The VSL Provider Newsletter is how we let you know about program updates and reminders about the program administrative requirements.
On this page:
Welcome to the VSL Provider Newsletter – June 2025
Following the results of the recent federal election, the new Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP. The Hon Andrew Giles MP remains the Minister for Skills and Training, and we welcome The Hon Patrick Gorman as Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
20% reduction to student loan debt
The Government will implement a one-off reduction of 20% on outstanding student loan debt incurred by 1 June 2025.
The Australian Government has committed to this being the first piece of legislation it introduces when Parliament sits from 22 July 2025. Once legislation is passed, the ATO will retrospectively apply the 20% reduction to the debt. The indexation that was applied will also be adjusted to take account of the reduced debt balance.
Individuals with a VET Student Loan debt (VETSL debt) will not need to take any action as the Australian Taxation Office will apply the reduction to loan accounts once the law has changed.
Making student loan repayments fairer
The Government will also be introducing changes to the student loan repayments.
From 1 July 2025, students and workers with an outstanding student loan debt will only be required to make compulsory repayments once they start earning an annual salary of $67,000. This is an increase from the current repayment threshold of $54,435 in 2024-25. The government will also introduce a system where loan repayments are based only on the portion of a person’s income above the new $67,000 threshold.
If your students want more information on these changes, please refer them to What’s New for VSL students.
Late reporting of student data
The department is embarking on a project to review provider’s data reporting activity because late or inaccurate reporting of student data has negative impacts for both you and your students. For providers, these impacts can include invalidated payments from the department.
Data must be reported within 7 to 14 days of each reportable event (see table in the section below). You must also undertake a thorough quality assurance process before submitting your student data. Your data must be accurate, complete, timely and submitted in the form prescribed in the 2025 Data Reporting Requirements Notice. This minimises the need for intervention and corrective action by either you or the department.
You are required to provide real-time event-based data because a delegate of the Secretary of the department has exercised powers under subsection 53(1) of the Act to request this information.
Failure to comply with this notice may give rise to a civil penalty provision and a strict liability offence (both 60 penalty units – per subsections 53(4) and (5) of the Act).
Data reporting timeframes
For event-based reporting as shown below, providers are required to provide their student data within 7 to 14 days of an outcome.
Table 1: Reporting timeframe
| Data type | Reporting timeframe |
|---|---|
| Student enrolment data | Event based reporting. Within 7 days of the student enrolling in a unit of study. Loan information is required within 14 days of the census date. |
| Course completions (Course outcome, and course outcome date if students have completed) | Event based reporting. Within 7 days of a student taking a leave of absence, completing the course or ceasing enrolment in the course. Course outcome date required within 7 days of student completing the course. |
| Unit of study completions (Unit outcome status and unit outcome date) | Event based reporting. Within 7 days of the student enrolling in a unit of study. Within 7 days of when the updated completion status becomes available. |
| Revisions | All corrections and updates to data that have already been reported must be made:
|
Commonwealth Prac Payment for VET students
From 1 July 2025, the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) can help ease cost of living pressures for Diploma of Nursing students.
The CPP (VET) is available to eligible students who are required to undertake mandatory prac placements to qualify as an Enrolled Nurse. The CPP (VET) will support around 5,000 eligible VET students annually, providing over $300 per week during their mandatory prac placement.
Eligible Diploma of Nursing students need to:
- be a domestic student undertaking a full-time mandatory prac placement as part of a Diploma of Nursing qualification
- be receiving an eligible income support payment or meet a ‘need to work’ test over 4 continuous weeks in the previous study period.
Applications for CPP (VET) are now open, with payments commencing from 1 July 2025. For more information, visit Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) | Your Career.
2025 VSL Tuition Protection Levy
Throughout March, the Tuition Protection Services (TPS) Director consulted with leviable VSL providers on the draft 2025 VSL Tuition Protection Levy settings. The consultation period offered domestic VSL providers the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft levy settings prior to their finalisation.
The TPS would like to thank those who attended the consultation sessions and provided feedback on the draft levy settings. The TPS Advisory Board will consider the feedback at its May meeting. The final levy settings will then be recommended to the TPS Director. The levy settings will be legislated by 1 August 2025, and the domestic levy collection will commence in October 2025.
For further information about the sector consultation period and the VSL Tuition Protection Levy, please visit:
- 2025 Domestic Tuition Protection Levies Consultation
- Tuition Protection Service - Department of Education, Australian Government
- VET Student Loans (VSL Tuition Protection Levy) Act 2020
- VET Student Loans (VSL Tuition Protection Levy) (Risk Rated Premium and Special Tuition Protection Components) Determination 2024
For any queries you may Contact the Tuition Protection Service - Department of Education, Australian Government.
Privacy Awareness Week
The Privacy Act 1988 covers organisations with an annual turnover of more than $3 million and some other organisations. If the Privacy Act 1988 covers your organisation, you need to understand your obligations when handling personal information.
Support Privacy Awareness Week 16 – 22 June 2025
This week was Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) led by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in partnership with state and territory privacy regulators and the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities members.
Signing your organisation up as a PAW supporter is an annual initiative that highlights the importance of protecting personal information and encourages organisations to build a culture of privacy. This year’s theme is ‘Privacy – It’s everyone’s business. Make it yours’.
PAW 2025 presents an excellent opportunity to:
- reaffirm your commitment to privacy best practices
- engage staff and clients in privacy education
- promote your organisation’s privacy initiatives
- access toolkits, posters, and social media content at Privacy Awareness Week 2025 | OAIC.
Australian Training Awards 2025
Nominations for the Australian Training Awards direct entry categories closed on Saturday 14 June 2025. The 2025 Australian Training Awards gala dinner will be held in December in Darwin.
The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards for the VET and skills sector and celebrates individuals, businesses, and registered training organisations (RTOs) who lead the way in delivering excellence, innovation, and positive outcomes in Australia’s VET system.
All award finalists are invited to become VET ambassadors through the Australian VET Alumni, an exclusive community of leaders, practitioners, businesses, and RTOs that promote the power and impact of VET.
New eligibility criteria for the Tertiary Access Payment
First year tertiary students who take one or more gap years after finishing Year 12 or equivalent will be able to claim the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) during their first year of study.
Previously, students could only claim the TAP if they were starting tertiary study within 12 months of finishing Year 12 or equivalent.
Now, if they start their course by 22 years of age and meet all other eligibility criteria, they’ll be able to get the TAP.
Students who have taken one or more gap years are eligible from 1 January 2025. However, they can only apply after mid-June 2025 through Services Australia as the system needs to be updated.
The TAP is a non-indexed, means-tested payment of up to $5,000 to Year 12 graduates (or equivalent) from regional or remote areas who need to relocate for full-time, higher-level tertiary education (Certificate IV and above) at an education provider located at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home.
Changes to the TAP are in response to feedback from regional stakeholders and the Australian Universities Accord Panel.
For further information about the TAP, visit Tertiary Access Payment - Services Australia.
Subscribing to the VSL Provider Newsletter
The VSL Provider Newsletter is how we let you know about program updates and reminders about the program administrative requirements. Let your colleagues know they can subscribe to the newsletter in less than a minute at VET Student Loans – subscribe. You can access previous copies of the newsletter at VET Student Loans Provider Newsletter.