VET Student Loans

A VET Student Loan (VSL) assists students to cover tuition fees for vocational education and training courses.  VSLs are only available for approved courses at Diploma level and above.

The VET Student Loans Information Booklet provides key information students applying for a VET Student Loan need to know. The topics covered include eligibility, applying for and managing your loan, as well as your rights and obligations. You must read this booklet before applying for a VET Student Loan.

Checking your eligibility

Students are eligible for a VET Student Loan if they:

• are enrolled in a VET Student Loans approved course offered by a VET Student Loans provider
• meet citizenship/residency requirements
  • an Australian citizen, or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and usually reside in Australia; or
  • be a qualifying New Zealand citizen
• have an available HELP balance of more than $0 (that is, have sufficient HELP balance remaining)
• meet student entry requirements (and have provided to Charlton Brown all copies of those documents.

To see if you are likely to meet the eligibility requirements, check out the VET Student Loans Eligibility Tool on the My Skills website. On this website you will also find the VET Student Loans Calculator which can help you understand what your debt will be when you start your course.

You should also speak to an approved VET Student Loans provider about accessing a VET Student Loan to pay for your studies. The provider will confirm if you are eligible to access a VET Student Loan.

To confirm a student’s identity, date of birth and eligibility for access to VET Student Loans Charlton Brown will collect and verify information and documents such as, but not limited to passports, birth certificates and prior qualifications.

Charlton Brown will consider your application to be eligible if you have the following

• You have been assessed by your approved course provider as academically suited to undertake the approved course by either:
  • providing your Australian Year 12 Certificate; OR
  • providing a certified copy of successful completion of an Australian Qualification Framework Certificate IV or higher qualification (where the language of instruction is English); OR
  • a certificate of competency at or above Exit Level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework in both reading and numeracy using an approved assessment tool managed by ACER

• in addition, the approved course provider must reasonably believe the student is academically suited to undertake the course; and the student must meet any other specified entry requirements for the course

Getting a Tax File Number

When you apply for a VET Student Loan you need to provide your Tax File Number (TFN) because repayments of your loan are made through the tax system.  Charlton Brown will collect information from the student about their Tax File Number.

If you don’t have a TFN you must apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for a TFN as soon as possible. It is best to have your TFN before you enrol to ensure you can access a loan for your studies.

If you don’t have a TFN when you enrol, you can get provisional access to a loan if you supply a Certificate of Application for a TFN provided by the ATO when you apply for a TFN. You still need to supply your TFN to your provider as soon as you get it from the ATO. If you do not supply your TFN within the time period specified by the provider, your enrolment will be cancelled.

Students under 18 years of age

Parental consent to apply for a VET Student Loan is required for students who are under 18 years of age, unless you are receiving Youth Allowance (on the basis that you are independent).  You must provide evidence of the independent assessment, otherwise your parent or guardian might sign the Commonwealth’s Parental Consent Form and return it to Charlton Brown before you can apply for a loan.  The form is available on the Commonwealth Government website or from the college.

Eligible students will be entitled for loans up to a capped amount which is set by Government for each of Charlton Brown’s qualifications as follows:

• CHC52015        Diploma of Community Services
• CHC50121        Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

The list above indicates the maximum amount of VET Student Loans that will be available for each course for each student not taking into account that the amount of the loan cannot be greater than the student’s remaining VSL balance.

Your loan obligations

To continue accessing a VET Student Loan, you must demonstrate that you are a genuine student continuing with your studies.

To do this, at least twice a year, complete a Progression Form in the electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) system when you receive the invitation email (via ecafsystem@education.gov.au). If you miss the due date, please contact your provider directly and ask them to reissue the progression.

Engagement

If you decide to use VET Student Loans you will be required to demonstrate you are progressing throughout your course.
• You will be required to log in online twice during the year and acknowledge that you accept the loan you will receive for the course,

Importance of Census Date

• The Census date is the final date a student can cancel their enrolment and withdraw from a Subject/Unit of Study without incurring debt for a Courses Tuition Fee,

• All Charlton Brown Courses have at least 4 Census dates with Course Tuition Fees being apportioned across a specified number of sequential fee periods. See Charlton Brown Course Tuition Fee Schedules and Census Dates on the Charlton Brown website.
• You may cancel or withdraw from your enrolment in the course or part of the course by using Charlton Brown’s procedure for withdrawal and completing the Charlton Brown SCV (Student Course Variation) Form,
  If you withdraw before the census day from a course or part of a course, you will not incur a VET Student Loan debt for the course or part of the course.
  • It is important that you advise Charlton Brown of any change in your contact details.

Loan Debt and Repayment

• Before applying for a VET Student Loans you may wish to seek independent financial advice,
  • All VET Student Loans will remain a personal debt until repaid to the Commonwealth,
  • Repaying the loan is required when your income reaches the repayment threshold. The threshold can be found at www.studyassist.gov.au,
  • The total amount of your HELP debt could be up to 120% of the VET Student Loans for the course (the debt will include the Commonwealth Loan Fee of 20%),
  • The loan may, until the debt is repaid, reduce your take-home (after-tax) wage or salary and may reduce your general borrowing capacity.

Statement of VET Tuition Assurance

Under the provisions of the Higher Education Support ACT (HESA) and the VET Guidelines Charlton Brown must comply with the VET Tuition Assurance requirements. This is to protect VET students in the event that Charlton Brown ceases to provide a VET course of study in which a VET student is enrolled.

Support

• If you require support you should contact the Charlton Brown Student Services
  If you have a grievance or complaint you should consult the Charlton Brown Domestic Student Complaints and Appeals Policy downloadable from this webpage.
  • If you have any questions, concerns, or require more information regarding any element of VET Student Loans, students should contact the Department of Education and Training HELP Student Enquiry line on 1800 020 108,  email VETStudentLoans@employment.gov.auor visit www.employment.gov.au/vet-student-loans

Student Grievances

Students should refer to the Debt Complaints page for debt issues and complaints, including complaints about providers.

If you have concerns about the quality of your training you may wish to submit a formal complaint to Charlton Brown.

Charlton Brown is committed to maintaining an effective, timely, fair and equitable grievance handling system which is easily accessible to all complainants. Charlton Brown aims to ensure:
• All Complainants will have the opportunity to present their case at each stage of the procedure. (See Charlton Brown Domestic Student Complaints and Appeals Policy downloadable from this webpage);
• The Complainant and any respondent have the option of being accompanied/assisted by a third person (such as a family member, friend or counsellor) if they so desire.
• The Complainant and any respondent will not be discriminated against or victimised;
• At all stages of the process, discussions relating to grievances and appeals will be recorded in writing. Reasons and a full explanation in writing for decisions and actions taken as part of this procedure will be provided to the Complainant;
• Advice on appeal processes will be given in writing with all decisions;
• A Complainant shall have access to the internal stages of this grievance procedure at no cost.

Legislative and Policy Basis

Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth)

VET Student Loans Act 2016 (Cth)