CTHIn ForceAct
VET Student Loans Act 2016
6Definitions
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 6
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in VET Student Loans Act 2016.
#### 6 Definitions
In this Act:
> accumulated VETSL debt: see subsection 23CC(1).
> affected part, of an original course, means a part of the course that a student was enrolled in when an approved course provider defaulted in relation to the student.
> approved course: see section 13.
> approved course provider: see section 24.
> approved external dispute resolution scheme: see section 42B.
> approved external dispute resolution scheme operator: see paragraph 42B(c).
> approved form has the meaning given by section 388‑50 in Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953.
> assessed worldwide income has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> Australian Privacy Principles has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 1988.
> Australian Qualifications Framework means the framework for recognition and endorsement of qualifications:
(a) that is established by the Council consisting of the Ministers for the Commonwealth and each State and Territory responsible for higher education; and
(b) that is to give effect to agreed standards in relation to the provision of education in Australia;
as in force from time to time.
> Note: The Australian Qualifications Framework could in 2016 be viewed on the Australian Qualifications Framework website (http://www.aqf.edu.au).
> census day: see subsection 58(3).
> civil penalty provision has the same meaning as in the Regulatory Powers Act.
> cold‑calling: see subsections 62(2) and (3).
> commence, in relation to winding up a body corporate, has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act 2001.
> Commissioner means the Commissioner of Taxation.
> Commonwealth officer has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> compliance audit: see subsection 45(2).
> compliance notice: see subsection 43(3).
> compulsory VETSL repayment amount means an amount that:
(a) is required to be paid in respect of an accumulated VETSL debt under section 23EA or 23EC; and
(b) is included in a notice of an assessment made under section 23EE.
> course means a course of study.
> course provider means a person who provides, or offers to provide, a course of study.
> courses and loan caps determination: see subsection 16(2).
> covered fees: see subsection 56(3).
> decision maker: see paragraph 74(b).
> decision notice: see subsection 36(4).
> default: see section 66B.
> Departmental investigator: see subsection 88(1).
> dependent child means a person who is aged under 18 and does not have a spouse or de facto partner.
> Education Minister means the Minister who administers the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.
> electronic communication has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act 1999.
> eligible student: see section 9.
> executive officer, of an approved course provider, means a person (whether or not a director of the provider) who is concerned in, or takes part in, the management of the provider.
> foreign resident has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
> former accumulated VETSL debt: see subsection 23CB(1).
> genuine student has a meaning affected by any rules made for the purposes of this definition.
> guidance and appeals panel has the same meaning as in the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024.
> guidance and appeals panel application has the same meaning as in the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024.
> HELP balance has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> income tax has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
> income year has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
> intention notice: see subsection 36(2).
> judicial officer means:
(a) a magistrate; or
(b) a Judge of a court of a State or Territory; or
(c) a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2); or
(d) a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
> listed course provider: see subsection 27(2).
> loan amount means all or a part of a VET student loan.
> Medicare levy means Medicare levy imposed by the Medicare Levy Act 1986.
> member of an approved external dispute resolution scheme that is Part IIE of the Ombudsman Act 1976 (which establishes the VET Student Loans Ombudsman): see section 42BA of this Act.
> minimum repayment income has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> National VET Regulator has the same meaning as in the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.
> NVETR investigator: see subsection 88(2).
> NVETR staff member means a member of the staff of the Regulator (within the meaning of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011).
> officer of an approved course provider means:
(a) an officer or employee of an approved course provider; or
(b) a person who performs services for or on behalf of an approved course provider.
> officer of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator means:
(a) an officer or employee of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator; or
(b) if the VET Student Loans Ombudsman is an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator—the VET Student Loans Ombudsman or a member of the staff of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman (see Part IIE of the Ombudsman Act 1976); or
(c) in any case—a person who performs services for or on behalf of an approved external dispute resolution operator.
> officer of a Tertiary Admission Centre has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> ongoing information requirements: see subsection 52(1).
> original course means an approved course in relation to which an approved course provider has defaulted.
> Pacific engagement visa: see subsection 11(1B).
> permanent humanitarian visa: see subsection 11(1A).
> permitted purpose: see subsection 95(1).
> personal information has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 1988.
> provider fee limit: see subsection 34(3).
> qualifying New Zealand citizen: see subsection 11(2).
> registered training organisation has the same meaning as in the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.
> Regulatory Powers Act means the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014.
> repayable VETSL debt: see subsection 23EB(1).
> repayment income has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> replacement component means a part of a replacement course that replaces an affected part of an original course.
> replacement course means an approved course that enables a student to finish:
(a) an original course; or
(b) a course that is equivalent to an original course.
> responsible parent has the same meaning as in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.
> return means an income tax return within the meaning of subsection 995‑1(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
> reviewable decision: see paragraph 74(a).
> rules means the rules made under section 116.
> Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.
> special category visa has the same meaning as in the Migration Act 1958.
> special circumstances: see subsection 68(3).
> student includes a prospective student.
> student entry procedure means a course provider’s procedure to ensure that a student is academically suited to undertake a course.
> student identifier has the same meaning as in the Student Identifiers Act 2014.
> Table A provider has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> Table B provider has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
> taxable income has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
> tax file number has the same meaning as in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.
> TEQSA means the body established by section 132 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.
> this Act includes:
(a) the rules; and
(b) any other instrument made under this Act; and
(c) the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to the extent that it relates to this Act; and
(d) any instrument made under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to the extent that the instrument relates to this Act.
> unacceptable conduct: see subsection 71(2).
> VET information means information obtained or created for the purposes of this Act.
> VET officer means:
(a) a Commonwealth officer; or
(b) an officer of a Tertiary Admission Centre; or
(c) an officer of an approved course provider; or
(e) an officer of an approved external dispute resolution scheme operator.
> VET Regulator has the same meaning as in the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.
> VETSL debt: see subsection 23BA(1).
> VET student loan: see subsection 7(2).
> voluntary repayment means a payment made to the Commissioner in discharge of an accumulated VETSL debt or a VETSL debt. It does not include a payment made in discharge of a compulsory VETSL repayment amount.
> VSL Tuition Protection Director means the person referred to in section 66M.
> VSL Tuition Protection Fund means the VSL Tuition Protection Fund established by section 66J.
> VSL Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Board means the VSL Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Board established by section 66Q.
> VSL tuition protection levy means levy imposed by the VET Student Loans (VSL Tuition Protection Levy) Act 2019.