{"id":"F2018L01829","name":"VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Amendment Determination (No.4) 2018","slug":"vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":98462,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L01829-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Amendment Determination (No.4) 2018","content":"![](image.001.jpeg)\n\nVET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Amendment Determination (No. 4) 2018\n\nI, Michaelia Cash, Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, make the following legislative instrument.\n\nDated 16 December 2018\n\nMichaelia Cash\n\nMinister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education\n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Amendment Determination (No.4) 2018.\n\n2 Commencement\n\n(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n```html\n

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1. The whole of this instrument

1 January 2019

\n```\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3 Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under the VET Student Loans Act 2016.\n\n4 Schedule\n\nThe VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016 is amended as set out in Schedule 1 to this instrument.\n\n5 Transitional arrangements\n\nFor the avoidance of doubt, if before the commencement of this instrument:\n\n(a) the Secretary approved a VET student loan for a student for a course of study listed in items 11 or 14 of Schedule 1 to this instrument; and\n\n(b) the student had not completed the course of study,\n\nthe Secretary may continue to pay loan amounts in respect of that loan under section 19 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016 on or after the commencement of this instrument, in relation to that course for that student.\n\nSchedule 1 — Amendments\n\n Subsection 5(1)\n\nRepeal the subsection, substitute:\n\n(1) For paragraph 14(2)(a) of the VET Student Loans Act 2016, the courses for which VET student loans may be approved are:\n\n(a) the VET courses with the course codes specified in Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to this instrument (each a ‘specified course’);\n\n(b) any course identified in the National Register as a later version of, or superseding course to, a specified course (‘later version of a specified course’).\n\n 2. Subsection 5(1) (note)\n\nOmit “Note” substitute “Note 1”.\n\n 3. At the end of subsection 5(1) (after the note)\n\nAdd:\n\nNote 2: Course mapping information about current and earlier versions of VET courses is included in the National Register.\n\n 4. Subsection 5(2)\n\nAfter “Schedule 3 to this instrument” insert “or any later version of a specified course”.\n\n 5. Paragraph 5(3)(a)\n\nAfter “Part 1 of Schedule 1” insert “or any later version of a specified course”.\n\n 6. Paragraph 5(3)(b)\n\nAfter “Part 2 of Schedule 1” insert “or any later version of a specified course”.\n\n 7. Paragraph 5(3)(c)\n\nAfter “Part 3 of Schedule 1” insert “or any later version of a specified course”.\n\n 8. Paragraph 5(3)(d)\n\nAfter “Schedule 2 or 3” insert “or any later version of a specified course”.\n\n 9. Schedule 1, Part 1 – Courses in loan cap band 1, table\n\nAdd the following rows to the table in ascending numerical order by course code:\n\n| 20A | CPP50511 | Diploma of Property Services (Asset and Facility Management) |\n| --- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 21A | CSC60115 | Advanced Diploma of Correctional Management |\n| 23A | FNS50417 | Diploma of Payroll Services |\n| 25A | FNS51215 | Diploma of Insurance Broking |\n| 26A | FNS51915 | Diploma of Personal Injury and Disability Insurance Management |\n| 33A | SIR50217 | Diploma of Visual Merchandising |\n| 33B | SIR50317 | Diploma of Retail Merchandise Management |\n| 41A | TLI50816 | Diploma of Customs Broking |\n\n 10. Schedule 1, Part 1 – Courses in loan cap band 1, table\n\n| Renumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1. |\n| ------------------------------------------------------ |\n\n 11. Schedule 1, Part 2 – Courses in loan cap band 2, table\n\nOmit the following rows from the table:\n\n| 8 | 10408NAT | Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Advocacy |\n| --- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 13 | 10702NAT | Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development |\n\n 12. Schedule 1, Part 2 – Courses in loan cap band 2, table\n\nAdd the following rows to the table in ascending numerical order by course code:\n\n| 13A | 10732NAT | Diploma of Forensic Identification (Biometrics) (Document Examination) |\n| --- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 15A | 22477VIC | Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) |\n| 20A | AMP50115 | Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) |\n| 47A | CUA50213 | Diploma of Musical Theatre |\n| 65A | HLT52215 | Diploma of Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies |\n| 66A | HLT55118 | Diploma of Dental Technology |\n| 90A | MSL50118 | Diploma of Laboratory Technology |\n| 91A | MSL60118 | Advanced Diploma of Laboratory Operations |\n| 92A | PSP50216 | Diploma of Court Operations |\n| 96A | PSP60916 | Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (LOTE-English) |\n\n 13. Schedule 1, Part 2 – Courses in loan cap band 2, table\n\n| Renumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1. |\n| ------------------------------------------------------ |\n\n 14. Schedule 1, Part 3 – Courses in loan cap band 3, table\n\nOmit the following rows from the table:\n\n| 2 | 10219NAT | Diploma of Holistic Management - Sustainable Rural Lands, Business and Communities |\n| --- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 147 | RGR50408 | Diploma of Racing Services (Track Management) |\n\n 15. Schedule 1, Part 3 – Courses in loan cap band 3, table\n\nAdd the following rows to the table in ascending numerical order by course code:\n\n| 12A | 10702NAT | Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development |\n| ---- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 12B | 10717NAT | Diploma of Holistic Management-Sustainable Rural Lands, Business and Communities |\n| 22A | 22466VIC | Diploma of Ecology |\n| 106A | MEA50118 | Diploma of Aeroskills (Avionics) |\n| 107A | MEA50218 | Diploma of Aeroskills (Mechanical) |\n| 108A | MEA50318 | Diploma of Aviation Maintenance Management (Avionics) |\n| 109A | MEA50418 | Diploma of Aviation Maintenance Management (Mechanical) |\n| 110A | MEA50518 | Diploma of Aeroskills (Non-Destructive Testing) |\n| 111A | MEA50618 | Diploma of Aeronautical Engineering |\n| 112A | MEA50718 | Diploma of Avionic Engineering |\n| 113A | MEA60118 | Advanced Diploma of Aviation Maintenance Management (Avionics) |\n| 114A | MEA60218 | Advanced Diploma of Aviation Maintenance Management (Mechanical) |\n| 115A | MEA60318 | Advanced Diploma of Aviation Non-Destructive Testing |\n| 116A | MEA60418 | Advanced Diploma of Aeronautical Engineering |\n| 117A | MEA60518 | Advanced Diploma of Avionic Engineering |\n| 125A | MSS50118 | Diploma of Sustainable Operations |\n| 126A | MSS50218 | Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology |\n| 129A | MSS80118 | Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Operations |\n| 130A | MSS80218 | Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management |\n| 148A | RGR50118 | Diploma of Racing (Racehorse Trainer) |\n| 171A | TLI50618 | Diploma of Rail Operations Management |\n| 200A | UEG50118 | Diploma of Gas Supply Industry Operations |\n| 201A | UEG60118 | Advanced Diploma of Gas Supply Industry Operations |\n\n 16. Schedule 1, Part 3 – Courses in loan cap band 3, table\n\n| Renumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1. |\n| ------------------------------------------------------ |\n\n 17. Schedule 3 – Approved courses for specific providers, table\n\nAdd the following row to the table in alphabetical order by approved course provider:\n\n| 2A | Bendigo Kangan Institute | 22091VIC | Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing | $10,000 |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------- |\n| 2B | Bendigo Kangan Institute | 22321VIC | Advanced Diploma of Justice | $10,000 |\n| 3A | Edith Cowan University | 10068NAT | Diploma of Screen Performance | $10,000 |\n| 3B | Edith Cowan University | 10294NAT | Diploma of Acting | $10,000 |\n| 9A | Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Limited | 10448NAT | Graduate Certificate in Applied Pharmacy Practice | $10,000 |\n| 15A | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | 22451VIC | Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation | $10,000 |\n| 18B | Swinburne University of Technology | 22091VIC | Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing | $10,000 |\n| 18C | Swinburne University of Technology | 22320VIC | Diploma of Justice | $10,000 |\n| 18D | Swinburne University of Technology | 22321VIC | Advanced Diploma of Justice | $10,000 |\n| 24A | The Australian Ballet School | 10296NAT | Graduate Diploma of Classical Ballet | $10,000 |\n| 24B | The National Institute of Dramatic Art | 10196NAT | Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance | $10,000 |\n| 26A | Victoria University | 22276VIC | Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice | $10,000 |\n| 26B | Victoria University | 22451VIC | Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation | $10,000 |\n\n 18. Schedule 3 – Approved courses for specific providers, table\n\nRenumber all item numbers in the table, starting at 1","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument updates the existing list of VET courses and loan caps — adding, removing and renumbering specific course entries and recognising later/superseding course versions in the National Register. Those changes operate squarely within the Determination's original purpose (specifying courses eligible for VET Student Loans and their loan caps) rather than expanding the legislative scope into a new policy area."},"complexity_factors":["Instrument is short but performs many discrete edits to schedules (adds, omits and renumbers dozens of course entries across three parts and Schedule 3).","Replaces a key subsection (5(1)) to introduce the concept of 'later version of a specified course' and adds a Note referencing the National Register (Schedule 1, item 1; Note 2).","Multiple cross-references to the VET Student Loans Act 2016 and to the National Register (increased reliance on external register for interpretation).","Transitional provision allowing continued payments for pre-existing approvals (section 5) creates a temporal exception.","Administrative renumbering instructions (several items require renumbering table rows) increase scope for drafting/implementation error.","No complex new definitions or multi-layered conditional tests; changes are largely table-driven (low logical nesting)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- This is a Ministerial amendment to the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016. It changes which vocational education and training (VET) courses are eligible for VET Student Loans and adjusts the loan caps (maximum loan amounts) for certain approved courses. (See Schedule 1 and the Schedule amendments.)\n\n- It takes effect on 1 January 2019 (section 2). A transitional rule lets the Secretary continue paying loans already approved for students who had not completed those courses before the instrument commenced (section 5).\n\n- Key legal changes:\n - Replaces subsection 5(1) to make clear that eligible courses include those listed in Schedules 1–3 of this instrument and any later versions or superseding versions of those courses as recorded in the National Register (Schedule 1, item 1 and related edits in items 2–8).\n - Adds, removes and renumbers large numbers of individual course entries across the loan-cap bands (Schedule 1, items 9–16). Some courses are moved between bands or deleted from the lists and many new course codes are added.\n - Adds a set of approved course-provider specific entries (Schedule 3) including course codes and a $10,000 loan cap for each listed entry (Schedule 1, items 17–18).\n\nWho this affects\n\n- Students: determines which VET courses they can access through the Commonwealth VET Student Loans scheme and the maximum loan amount they can receive for specific courses (Schedule 3 lists course-specific caps; the Schedule tables define banding).\n\n- Approved training providers (RTOs), universities and other named providers: affects which of their courses are eligible for loans and, for some provider-course pairs, the specific loan cap (Schedule 3 additions). Providers must ensure course versions and codes in the National Register match the instrument's lists.\n\n- The Commonwealth (through the Department / Secretary): retains responsibility for administering loan approvals and paying loans under the VET Student Loans Act 2016. The Secretary has transitional discretion to continue payments for pre-existing approvals (section 5).\n\nWhy it matters (practical effects, incentives and trade-offs)\n\n- Access and price signal: by adding or removing courses from the approved lists and by fixing loan caps for particular courses, the instrument changes which courses students can finance through VET Student Loans and how much of tuition the government will finance. That alters students' effective price of study and therefore likely affects student demand (Schedule changes throughout).\n\n- Provider incentives and competition: listing a course (or giving a course a loan-cap) makes that course more attractive to fee-paying students who rely on loans. Providers whose courses are added or who receive a $10,000 cap may see higher enrolments; providers whose courses are removed may see reduced demand. The instrument therefore shifts competitive advantage between providers through eligibility and cap-setting (Schedule 1, Parts 1–3 and Schedule 3).\n\n- Fiscal exposure and concentration of benefit: more listed courses or higher caps increase the Commonwealth's contingent loan outlays. The immediate beneficiaries are students taking those listed courses and the providers who deliver them. The instrument creates concentrated benefits (individual providers and their courses) and diffuse costs (loan program exposure borne by taxpayers).\n\n- Administrative and compliance effects: the reform relies on accurate course-mapping in the National Register (new text allows later versions to be treated as listed courses). Providers must maintain course-code alignment and advise students accordingly; the Secretary must track later versions and ensure payments correspond to approved/superseding course codes (Schedule 1, item 1 and Note 2 addition).\n\nCosts, risks and implementation issues to watch\n\n- Cost: adding courses and $10,000 caps increases potential loan liabilities. The instrument does not itself appropriate funds; it changes eligibility and caps that determine future loan payments.\n\n- Substitution and behavioural effects: students may switch into newly-approved or newly-capped courses where loans now make them more affordable. Providers may restructure course offerings or re-version courses to capture loan eligibility (the instrument explicitly recognises later versions—Schedule 1, item 1).\n\n- Discretion and clarity: the Secretary retains operational discretion to continue existing loans (section 5). The instrument depends on correct National Register mapping; errors or delays in that register create implementation risk and potential disputes about eligibility.\n\n- Administrative burden: the many table edits and renumberings require updates to provider, student and departmental systems and communications. Providers need to verify that the National Register mapping treats later versions as intended (Schedule 1, new Note 2).\n\nWho pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes\n\n- Who pays: the Commonwealth (via the VET Student Loans program) pays loan amounts to students/providers subject to loan caps and eligibility. Taxpayers bear the program's contingent costs.\n\n- Who decides: the Minister (by instrument) amends the Determination; the Secretary administers approvals and payments under the VET Student Loans Act 2016 (see Authority, section 3, and transitional section 5).\n\n- Behaviour changes: students shift enrolment choices based on eligibility and caps; providers may promote newly-approved courses or adjust offerings; the Department must update eligibility lists and ensure National Register mapping is synchronised with the Determination.\n\nRelevant sections cited: commencement (section 2), authority (section 3), transitional arrangements (section 5), and the Schedule 1 amendments (items 1–18) which alter subsection 5(1), add notes about course mapping, and add/omit/renumber course listings and provider-specific entries."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original purpose of updating the eligible courses list and loan caps. While it adds numerous specific courses and providers, this is consistent with the Determination's established function of periodic administrative updates. No structural expansion of the scheme's scope or powers has occurred."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward amendment structure with 18 discrete items, mostly adding/removing table entries","No nested conditional logic or complex cross-referencing beyond standard parent Act references","Simple transitional arrangement in section 5 (single scenario: continuing loans for existing students)","Heavy reliance on schedules/tables but these are data lists rather than legal rules","Only one defined concept introduced ('later version of a specified course') with explanatory notes","Minimal interpretative provisions — operates by direct amendment to existing Determination"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument updates which vocational education courses qualify for government-backed income-contingent loans: it adds new courses, removes or reassigns others between loan bands, expands certain provider-specific approvals, and confirms that later versions of approved courses remain eligible. \n\nIt affects VET students, training providers and employers by aligning loaned qualifications with current industry needs while protecting students already enrolled before the changes."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018","history":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vet-student-loans-courses-and-loan-caps-amendment-determination-no-4-2018/documents"}}