2012 booklet fee-help

8/2/2019 2012 Booklet FEE-HELP

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Fee-Helpinformation for 2012


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You must read this booklet before You

sign and submit one of the forms below

To request FEE-HELP assistance you are required to complete one o theRequest for FEE-HELP assistanceorms below.

When you sign the orm, you declare that you have read this booklet andthat you are aware o your obligations under FEE-HELP.

If you are studying with a highereducation provider you must

sign this form:

If you are enrolling in units ofstudy with Open Universities

Australia you must sign this form:

You must fll out a Request for FEE-HELP assistanceorm or each course o study or

which you wish to obtain FEE-HELP.

Students studying with Open Universities Australia need to ensure that each unit

o study or which they wish to obtain FEE-HELP is listed on a Request for FEE-HELP

assistance Open Universities Australiaorm.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Department o Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

has endeavoured to ensure that the inormation in this publication is consistent with theHigher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act) and guidelines made under the Act, available atwww.comlaw.gov.au . However, there may be di erences between this publication and theAct or guidelines - i there is any inconsistency the Act will take precedence.


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FEE-HELP information 2012 i

Who is this booklet for?

This booklet is or people enrolling in:

a higher education course o study as aee paying student;

a higher education unit o study provided through Open Universities Australia; or

bridging study required or proessional recognition in Australia o

qualications completed overseas.

The inormation in this booklet is generally or students enrolled in a highereducation award course (usually Bachelor level and above) who are eligible to

access a FEE-HELP loan at a private higher education provider or in a postgraduate

course at university.

Most undergraduate students who enrol in an undergraduate degree at university

are enrolled as a Commonwealth supported student. Inormation or these

students is available rom the Inormation or Commonwealth supported students and

HECS-HELP 2012 booklet (available rom www.goingtouni.gov.au).

I you need inormation about loans or higher-level Vocational Educationand Training (VET) courses, please see the VET FEE-HELP inormation 2012

booklet (available rom www.deewr.gov.au/veteehelp or by contacting the

VET FEE-HELP enquiry line on 13 38 73).VET FEE-HELP provides loans or eligible

students doing diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certicate and graduate

diploma courses that are accredited as VET qualications and delivered by

approved VET providers.

Using this booklet

As you read through, you will notice that certain terms are highlighted in blue.

These terms are dened in the glossary.

I you need to know who to contact i you have specic questions, the contacts

list at the end o the booklet will help you.

More inormation about FEE-HELP loans is available at www.goingtouni.gov.au.


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table of Contents

Who is this booklet or? ........................................................................................ i

Using this booklet ................................................................................................. i

Glossary ............................................................................................................... vi

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................1

1.1 What is FEE-HELP? ................................................................................... 1

1.2 Who is a ee paying student? ..................................................................1

1.3 How does the FEE-HELP loan scheme work? ...........................................1

1.4 What are tuition ees? ............................................................................. 2

2. Eligibility or FEE-HELP ................................................................................. 3

2.1 Am I eligible? ..........................................................................................3

2.2 What is the census date? .........................................................................3

2.3 How do I know i Im studying with an approved FEE-HELP provider

(approved provider)? ............................................................................... 42.4 Can I get FEE-HELP i Im studying through Open Universities

Australia (OUA)? ......................................................................................4

2.5 Citizenship and residency requirements .................................................. 4

2.6 What is an eligible unit o study? .............................................................6

2.7 Do previous study results aect my eligibility or FEE-HELP? ...................6

2.8 What is the FEE-HELP limit? .....................................................................6

2.9 What is my FEE-HELP balance? ................................................................7

2.10 Does an existing or previous HELP debt aect my eligibility or

FEE-HELP? ...............................................................................................7

2.11 Pre-2005 loans ........................................................................................ 8

2.12 Can I get FEE-HELP i Im a mature-aged student or studying part-time? ....8

2.13 Do my assets or income aect my eligibility or FEE-HELP? .....................8

3. Bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals .....................................9

3.1 What is bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals? ......................9


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3.2 How will I know i I am undertaking bridging study oroverseas-trained proessionals? ...............................................................9

3.3 What study is not considered bridging study or overseas-trained

proessionals? ........................................................................................ 11

3.4 How can I nd out more inormation about proessional recognition

o my qualications? ............................................................................. 11

4. How FEE-HELP works .................................................................................. 12

4.1 Paying your tuition ees ......................................................................... 12

4.2 What FEE-HELP doesnt cover ................................................................ 12

4.3 How much can I borrow? ...................................................................... 13

4.4 Is there a loan ee? ................................................................................ 13

4.5 Can I claim my tuition ees as a tax deduction? .................................... 14

5. Applying or FEE-HELP ................................................................................ 15

5.1 Request or FEE-HELP assistanceorm ...................................................... 15

5.2 Closing date or requesting FEE-HELP .................................................... 15

5.3 Higher education award course students .............................................. 15

5.4 Students undertaking bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals .. 16

5.5 Open Universities Australia (OUA) students .......................................... 16

5.6 What i I nd I have made a mistake on my orm? ................................. 16

5.7 Do I have to provide my tax le number (TFN)? ................................... 16

5.8 How do I get a tax le number (TFN)? .................................................. 17

5.9 What am I agreeing to by signing the orm? ......................................... 17

5.10 What i I change my course or approved provider? ............................... 185.11 When do I incur a debt? ........................................................................ 18

5.12 What i I change my mind about studying?........................................... 18

5.13 What i I change my mind about wanting FEE-HELP? ............................ 18

5.14 Can I get FEE-HELP or more than one course? ...................................... 19

5.15 How do I keep track o my FEE-HELP balance? ...................................... 19

6. Keeping track o your FEE-HELP .................................................................20

6.1 Your Commonwealth Higher Education Student SupportNumber (CHESSN) ................................................................................ 20


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6.2 Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) .....................................206.3 Check your FEE-HELP balance at myUniAssist......................................... 21

7. Withdrawing rom studies .........................................................................22

7.1 How do I withdraw rom a unit? ...........................................................22

7.2 What happens i I withdraw by the census date? ...................................22

7.3 What happens i I withdraw ater the census date? ............................... 23

7.4 Will changing my study load aect my eligibility or Youth Allowance,

Austudy, ABSTUDY or Pensioner Education Supplement? ......................23

7.5 How do I withdraw rom an Open Universities Australia (OUA) unit? .... 23

7.6 What happens i I ail a unit? ................................................................. 24

7.7 How can I apply to have my FEE-HELP debt removed and my FEE-HELP

balance re-credited under special circumstances? ............................... 24

7.8 Can I appeal the decision? ....................................................................25

8. Repaying your HELP debt ...........................................................................26

8.1 What is a HELP debt? ............................................................................26

8.2 When do I start repaying my HELP debt? ..............................................26

8.3 How much will my repayments be? ...................................................... 27

8.4 Is interest charged on my debt? ............................................................ 28

8.5 Repayments rom job, benet or superannuation income .....................28

8.6 Repayments rom business or investment income ................................. 30

8.7 What i I disagree with my compulsory repayment? .............................. 30

8.8 What i I have diculties making my compulsory repayment? ..............30

8.9 Can I make voluntary repayments? ....................................................... 318.10 Can I get a bonus or voluntary repayments? ........................................ 31

8.11 How do I make a voluntary repayment? ................................................32

8.12 Are my repayments tax deductible? ...................................................... 35

8.13 What happens to my debt i I die? ........................................................35

8.14 What happens to my debt i I go bankrupt? ..........................................36

8.15 Where can I get inormation on my HELP account? ............................... 36


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FEE-HELP information 2012 v

Contacts .............................................................................................................. 37Your approved FEE-HELP provider or Open Universities Australia .................. 37

Department o Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) ..... 37

Proessional, registration or licensing bodies .................................................38

Australian Taxation Oce (ATO) ...................................................................38

Centrelink .....................................................................................................38

Department o Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) ..................................... 39

Appendix A: ........................................................................................................40List o occupations and the assessing bodies approved or identiying

bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals .........................................40


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glossary

Accumulated HELP debt The consolidated total o any FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP,HECS-HELP or OS-HELP debts you have incurred (including

any Government study loans incurred beore 2005).

Administrative date A date (beorethe census date) set by your approved

FEE-HELP provider (approved provider) by which they wantyou to submit yourRequest or FEE-HELP assistanceorm or to

withdraw your enrolment.

Note: you can still submit your application or a loan orwithdraw rom a unit ater the administrative date (but by

the census date) without incurring a FEE-HELP debt but youmay have to pay a late enrolment ee or a late withdrawal

ee. See section 2.2.

Approved FEE-HELP

provider (approvedprovider)

A university or other accredited higher education institution

that has been approved by the Australian Government tooer FEE-HELP loans to its students.

Census date Deadline or various requirements, including submittingyourRequest or FEE-HELP assistanceorm, making any

up-ront payment o your tuition ees and ormallywithdrawing rom any units. See section 2.2.

Commonwealthassistance notice (CAN)

Notice rom your approved provider detailing inormationabout the Commonwealth assistance you have used or the

study period. See section 6.2.

Commonwealth Higher

Education StudentSupport Number

(CHESSN)

Your unique identication number as a person studying in a

Commonwealth supported place or accessing a HELP loan.See section 6.1.

Commonwealth

supported place

A place at a selected higher education provider that is

subsidised by the Australian Government so that studentsonly have to pay a student contribution amount or their

study. See section 1.2.

Commonwealth

supported student

A student who is enrolled in a Commonwealth

supported place. Most domestic students who studytheir undergraduate degree at university do so as

Commonwealth supported students.

Course o study Studies leading to a higher education award (e.g. aBachelors degree).


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FEE-HELP information 2012 vii

Eligible unit o study

(or FEE-HELP)

A subject or unit that is part o a course o study leading to

a higher education award with an approved provider, oris made available by an approved provider and accessed

through Open Universities Australia (OUA), or is part obridging studies or overseas-trained proessionals.

FEE-HELP Australian Government loan program to help eligibleee paying students pay their tuition ees.

FEE-HELP balance The amount o FEE-HELP you have let to use beorereaching the FEE-HELP limit. See section 2.9.

FEE-HELP limit The maximum amount o FEE-HELP you can use over yourlietime. See section 2.8.

Fee paying place A place in a course which is not a Commonwealthsupported place (i.e. not subsidised by the Australian

Government) and or which tuition ees are payable.

Fee paying student A student who is enrolled in a ee paying place at their

approved provider and pays tuition ees or their course.

See section 1.2.

HECS-HELP Australian Government loan program to help eligibleCommonwealth supported students to pay their student

contribution amounts. Beore 2005 this was known as HECS.

Higher Education Loan

Program (HELP)

Australian Government loan program which helps eligible

students pay their tuition ees (FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP),student contributions (HECS-HELP) and overseas study

expenses (OS-HELP). These loans are repaid through thetax system.

Indexation Your accumulated HELP debt is adjusted on 1 June eachyear to refect changes in the Consumer Price Index.

See section 8.4.

Repayment threshold The income level above which you are required to make a

compulsory repayment on your accumulated HELP debt.See section 8.2.

Request for FEE-HELP

assistance

The orm that you must submit to your approved providerto apply or a FEE-HELP loan. See section 5.1.

Request for FEE-HELPassistance Open Universities

Australia

The orm that you must submit to OUA to apply or a

FEE-HELP loan as an OUA student. See section 5.5.


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Special circumstances Specic requirements set out in the Higher Education SupportAct 2003 and its associated guidelines that you must meet

to have your FEE-HELP debt removed and your FEE-HELPbalance re-credited. See section 7.7.

Tax fle number (TFN) Your unique identication number rom the AustralianTaxation Oce or everything tax related, including making

FEE-HELP repayments.

Tuition ees The ees, set by approved providers, that ee paying

students (i.e. those not enrolled in a Commonwealthsupported place) pay or their units o study.

VET FEE-HELP Australian Government loan program to help eligible studentsenrolled in higher-level vocational education and training

courses at approved VET providers pay their tuition ees.


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FEE-HELP information 2012 1

1. introdUCtion

1.1 What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligibleee paying

students pay the tuition ees charged by theirapproved FEE-HELP provider

(approved provider) or their units o study.

1.2 Who is a ee paying student?A ee paying student is a student enrolled in aee paying place and charged

tuition ees.

Most postgraduate courses at universities and courses oered by private higher

education institutions are oered on a ee paying basis. For inormation on

Commonwealth supported places (which are subsidised by the Australian

Government), see the Inormation or Commonwealth supported students and

HECS-HELP 2012 booklet (available rom www.goingtouni.gov.au).

The Government does not subsidise ee paying places. Instead, it provides access to

the FEE-HELP loan scheme to help eligible ee paying students with their tuition ees.

1.3 How does the FEE-HELP loan scheme work?

You can use FEE-HELP to pay or all or part o your tuition ees. When you take

out a FEE-HELP loan, the Government pays the loan amount directly to your

approved provider, in payment or your tuition ees.

There is a maximum amount you can borrow through FEE-HELP over your lietime.

This is known as the FEE-HELP limit (see section 2.8).

There is a loan ee or FEE-HELP loans or undergraduate courses o study, except

or undergraduate units o study undertaken through Open Universities Australia

(see section 4.4).

You only begin repaying your loan through the taxation system when you reach

the repayment threshold set by the Australian Taxation Oce or compulsory

repayments. For more inormation on repayments, see section 8.


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1.4 What are tuition ees?Fee paying students pay tuition ees or their studies. Tuition ees are not

regulated, so approved providers determine the amount o tuition ees they want

to charge or the units o study they oer. As approved providers set the tuition

ees, students need to be aware o theirFEE-HELP balance (see section 2.9) to

ensure they will have enough to pay the tuition ees o their course.


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2. eligibility for fee-helP

2.1 Am I eligible?

You are eligible orFEE-HELP assistance i you:

are studying at an approved FEE-HELP provider(approved provider) or through

Open Universities Australia (OUA);

have submitted a valid Request or FEE-HELP assistanceorm;

meet the citizenship or residency requirements;

are enrolled in an eligible unit o study at the end o the census date;

are not a Commonwealth supported student or that unit;

have not exceeded yourFEE-HELP limit (see section 2.8); and

meet the OUA pass rate requirement, i applicable (see section 2.4).

You have six weeks rom the census date o a unit to correct inormation you have

submitted about your entitlement to FEE-HELP. This includes collecting and submitting

the documents you need to prove that you are an Australian citizen but you still needto have submitted your orm and obtained citizenship by the census date.

This six week period cant be used as an extension o time so that you can apply or

citizenship or get your orm in. It just gives you the chance to collect the documents you

need to prove your entitlement to the loan or to correct inormation on that orm as at

the census date.

2.2 What is the census date?

The census date is the last day to submit yourRequest or FEE-HELP assistanceorm

or to withdraw your enrolment without incurring a tuition ee or a FEE-HELP debt

or that unit. As approved providers set their own census dates, this date will vary

across approved providers.

Some approved providers also set an administrative date (before the census date)

by which they want you to submit your orm or to withdraw your enrolment. I you

miss this date you may have to pay a late enrolment fee or a late withdrawal fee,

but you can still (by the census date) submit your application or a loan or withdraw

rom a unit without incurring the cost or a debt or the unit.

Check with your approved provider to see when the census date is and i they also

have an administrative date as well.


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2.3 How do I know i Im studying with an approved FEE-HELPprovider (approved provider)?

The list o approved providers is available under the Providers and courses tab at

www.goingtouni.gov.au.

2.4 Can I get FEE-HELP i Im studying through Open

Universities Australia (OUA)?

Yes. OUA is treated as an approved provider. Undergraduate and postgraduate highereducation units accessed through OUA are eligible units o study orFEE-HELP.

In this booklet, approved FEE-HELP provider and approved provider also reer to

OUA. However, any specic requirements or OUA students relating to FEE-HELP

are also detailed in the relevant section.

Students who choose to study through OUA need to be aware that i you

undertake eight or more units through OUA, you need to have a 50% pass rate,

in terms o the number o units undertaken, to access FEE-HELP or urther study

at OUA.

Students who do not maintain this pass rate will have to pay up-ront or

urther study at OUA until their pass rate (or the number o units undertaken)

is at 50% or above beore they can start using FEE-HELP again at OUA.

2.5 Citizenship and residency requirements

To meet the citizenship and residency requirements or FEE-HELP you must be either:

an Australian citizen or

a permanent humanitarian visa holder

resident in Australia or the duration o your

unit

or

a permanent visa holder who is undertaking

bridging study for overseas-trained

professionals and is resident in Australiaor the duration o your study


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Australian citizenshipYou may automatically acquire Australian citizenship by birth or adoption in

Australia, or you may apply or Australian citizenship. I you are 16 years o age

and over at the time you make an application or citizenship by conerral, you will

obtain Australian citizenship only ater you have made the pledge o commitment

and have been issued with Evidence o Australian Citizenship rom the Department

o Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

For inormation on the eligibility requirements and application process

or Australian citizenship, students should visit DIACs citizenship websiteat www.citizenship.gov.au or phone the Citizenship Inormation Line

on 13 18 80.

You should allow sufcient time or your application or Australian citizenship

to be considered i you are intending to become an Australian citizen beore

you enrol in a course o study.

Australian citizens and permanent humanitarian visa holders who have received

proessional training or qualications overseas may also receive FEE-HELP or

bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals.

Residency requirements

To determine whether you are resident in Australia or the duration o your unit,

any period o residence outside Australia will be disregarded i:

a) it cannot reasonably be regarded as indicating an intention to reside outside

Australia or the duration o the unit; or

b) it is required or the purpose o completing a requirement o that unit.

You will not meet the residency requirements i your approved provider reasonablyexpects that you will not be in Australia undertaking any units contributing to the

course o study in which you are enrolled.

New Zealand citizens

New Zealand citizens are not eligible or a HELP loan unless they are also

Australian citizens or holders o a permanent visa who are undertaking bridging

study or overseas-trained proessionals (see section 3) and will be resident in

Australia or the duration o their study.

Note: Most New Zealand citizens who arrive in Australia are the holders o a

temporary visa called a Special Category Visa (SCV). This is not a permanent visa.


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2.6 What is an eligible unit o study?An eligible unit o study is a subject or unit that:

is part o a course o study leading to a higher education award with an

approved provider;

is made available by an approved provider and accessed through OUA

(see section 2.4); or

is part o bridging studies or overseas-trained proessionals (see section 3).

Enabling coursesYou may also be eligible orFEE-HELP i you are doing an enabling course to meet

the entry (or curriculum) requirements or a course o study leading to a higher

education award. Your approved provider can advise you i your enabling course

is eligible or FEE-HELP.

Research-based courses

Research-based courses that lead to a higher education award, such as a Doctor

o Philosophy or a Master degree, are eligible or FEE-HELP.

Vocational education and training (VET)

VET accredited diploma, advanced diploma, graduate certicate or graduate

diploma courses undertaken through an approved VET FEE-HELP provider may

be eligible orVET FEE-HELP assistance.

Inormation on VET FEE-HELP is in a separate booklet available rom

www.deewr.gov.au/veteehelp or by contacting the VET FEE-HELP enquiry

line on 13 38 73.

2.7 Do previous study results aect my eligibility or FEE-HELP?

Your study results do not aect your eligibility or FEE-HELP unless you are studying

through OUA (see section 2.4).

2.8 What is the FEE-HELP limit?

The FEE-HELP limit is the maximum amount that a person can borrow under

FEE-HELP (or VET FEE-HELP) over their lietime.


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Any amount borrowed under either scheme will reduce yourFEE-HELP balanceuntil yourFEE-HELP limit is reached. Once you have reached the FEE-HELP limit

(the indexed amount or the relevant year) you will not be able to receive urther

FEE-HELP (or VET FEE-HELP) to pay tuition ees even i you have partially or ully

repaid your FEE-HELP loan.

The FEE-HELP limit in 2012 is $112,134 or medicine, dentistry and veterinary

science students (as dened in the Higher Education Support Act 2003) and

$89,706 or all other students.

This limit is indexed on 1 January each year and excludes any loan ee.

2.9 What is my FEE-HELP balance?

Your FEE-HELP balance is the amount oFEE-HELP orVET FEE-HELP you can still

borrow beore you reach the FEE-HELP limit.

You are responsible or keeping track o your FEE-HELP balance and letting your

approved provider know i you do not have enough let to cover your tuition ees.

I you enrol in a unit and the tuition ee exceeds your FEE-HELP balance, you will

have to pay the remainder up-ront to your approved provider. Otherwise your

approved provider may choose to cancel your enrolment i you have tuition ees

that are unpaid.

FEE-HELP loan + VET FEE-HELP loan = FEE-HELP debt incurred

FEE-HELP limit FEE-HELP debt incurred = FEE-HELP balance

2.10 Does an existing or previous HELP debt aect my eligibility

or FEE-HELP?

No. An existing HELP debt does not aect your eligibility or FEE-HELP.

However, any previous FEE-HELP or VET FEE-HELP loans count towards your

FEE-HELP limit, so you will need to make sure you have enough FEE-HELP balance

to cover your tuition ees (see section 2.9).


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2.11 Pre-2005 loansI you used a loan under HECS, PELS, BOTPLS or OLDPS beore 1 January 2005,

the amount you borrowed does not aect your eligibility orFEE-HELP or count

towards yourFEE-HELP balance.

2.12 Can I get FEE-HELP i Im a mature-aged student or

studying part-time?

Yes. Your eligibility or FEE-HELP is not aected by your age or whether you studypart-time.

2.13 Do my assets or income aect my eligibility or FEE-HELP?

No. Your income or assets, or those o your partner or amily, do not aect your

eligibility or FEE-HELP. However, your income will determine when you must make

a compulsory repayment on your debt (see section 8).


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3. bridging stUdy for overseas-trainedProfessionals

3.1 What is bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals?

Bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals is specic study undertaken

in Australia by those with an overseas qualication so that they can meet the

proessional recognition requirements or practising in Australia.

Students doing bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals must hold an

assessment statement issued by an assessing body or the proessional occupations

at Appendix A. The assessment statement lists the studies, examinations and/or

tuition and training programs that they need to complete to meet the requirements

or entry to practise their proession in Australia.

Listed proessional occupations and the assessing bodies or each o these

occupations are specied in Appendix A.

3.2 How will I know i I am undertaking bridging study or

overseas-trained proessionals?

You are undertaking bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals i your

academic study:

is listed on your assessment statement (see section 3.1 and Appendix A);

is on a non-award basis i.e. it is not being undertaken as part o a course

o study;

does not constitute in total more than the equivalent o one year o ull-timestudy; and

is undertaken at an approvedFEE-HELP provider(approved provider) a list

o approved providers is available under the Providers and courses tab

at www.goingtouni.gov.au.

Your approved provider will be able to advise you i your study meets the bridging

study requirements orFEE-HELP purposes.


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The ollowing examples may assist you to determine i your study could beconsidered as bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals.

Lucy trained and worked as a veterinarian in England beore becoming an

Australian citizen. Her assessment statement rom the Australasian Veterinary

Boards Council states that Lucy is eligible to sit or the National Veterinary

Examination without undertaking bridging study.

However, Lucy decides that she wants to enrol in the Overseas-Trained Vets

Bridging Course anyway at a FEE-HELP approved provider.

While Lucy meets the citizenship requirements and is enrolled with an approved

FEE-HELP provider, she is not eligible to use the loan or her bridging course. This is

because she has chosen to undertake the study despite her assessment statement not

requiring her to do so.

Alejandro has a dental qualifcation rom Argentina and holds an Australian

permanent visa. Alejandro has his qualifcations assessed by the Australian Dental

Council and his assessment statement indentifes that he needs to undertake

bridging study and examinations beore he can work as a dentist in Australia.

Alejandro enrols in a bridging study course but discovers that the place he is

enrolled at is not an approved provider.

Although Alejandro and his nominated study meet the appropriate eligibility

criteria, he cannot use FEE-HELP to pay or his bridging study because he will not

be undertaking his bridging study at an approved provider.

Beore becoming a permanent resident, Tomas was trained as an accountant inSweden. Although he hasnt had his qualications assessed, Tomas intends to

enrol in a Graduate Certicate o Applied Law at his local university.

While universities are approved FEE-HELP providers, Tomas will not be able to

use a FEE-HELP loan to pay or his Graduate Certicate as it does not meet the

bridging study requirements i.e. he does not have an assessment statement

issued by an assessing body and his study will not be on a non-award basis.


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3.3 What study is not considered bridging study oroverseas-trained proessionals?

Your study is not considered bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals i it:

provides a qualication beyond basic entry level to the proession;

leads to a higher education award, such as a postgraduate qualication;

provides training or an occupation that is not a listed occupation

(seeAppendix A); or

is an English language training course/exam or exam tutoring in generalaspects o written communication or verbal communications, or both.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam does not

constitute bridging study. That exam is a measure o the English language

requirements or the purposes o proessional registration.

3.4 How can I fnd out more inormation about proessional

recognition o my qualifcations?

I you obtained your qualications overseas, you should contact the relevantproessional, registration or licensing body or more inormation about getting

your qualications recognised in Australia. See Appendix A and the Australian

Skills Recognition Inormation (ASRI) website at www.immi.gov.au/asrior

more inormation.


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4. hoW fee-helP Works

4.1 Paying your tuition ees

Yourapproved FEE-HELP provider (approved provider) sets their own tuition ees

and census dates or the units o study they oer. The tuition ees are normally

published on your approved providers website, or the student administration area

at your approved provider can help you with nding out what your tuition ees

are. Contact your approved provider to determine when your census date(s) will be(and i they have set an administrative date as well).

I you are eligible orFEE-HELP, you have three payment options:

pay the ull tuition ee up-ront to your approved provider so that you do not

use a FEE-HELP loan; or

pay some o the tuition ee up-ront to your approved provider and request

a FEE-HELP loan or the remainder; or

request a FEE-HELP loan or the ull tuition ee.

You dont have to choose the same option or all o your units. I you have

successully submitted a Request or FEE-HELP assistanceorm to cover your course

(see section 5), you will automatically receive a FEE-HELP loan or the amount o

your tuition ees which have not been paid up-ront by the census date. I you use

a FEE-HELP loan, the Australian Government pays your outstanding tuition ees

directly to your approved provider on your behal.

4.2 What FEE-HELP doesnt cover

FEE-HELP is or tuition ees only. It does not cover accommodation or generalliving expenses.

However, you may be able to get income support through Youth Allowance,

Austudy, ABSTUDY or Pensioner Education Supplement. Contact Centrelink or

more inormation (see Contacts).


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4.3 How much can I borrow?Over your lietime, you can borrow only up to the FEE-HELP limit (see section 2.8).

You are responsible or keeping track o yourFEE-HELP balance (see section 2.9)

and letting your approved provider know i you do not have enough let to cover

your tuition ees.

I you enrol in a unit and the tuition ee exceeds your FEE-HELP balance, you will

have to pay the remainder up-ront to your approved provider. I you do not do

this, your approved provider may reuse to allow you to continue in your coursei you have some tuition ees that are unpaid.

4.4 Is there a loan ee?

There is no application ee or a FEE-HELP loan.

However, there is a 25% loan ee or FEE-HELP loans or undergraduate courses

o study. The loan ee is included in your FEE-HELP debt.

The loan ee does not count towards yourFEE-HELP limit.

The loan ee is calculated against the amount o FEE-HELP assistance that you

receive or the unit. For example, i you take out a FEE-HELP loan o $500 or

your unit o study, your loan ee will be $125 (x 0.25) and your FEE-HELP debt

will be $625. However, as the loan ee is not included in your FEE-HELP limit,

your FEE-HELP balance will only decrease by $500.

The amount o your loan ee will be shown on yourCommonwealth Assistance

Notice (see section 6.2).

FEE-HELP does not have a loan ee or:

postgraduate courses o study, including higher degrees by research;

enabling courses;

units o study undertaken through Open Universities Australia; or


There is no interest charged on your FEE-HELP debt. However, your debt is indexed

annually by the Australian Taxation Oce to maintain its real value. The indexation

amount does not count towards your FEE-HELP balance.


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4.5 Can I claim my tuition ees as a tax deduction?You may be able to claim your tuition ees as a tax deduction, regardless

o whether you used a FEE-HELP loan or paid up-ront, i there was a direct

connection between your studies and your work activities at the time you paid or

your course.

For more inormation, check with the Australian Taxation Oce (seeContacts).

The loan ee and any repayments you make are not tax deductible.

See section 8 or more inormation on repaying your FEE-HELP loan.


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5. aPPlying for fee-helP

5.1 Request for FEE-HELP assistanceorm

You can only access FEE-HELP i you have submitted a valid Request or FEE-HELP

assistanceorm. This orm is only available rom yourapproved FEE-HELP provider

(approved provider).

When completing the orm, you need to tick all relevant boxes and sign the

declaration. You should contact your approved provider i you need help withcompleting the orm.

Some approved providers accept orms that are completed online (check with your

approved provider to see i you can do this), but you cant submit a photocopied

or axed orm.

5.2 Closing date or requesting FEE-HELP

The census date is the last day you can submit the completed orm.

However, bear in mind that your approved provider may require you to submit your

orm by the administrative date (see section 2.2), so you must check with your

approved provider to make sure that you submit your orm by the correct date.

I you miss the administrative date, your approved provider may charge you a late

enrolment ee but you may still be able to apply or a FEE-HELP loan i you get your

orm in by the census date. I you miss the census date or submitting your orm,

you wont be able to get FEE-HELP or that study period.

5.3 Higher education award course students

You need to ll out a orm or each course o study you want FEE-HELP or. I you

change to a new course or change to a dierent approved provider, you must ll

out a new orm.

You need to submit your orm to your approved provider by the census date.


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5.4 Students undertaking bridging study or overseas-trainedproessionals

When you ll out your orm, you need to indicate that the course o study you

are undertaking is or bridging study or overseas-trained proessionals and your

approved provider may also require you to attach your assessment statement

(see section 3).

5.5 Open Universities Australia (OUA) students

All students who are studying with OUA, including students undertaking bridging

study or overseas-trained proessionals, need to complete a Request or FEE-HELP

assistance Open Universities Australiaorm. You can get this orm rom OUA and you

need to submit it to OUA.

You need to list the units you are taking as part o your study program. There is

enough space on the orm to list all the units you are planning to take in a year.

The orm covers only the units o study that you have listed on it. You will need to

complete a new orm or any additional OUA units that you would like FEE-HELP or.

5.6 What i I fnd I have made a mistake on my orm?

You have six weeks rom the census date o a unit to correct inormation

you have submitted about your entitlement to FEE-HELP. This includes

collecting and submitting the documents you need to prove that you are an

Australian citizen but you still need to have submitted your orm and obtained

citizenship by the census date.

This six week period cant be used as an extension o time so that you can

apply or citizenship or get your orm in. It just gives you the chance to collect

the documents you need to prove your entitlement to the loan or to correct

inormation on that orm as at the census date.

5.7 Do I have to provide my tax fle number (TFN)?

You need to provide yourTFN on your orm or attach a Certifcate o application

or a tax fle numberto your orm. Otherwise, you will not be able to access a

FEE-HELP loan.


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5.8 How do I get a tax fle number (TFN)?I you dont already have a TFN, you will need to complete a Tax fle number

application or enquiry or an individualorm, available rom the Australian Taxation

Oce (ATO). For inormation on how to apply or a TFN, or i you cannot nd your

TFN, contact the ATO (see Contacts).

A TFN is usually supplied within 28 days o submitting the Tax fle number

application or enquiry or an individualorm. You should apply or your TFN as early

as possible to make sure it arrives beore the census date (or earlier administrative

date) when you need to submit your orm.

I you have applied or a TFN but have not received it within 10 days beore this

deadline, you should request a Certifcate o application or a TFNrom the ATO and

give it to your approved provider as proo that you have applied. You can get this

certicate by visiting an ATO shopront or by contacting the ATO (see Contacts).

You have 21 days rom the day the ATO issues you a TFN to give it to your

approved provider or OUA.

5.9 What am I agreeing to by signing the orm?

When you sign your orm, you are agreeing that:

you have read this booklet, and the orm, and are aware o your obligations

i you access a FEE-HELP loan;

you want the Australian Government to lend you whatever amount o your

tuition ees you havent paid by the census date or the units o study covered

by the orm, and to pay this to your approved provider (or OUA) on your

behal; and you will begin repaying the loan, including the loan ee i applicable, through

the tax system when your income in a nancial year is above the threshold or

compulsory repayment (see section 8.2).


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5.10 What i I change my course or approved provider?I you change your course orapproved provideryou will need to submit a new

orm or each course that you want FEE-HELP or.

You also need to ocially withdraw rom any units you have enrolled in and do

not want to continue with so that you do not incur a FEE-HELP debt as withdrawal

will not automatically happen when you transer to another course or approved

provider. You should contact your approved provider or inormation on how to

withdraw your enrolment correctly.

I you withdraw ater your original approved providers census date, or i you do

not withdraw correctly, you will incur a FEE-HELP debt or any units o study you

were still enrolled in at the census date and you will lose any up-ront payments o

your tuition ees or those units o study as well.

5.11 When do I incur a debt?

You incur a FEE-HELPdebt immediately ater the census date or each unit o study

that you have requested FEE-HELP or.

5.12 What i I change my mind about studying?

I you change your mind about studying you have until the census date to withdraw

rom the units that you are enrolled in without incurring a FEE-HELP debt.

You can either cancel your orm (see section 5.13) or withdraw your enrolment in

each unit o study (see section 7).

Be sure to ollow your approved providers withdrawal process to make surethat you withdraw correctly beore the census date. I you need help with this

process, contact the student administration area at your approved provider

(see section 7).

5.13 What i I change my mind about wanting FEE-HELP?

I you change your mind about wanting to use a FEE-HELP loan or a study period,

you dont necessarily need to cancel your orm. All you need to do is pay your ull

tuition ees up-ront by the census date or the relevant study period so that you

will have no outstanding amount let to be paid with a FEE-HELP loan.


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I you correctly cancel or withdraw your enrolment beore the census date, youshould not incur a FEE-HELP debt or that study period (see section 7).

You will only incur a debt or a unit or course o study i by the census date:

you havent withdrawn your enrolment in all o your units;

you havent paid the ull amount o your tuition ee or a unit o study;

yourFEE-HELP balance is greater than zero.

OUA students need to cancel their orm in writing to OUA.

I you have not paid yourtuition ees or a unit o study and you want to makesure that you do not incur a FEE-HELP debt or that unit, you need to cancel any

orm that covers the unit by the census date or that unit. Contact the student

administration area at yourapproved provideror more inormation.

5.14 Can I get FEE-HELP or more than one course?

You can get FEE-HELP or more than one course as long as you have enough

FEE-HELP balance to cover it.

You will need to submit a separate orm or each course, even i they are with the

same approved provider.

I the courses are with dierent approved providers, you will need to make sure that

you submit a orm to each approved provider or each course you are undertaking.

You are responsible or making sure you have enough FEE-HELP balance to cover

your tuition ees. I you dont have enough, you need to let your approved

provider know and make alternative payment arrangements.

I you are studying with more than one approved provider and are nearing your

FEE-HELP limit (see section 2.8), you need to notiy each approved provider o the

amount o FEE-HELP balance you have let and how you will pay or your tuition

ees at each approved provider.

Otherwise, your approved provider may cancel your enrolment i some o your

tuition ees are unpaid.

5.15 How do I keep track o my FEE-HELP balance?For inormation on keeping track o your FEE-HELP balance, see section 6.


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6. keePing traCk of yoUr fee-helP

6.1 Your Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support

Number (CHESSN)

When you rst apply or admission to yourapprovedFEE-HELP provider

(approved provider) or tertiary admissions centre, they will allocate you a CHESSN.

The CHESSN is a unique identier that remains with you throughout your studies

and aterwards. It helps you, approved providers and the Australian Governmentkeep up to date with inormation about any Commonwealth assistance or higher

education that you have used.

You can use your CHESSN (and other personal identiying details) to log into

the myUniAssistdatabase at www.goingtouni.gov.au. The myUniAssistdatabase

provides inormation about how much Commonwealth assistance you have used.

For example, i you are using a FEE-HELP loan to pay or your studies, myUniAssist

will record how much FEE-HELP you have used each study period.

You will be notied o your CHESSN in your Commonwealth Assistance Notice.

I you have any questions or need any help with your CHESSN, please contact your

approved provider.

6.2 Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)

Ater the census date o each study period your approved provider will send you

a CAN. This notice must be issued to you within 28 days o the census date and it

will detail inormation on:

the amount o FEE-HELP debt you have incurred or each unit you are enrolled

in during that study period; and

any FEE-HELP loan ee incurred or undergraduate study.


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Is your CAN correct?You should check the details on yourCAN careully to ensure they are correct.

In particular, make sure:

the tuition ees on the CAN are the same as what you were expecting to pay

(you can check this amount against an invoice or the inormation published

on your approved providers website); and that

the CAN doesnt include any units you correctly withdrew rom by the

census date.

I you think there are incorrect details on your CAN, you have 14 days (someapproved providers may allow more time) rom the date o the CAN to submit

a written request or correction.

6.3 Check your FEE-HELP balance at myUniAssist

You should keep all CANs that are sent to you so that you have a record o the total

amount o tuition ees that have been paid on your behal using FEE-HELP. This will

assist you to keep track o yourFEE-HELP balance to ensure you have enough to

pay your tuition ees.

You can check your FEE-HELP balance on myUniAssistat www.goingtouni.gov.au.

You will need yourCHESSN to log in (see section 6.1).

Note: How to use the inormation on myUniAssist

It is important that students understand that DEEWR must validate the data submitted by

approved providers to ensure it is correct beore DEEWR can upload that inormation or

students on myUniAssistand report that data to the Australian Taxation Oce.

Given the time lag, you may need to add any units you have recently enrolled in/are

currently enrolled in (reer to your CAN or the relevant study period) to the inormation

shown on myUniAssistto determine your entitlements.


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7. WithdraWing from stUdies

7.1 How do I withdraw rom a unit?

To withdraw rom a unit without using up yourFEE-HELP balance, incurring a

FEE-HELP debt or the unit or losing an up-ront tuition ee payment, you need

to complete yourapprovedFEE-HELP providers(approved providers) ormal

withdrawal procedures by the census date.

The main points are:

your ormal withdrawal needs to be in writing on the orm required by your

approved provider;

you need to submit this orm in time or it to be delivered and processed by

the census date;

you may need to withdraw online check with your approved providers

student administration area; and

keep a copy o your withdrawal documentation as conrmation that you

completed your approved providers ormal withdrawal procedures by thecensus date.

For more details or i you need any help with the process, contact your

approved provider.

The census date is not the same thing as the academic withdrawal date the deadline

set by your approved provider or withdrawing rom a unit without having a ail grade

recorded on your academic transcript.

7.2 What happens i I withdraw by the census date?

I you ormally withdraw rom a unit by the census date, your FEE-HELP balance

will not be reduced and you will not incur a FEE-HELP debt.


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7.3 What happens i I withdraw ater the census date?I you withdraw rom a unit ater the census date, yourFEE-HELP balance will still

be reduced and you will still incur a FEE-HELP debt.

You cannot transer or deer this debt to another unit o study.

I you withdraw rom a unit ater the census date because you become seriously ill

or because o otherspecial circumstances (see section 7.7) you can apply to your

approved providerto have your FEE-HELP balance or a unit re-credited and any

FEE-HELP debt or the unit removed.

7.4 Will changing my study load aect my eligibility or Youth

Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY or Pensioner Education

Supplement?

It may. You need to notiy Centrelink within 14 days ater you change your study

load. They will then assess whether you remain eligible or income support. For

more inormation, contact Centrelink (see Contacts).

7.5 How do I withdraw rom an Open Universities Australia

(OUA) unit?

I you are an OUA student and you want to withdraw rom a unit, you need to either:

send a signed, written notication to OUA; or

log on to the OUA website with your OUA ID and password to request a

withdrawal online.

OUA must receive your application or withdrawal by the census date i you wantto avoid incurring a FEE-HELP debt.

The census date is not the same thing as the academic withdrawal date the deadline

set by your approved provider or withdrawing rom a unit without having a ail grade

recorded on your academic transcript.


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You can send your written notication by: using the online withdrawal request orm at www.open.edu.au;

sending a acsimile to +61 3 8628 2955; or

mailing a request to Open Universities Australia, GPO Box 5387, Melbourne,

VIC 3001.

7.6 What happens i I ail a unit?

I you ail a unit, you still have to pay the debt or that unit, regardless o whether

you attended any classes or will repeat the unit. Students who ail a unit will be

required to pay or that unit a second time i they undertake it again.

In certain special circumstances (see section 7.7) you can apply to yourapproved

providerto have your FEE-HELP balance or a unit re-credited and any FEE-HELP

debt or the unit removed.

7.7 How can I apply to have my FEE-HELP debt removed

and my FEE-HELP balance re-credited under specialcircumstances?

I you ail a unit, under the special circumstances provisions, you can apply to

your approved provider to have yourFEE-HELP debt removed and yourFEE-HELP

balance recredited.

Your approved provider will re-credit your FEE-HELP balance i it is satised that

special circumstances applied to you that were:

beyond your control; and

did not make their ull impact on you until on or ater the census date; and

were such that they made it impracticable or you to complete your unit(s)

o study requirements.

Your approved provider will decide whether to re-credit your FEE-HELP balance

in accordance with the requirements o the Higher Education Support Act 2003

and its associated guidelines. You will need to provide independent supporting

documentation to support your claim that special circumstances occurred.

I you have successully completed a unit o study, you cannot apply to haveyour FEE-HELP balance re-credited or your FEE-HELP debt removed or that unit.


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How to applyYou need to apply to yourapproved provider. I you are an OUA student you need

to apply to OUA. You should contact your approved provider (or OUA) to nd out

how to apply.

Your application must indicate the unit(s) o study or which you are seeking to

have yourFEE-HELP balance re-credited (and FEE-HELP debt removed). It must also

detail the special circumstances that you believe made it impracticable or you to

complete those units. You should contact your approved provider (or OUA) to nd

out how to submit an application under these circumstances.

Time limit or applying

Your application must reach your approved provider within 12 months o your

withdrawal day.

The withdrawal day is the day your approved provider specifes in its notice to you

as the day the withdrawal takes eect. I you have not withdrawn, your withdrawal

day is the last day o the period in which you were to undertake the unit.

Your approved provider may extend the time limit i it is satised that it was notpossible or you to apply within the 12 months.

7.8 Can I appeal the decision?

I you are unhappy with your approved providers decision, you must apply to

them in writing within 28 days (or the period allowed by your approved provider)

or a review o their decision.

I you are unhappy with the reviewed decision, you have 28 days to apply to

the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or an independent review. For more

inormation, visit www.aat.gov.au.


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8. rePaying yoUr helP debt

8.1 What is a HELP debt?

Your HELP debt is made up o any HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP or OS-HELP

debts you have incurred. All o your debts are added together and are reerred to

as youraccumulated HELP debt.

8.2 When do I start repaying my HELP debt?You will start repaying your accumulated HELP debt when yourrepayment income

is above the minimum compulsoryrepayment threshold. This threshold is adjusted

each income year. For the 201112 income year the threshold is $47,195.

Repayments are or your accumulated HELP debt, not or each individual loan you

may have used.

Even i you are still studying, i your repayment income is over the minimum

threshold you will start repaying your HELP debt.

The Australian Tax Oce (ATO) works out your repayment income rom the

amounts given on your income tax return or:

your taxable income;

reportable ringe benets (reported on your payment summary);

total net investment loss (which includes net rental losses);

reportable super contributions; and

exempt oreign employment income amounts.

For more inormation on this, contact the ATO (see Contacts).

You can also make voluntary repayments o your accumulated HELP debt

(see sections 8.98.11).


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8.3 How much will my repayments be?The amount you repay each year is a percentage o your repayment income.

The percentage increases as your income increases. The ATO will calculate your

compulsory repayment or the year and include it on your income tax notice

o assessment.

Table 1 shows the repayment rates or the 201112 nancial year.

Table 1: 201112 repayment rates

Repayment income in the range: Repayment rate(% o repayment income)

Below $47,196 Nil

$47,196$52,572 4.0%

$52,573$57,947 4.5%

$57,948$60,993 5.0%

$60,994$65,563 5.5%$65,564$71,006 6.0%

$71,007$74,743 6.5%

$74,744$82,253 7.0%

$82,254$87,649 7.5%

$87,650 and above 8.0%

Compulsory repayments continue until you have repaid your whole debt.

Your compulsory repayment increases as your repayment income increases. The more

you earn, the higher your repayment. Your compulsory repayment is based on your

income alone, not the income o your parents or spouse. Compulsory repayments

continue until you have repaid your debt.

You must start repaying your debt when your repayment income is above the

minimum repayment threshold, even i you are still studying.


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Example

Heaths taxable income or the 2011-12 income year is $47,820. In his income tax

return, he claims a total net investment loss o $2,250 and has a total reportable

ringe benefts amount o $3,890, a reportable super contribution amount o

$1,500 and an exempt oreign employment income amount o $2,580.

Heaths repayment income is:

$47,820 + $2,250 + $3,890 + $1,500 + $2,580 = $58,040.

Heaths compulsory repayment or 2011-12 is: $58,040 x 5.0% = $2,902.

I the calculated repayment is more than the balance o your accumulated HELP

debt, you only pay the balance.

8.4 Is interest charged on my debt?

You are not charged interest on your debt. However, your accumulated HELP debt

is adjusted (indexed) on 1 June each year to refect changes in the Consumer Price

Index (CPI). Indexation maintains the real value o the debt by adjusting it in linewith changes in the cost o living as measured by the CPI. The indexation gure is

calculated each year ater the March CPI is released. You can nd out current and

past indexation rates rom the ATO website.

HELP debts are not indexed until they are 11 months old.

Any debt you incur between January 2012 and June 2012 will be indexed on

1 June 2013 and the indexed amount will become part o your accumulated

HELP debt.Any debt you incur between July 2012 and December 2012 will be indexed on

1 June 2014 and will also become part o your HELP debt.

8.5 Repayments rom job, beneft or superannuation income

I you earn income rom a job, benet or compensation payments or

superannuation, your employer or other payer may withhold amounts rom your

pay to cover your compulsory HELP debt repayments.


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You need to advise your payer i you have an accumulated HELP debt on a Tax flenumber (TFN) declaration orWithholding declaration orm. I you do have a HELP

debt, your payer has to withhold additional amounts rom your pay once you earn

over the minimum repayment threshold.

The additional amounts withheld are to cover any compulsory HELP repayment

you may have to make or the year. They are not credited to your HELP account,

but orm part o the total tax withheld shown on your annual PAYG payment

summaryand on your income tax notice o assessment at PAYG credits and other

entitlements. Your compulsory repayment will not be calculated until your income

tax return or that year is processed. I you had too much withheld during the year

and you have no other outstanding debts, the ATO will reund the excess to you.

Payments rom more than one payer

I you earn more than the repayment threshold or a nancial year rom all your

jobs, a compulsory repayment may be included on your next notice o assessment.

You can ask one or more o your payers to withhold additional amounts to cover

any compulsory repayment. To do this, complete a Withholding declaration

upwards variation orm (available rom the ATO).

Holiday or temporary jobs

I you have a holiday or temporary job and you earn over the weekly minimum

repayment threshold but your repayment income or the whole income year is not

above the annual minimum repayment threshold, you can apply to the ATO to get

your payer to stop withholding additional amounts or your HELP debt. You will

need to submit a PAYG withholding variation application 2012 orm (available rom

the ATO). You can also lodge your application electronically at www.ato.gov.au.

No compulsory repayment required because o low amily income

I your amily income is low enough to entitle you to a reduction o the Medicare

levy or you do not have to pay the Medicare levy, you will not have to make

a compulsory HELP repayment or that year. You can submit a Medicare levy

variation declaration orm (available rom the ATO) to your payer and they will

stop withholding additional amounts or that year.


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8.6 Repayments rom business or investment incomeI you use the PAYG instalments system to make payments towards your expected tax

liability on your business and investment income or the current fnancial year, the

ATO will notiy you o an instalment amount that takes into account any accumulated

HELP debt.

8.7 What i I disagree with my compulsory repayment?

You should check all the details on your income tax notice o assessment against

the details in your income tax return. I you think there is a problem, contact the

ATO. When you phone, have your notice o assessment and, i possible, a copy o

your income tax return with you.

I ater speaking to the ATO you still believe that the details on your notice o

assessment are wrong, you can request an amendment or lodge an objection.

Contact the ATO or inormation on how to do this.

8.8 What i I have difculties making my compulsoryrepayment?

I you believe that making your compulsory repayment would cause you serious

hardship or that there are other special reasons why you should not have to make

a compulsory repayment, you may apply to the ATO to have that amount (or part

o it) deerred. To do this you need to complete the orm Deerring your compulsory

HELP, HECS or Financial Supplement repayment(available rom the ATO). The orm

asks or a detailed statement o your household income and expenditure to justiy

your claim o serious hardship.

There are time limits or applying to deer your compulsory HELP repayment

depending on the income year. There is a two year time limit on applying or a

deerment o your compulsory HELP repayment rom 2005-06 income year and

onwards. You can apply to deer your compulsory HECS repayment (i.e. relating

to debt rom 200405 income year and earlier) at any time.

The ATO will write to say whether your application is successul. I you are unhappy

with the decision, you may apply (within 28 days ater the day you receive notice

o the decision) to have it reviewed.


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I ater the review you still believe the ATO has made the wrong decision, you maythen apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or a review. You need to

lodge your application with the AAT within 28 days ater the day you receive the

letter advising you o the outcome o the review.

For more inormation on applying to deer a compulsory repayment, including

time limits, contact the ATO.

8.9 Can I make voluntary repayments?

Yes. You can make a voluntary repayment to the ATO at any time and or any

amount. Making a voluntary repayment reduces your debt immediately.

Voluntary repayments are in addition to compulsory repayments. They are

not reundable.

You may still have to make a compulsory repayment ater making a

voluntary repayment.

8.10 Can I get a bonus or voluntary repayments?

Changes to the HELP bonus or voluntary repayments

The Australian Government has announced a reduction in the HELP bonus or

voluntary repayments o $500 or more rom 10% to 5% rom 1 January 2012,

subject to the passage o the legislation.

Reer to www.goingtouni.gov.au or up-to-date inormation on the status

o the legislation.

I you make a voluntary repayment o $500 or more, you will receive a bonus o

10%. This means your account will be credited with an additional 10% o your

payment. The bonus is 10% o the payment that you make, not 10% o the

outstanding debt. You will not receive a bonus on repayment amounts that are

more than the balance o your account.


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Example

Vanessa has a debt o $5,250 and makes a $2,500 voluntary repayment. With

the 10% bonus, the value o her repayment is: $2,750 ($2,500 x 1.10).

Vanessas total debt is reduced to: $2,500 ($5,250 $2,750).

Vanessas bonus amount is: $250 ($2,750 - $2,500).

To work out how much you need to repay to pay o your total debt, divide your

total debt by 1.10.

I you have any HELP debts that have not been reported to the ATO at the time

you make the voluntary repayment, the 10% bonus will be reversed or adjusted

once those debts are transerred to your account.

There is usually a delay between the census date or a unit o study and when the

ATO receives and records your debt or that unit. Contact the ATO i you want

to make a voluntary repayment against a debt or a unit you have only recently

enrolled in.

You may benet rom making a voluntary repayment beore indexation is appliedon 1 June. I you want to do this, allow enough time or the payment to be

received and processed to your account beore 1 June.

I you want to pay o your total debt with a voluntary repayment, you should

make the repayment beore you lodge your income tax return, otherwise a

compulsory repayment may be included in your income tax notice o assessment

and you may not receive the 10% bonus.

8.11 How do I make a voluntary repayment?

There are several ways you can make a voluntary repayment. You will need your

Payment Reerence Number (PRN) to make a voluntary repayment.

What is my Payment Reerence Number?

Your PRN is your customer reerence number. It is printed on the ront o your

payment slip or on your account inormation statement. I you pay using BPAY,

credit card or direct credit you will need this number.


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Electronic paymentsYou can make electronic payments through BPAY or direct credit. To do this youwill need the PRN printed on the ront o your payment slip or on your accountinormation statement.

Payments made out o hours or on a weekend or public holiday will not reach theATO until the next working day. I you want the payment to reach the ATO by a

specic date you should check processing times with your bank.

BPAY

Details you will need to make a payment to the ATO using BPAY throughtelephone or internet banking:

Biller code: 75556

Reerence: Your PRN

Registered to BPAY PTY LTD ABN 69 079 137 518

Credit card

Credit card payments can be made online or by phone. To make a credit cardpayment to the ATO you will need:

a current Visa, MasterCard or American Express card; and

your PRN.

A credit card ee applies to transactions made using the credit card payment service.

To make credit card payments online or or urther inormation go towww.ato.gov.au/howtopay.

To make credit card payments by phone call 1300 898 089.Direct credit

Details you will need to make a payment to the ATO through an online directcredit transer rom your bank account:

Bank: Reserve Bank o AustraliaBSB number: 093 003

Account number: 316 385Account name: ATO direct credit account

Reerence: Your PRN

I you cannot nd your PRN, contact the ATO.


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MailYou can mail your cheque or money order to the ATO. Cheques and money orders

should be in Australian dollars and payable to Deputy Commissioner o Taxation.

Cheques should be crossed Not Negotiable and must not be post-dated.

Do not send cash through the mail or use pins, staples, paper clips or adhesive tape.

You need to include your payment slip (see below) or a note that states your:

ull name, address and telephone number;

account identier: tax le number, Australian business number or clientidentication number; and

payment type: HELP.

I you live in WA, SA, NT, TAS or VIC, use this address:

Australian Taxation Oce

Locked Bag 1936

ALBURY NSW 1936

I you live in NSW, ACT or QLD, use this address:Australian Taxation Oce

Locked Bag 1793

PENRITH NSW 1793

Australia Post

I you have pre-printed payment slips with a barcode, you can pay in person at any

Australia Post outlet.

A $3,000 limit applies to cash payments. EFTPOS payments are subject to dailywithdrawal limits.

Cheques and money orders should be in Australian dollars and payable to Deputy

Commissioner o Taxation. Cheques should be crossed Not Negotiable and must

not be post-dated.

Order a book o payment slips

You can order a booklet o payment slips by phoning the ATO on 13 28 65. You will

need to give your tax fle number.


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Paying rom overseasBPAY

I you have an Australian bank account you can make payments using

BPAY through phone or internet banking.

Details you will need:

Biller code: 75556

Reerence: Your PRN

Credit card

To pay by credit card you require a current Visa, MasterCard or American

Express card and your PRN. Payments rom overseas can only be made using

the online service.

Direct credit through SWIFT or by mail

For inormation about these payment options:

visit www.ato.gov.au/howtopay;

phone +61 2 6216 1111 and ask to be connected to extension 87811 ATO

Payment Helpdesk (8:00 am5:00 pm, Monday to Friday); or

email [email protected].

8.12 Are my repayments tax deductible?

Voluntary repayments made by you or someone other than your payer are not

tax deductible. Your payer may be able to claim a tax deduction or voluntary

repayments it makes on your behal but it may also be liable or ringe benets taxon the repayments.

8.13 What happens to my debt i I die?

Your estate has to pay any outstanding compulsory repayment relating to the

period beore your death, but the remainder o your accumulated HELP debt

is cancelled.


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8.14 What happens to my debt i I go bankrupt?You still have to pay your accumulated HELP debt as i you had not been

declared bankrupt.

8.15 Where can I get inormation on my HELP account?

You can phone the ATO at any time o the year to get your account balance or

request a statement.

Your statement is sent to your latest home address shown on ATO records or, i theATO doesnt have your home address, to the postal address on your latest income

tax return.

To protect the privacy o your inormation, the ATO needs to veriy your identity

beore it can give details o your account to you over the phone. To do this, it may ask:

your tax le number;

your Australian Business Number; or

your name.

I you have ever lodged an income tax return, you need to give three o the

ollowing identiers. I you have never lodged an income tax return, you need

to supply only two o the ollowing identiers:

your date o birth;

your address (business, residential, postal or email) or telephone number;

your current bank details;

details rom an ATO letter or notice sent to you within the last ve years; or

your ATO account details e.g. balance, amount o any reund, payment orinterest imposed, amount and requency o a payment arrangement, or PAYG

instalment amount or rate.


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ContaCts

Your approved FEE-HELP provider or Open Universities Australia

They can help you with:

enrolments;

tuition ees;

their census dates and administrative dates;

withdrawals;

applying or FEE-HELP;

getting your FEE-HELP balance re-credited and your FEE-HELP debt removed

under special circumstances;

grievance procedures or student complaints; and

the Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN).

Department o Education, Employment and WorkplaceRelations (DEEWR)


FEE-HELP and other components o the Higher Education Loan Program

(HELP); and

other orms o Australian Government assistance.

How to contact DEEWR:

visit www.goingtouni.gov.au;

call the student enquiry lineon 1800 020 108 (or+61 3 9938 2545 rom

outside Australia);

call the student enquiry line on 1800 554 609 TTY or hearing impaired and

speech impaired students; or

log on to myUniAssistor the balance o your entitlements at

www.goingtouni.gov.au.


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Proessional, registration or licensing bodiesSee Appendix A or contact details o organisations that can assist overseas-trained

proessionals obtain proessional recognition o their qualications.

Australian Taxation Ofce (ATO)

How to contact the ATO:

visit www.ato.gov.au;

call 1300 720 092 to get the booklet Repaying your HELP debt in 201112;

call 13 28 61 or HELP and general tax inormation;

call the Higher Education Loan Accounts Unit on 1300 650 225 or specic

queries about your account; or

call 133 677 TTY or1300 555 727 TTY or hearing impaired and speech

impaired students.

I you have a tax le number, please have it ready beore you call the ATO.

Address written correspondence (not voluntary repayments) to:

Australian Taxation Oce

PO Box 1032

ALBURY NSW 2640

Centrelink

How to contact Centrelink:

visit www.centrelink.gov.au; call Youth and Student Services on 13 24 90 or inormation on Youth

Allowance, Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement;

call 13 23 17 or inormation on ABSTUDY;

call 1800 639 109 or ABSTUDY TTY payment enquiries;

call 1800 810 586or other TTY payment enquiries; or

call 13 12 02 or inormation in languages other than English.


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Department o Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)


visas;

Australian citizenship; and

skills recognition and proessional recognition o qualications

obtained overseas.

How to contact DIAC:

visit www.immi.gov.au or visa inormation; visit www.citizenship.gov.au or citizenship inormation;

visit www.immi.gov.au/asri or inormation on skills recognition;

call 13 18 81 or visa enquiries; or

call 13 18 80 or citizenship enquiries.


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aPPendiX a: list of oCCUPations and theassessing bodies aPProved for identifying

bridging stUdy for overseas-trained

Professionals

List o occupations and the assessing bodies that are approved or identiying


Proessional occupations and assessing bodies specied in paragraph 2.5.10 othe FEE-HELP Guidelinespursuant to sections 10455 and 10460 o the Higher

Education Support Act 2003.

Important Notice: The below list was current at the time this FEE-HELP

inormation booklet was published. Amendments to the FEE-HELP Guidelinesare

expected to come ino orce by 1 January 2012.

Please note that the amendments include the changes to the listed

proessional occupations and assessing bodies that are specifed in theFEE-HELP Guidelines. It is your responsibility to keep up-to-date with these

amendments. Please reer to the DEEWR website at www.deewr.gov.au or

up-to-date inormation on these amendments.

LISTED PROFESSIONAL

OCCUPATION

ASSESSING BODY STATE OR

TERRITORY

ACCOUNTANTS CPA Australia

ABN 64 008 392 452

All States andTerritories

Institute o Chartered Accountants inAustraliaABN 50 084 642 571


National Institute o Accountants

ABN 81 004 130 643


ARCHITECTS Architects Accreditation Council oAustralia ABN 83 465 163 655


CADASTRAL SURVEYORS Institution o Surveyors, AustraliaABN 39 917 817 054



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LISTED PROFESSIONAL

OCCUPATION


TERRITORY

DENTISTS Australian Dental Council

ABN 70 072 269 900


DIETICIANS Dietitians Association o Australia

ABN 34 008 521 480


LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

BARRISTERS

SOLICITORS

Legal Proession Admission Board

ABN 50 581 255 931

NSW

Legal Practitioners Admission Board ACT

Legal Practitioners Admission Board NT

Barristers and Solicitors Boards(Queensland)

QLD

Board o Examiners, C/- LegalPractitioners Registry

SA

Board o Legal Education TAS

Council o Legal Education VIC

The Legal Practice Board WesternAustralia

ABN 23 127 312 585

WA

MEDICAL

PRACTITIONERS(General)

Australian Medical CouncilIncorporated

ABN 19 814 243 263


NUCLEAR MEDICINE

TECHNOLOGIST

Australian & New Zealand Society oNuclear Medicine Inc

ABN 42 512 102 604


OCCUPATIONALTHERAPISTS

Council o OccupationalTherapists Registration Boards

Aust & NZ IncorpABN 50 377 833 627


OPTOMETRISTS Optometry Council o Australia and

New ZealandABN 38 074 875 111

All States and

Territories


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LISTED PROFESSIONAL

OCCUPATION


TERRITORY

PHARMACIST Council o Pharmacy RegisteringAuthorities Inc

ABN 45 568 153 354


PHYSIOTHERAPISTS Australian Physiotherapy Council

ABN 28 108 663 896


PODIATRISTS Australasian Podiatry CouncilABN 24 008 488 748


RADIOGRAPHERS Australian Institute o Radiography

ABN 26 924 779 836


REGISTERED NURSES ACT Nursing and Midwiery Board ACT

The Nurses and Midwives Board oNSW

ABN 41 356 382 097

NSW

The Nursing Board o the NorthernTerritory

ABN 43 327 327 719

NT

Queensland Nursing Council

ABN 31 518 972 839

QLD

Nurses Board o South Australia

ABN 61 964 469 696

SA

Nursing Board o Tasmania

ABN 33 786 914 844

TAS

Nurses Board o VictoriaABN 96 394 267 286

VIC

The Nurses Board o WesternAustralia

ABN 70 013 199 477

WA


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LISTED PROFESSIONAL

OCCUPATION


TERRITORY

SCHOOL TEACHERS ACT Department o Education& Training

ABN 71 506 957 312

ACT

NSW Department o Education andTraining

ABN 40 300 173 822

NSW

Department o Employment,Education and Training

ABN 84 085 734 992

NT

Queensland College o Teachers

ABN 49 750 572 133

QLD

Teachers Registration Board o SA

ABN 18 376 765 315

SA

Department o Education TasmaniaABN 26 237 631 294

TAS

Employment Assessment Centre,Department o Education

ABN 52 705 101 522

VIC

Victorian Institute o Teaching

ABN 12 386 253 536

VIC

Department o Education and

Training

ABN 69 769 481 770

WA

SOCIAL WORKERS Australian Association o SocialWorkersABN 93 008 576 010


SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS The Speech Pathology Association oAustralia LimitedABN 17 008 393 440


VETERINARIANS Australasian Veterinary BoardsCouncil Incorporated

ABN 49 337 540 469



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notes


55/56

Want toGo to uni?

Find out about scholarships?Find out about loans to study overseas?

Get to know what your entitlements are?

Find out about help with uni costs?

Get access to your records?

Visit www.goingtouni.gov.au

Copyright

Commonwealth o Australia 2011ISSN 1449-9282

This work is copyright. Apart rom any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may

2012 booklet fee-help

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