective scope for transcript content (detailed transcript fields tied to units delivered on or after 1 Jan 2015) (s 5).","Detailed permitted purposes (reporting, subsidy eligibility, administration, research, auditing) create fine‑grained authorisations and limits (ss 8, 9(1), 12(1)–(3), 13(3)–(5)).","Specific prohibitions against secondary uses (cannot adopt student identifier as organisation’s own identifier or print it on student cards) that interact with consent and operational practices (s 18).","Role of NCVER and the Registrar as hubs for collection, disclosure and transcript preparation creates centralised data flows and audit pathways (s 12; s 5(e)–(f)).","Transitional and amendment provisions adding study‑hub authorisations and applying them regardless of when identifiers were collected introduce retrospective application complexity (ss 15A–15B; ss 19–20).","‘Disclosure required by law’ carve‑out and multiplicity of reporting obligations raise potential tension between competing legal duties (s 17)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations specify what information must appear in authenticated VET transcripts, prescribe certain misconduct with student identifiers, and list which organisations may collect, use or disclose student identifiers for narrowly stated purposes such as VET reporting, subsidy eligibility, research and auditing. It affects VET students (whose identifiers and transcripts are covered) and entities like registered training organisations, schools, NCVER, VET regulators and approved study‑hub grant recipients; authorised bodies decide disclosures and carry the compliance and reporting costs, while reuse of identifiers as an organisation’s own ID or printing them on student cards is prohibited (ss 5, 6, 9–16, 18)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 2014 regulation focused on vocational education and training (VET) sector participants. However, sections 15A and 15B (added in 2021 and 2024 respectively) extend authorisations to entities under the Regional University Study Hubs Program and Suburban University Study Hubs Program — these are higher education support programs, not VET programs. This represents a scope expansion beyond the original VET-centric purpose into broader tertiary education administration."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to the Student Identifiers Act 2014 and the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVETR Act)","8 defined terms in section 4, plus 7 additional expressions defined in the parent Act (noted but not defined here)","Nested conditional authorisations in Part 3 — each entity type has multiple subsections with specific purposes and conditions","Two recent amendment sections (15A and 15B) with transitional provisions in Part 4 that apply retrospectively to data collection","VET standards are defined as 'as in force from time to time' documents, creating dynamic referencing to external instruments","Multiple entity categories with overlapping but distinct permissions (registered training organisations, former registered training organisations, schools, NCVER, VET-related bodies, VET Regulators, VET admission bodies, Study Hubs entities)"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation governs how Australia's VET student identifiers are used, shared and protected, setting rules for what appears on official training transcripts and banning misuse that risks identity fraud.  \n\nIt affects anyone who studies vocational courses (back to 2015), training providers, schools, research bodies and government agencies—ensuring a portable lifelong record of vocational learning while limiting inappropriate collection or display of identifiers."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/student-identifiers-regulation-2014","history":"/api/acts/student-identifiers-regulation-2014/history","analysis":"/api/acts/student-identifiers-regulation-2014/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/student-identifiers-regulation-2014/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/student-identifiers-regulation-2014/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/student-identifiers-regulation-2014/documents"}}