VET Student Loans (VSL) Provider Newsletter – Winter 2026

Welcome to the VSL Provider Newsletter – Winter 2026

We commend all the hard work done by VET Student Loans providers so far in 2026 to deliver quality training to students and increase their prospects in the labour market.

In this edition, we are pleased to confirm that the Special Tuition Protection component of the VSL Levy has been reduced to zero. We also share some advice about managing the cost pressures that providers are reporting to us and information about providers with approval due to lapse at the end of this year.

Report back from the Provider Reference Group

The VET Student Loans Provider Reference Group met on 16 July 2026 and discussed topics including new analytics that can be viewed in the Tertiary Collection of Student Information system, administrative improvements to the VSL program and information security and digital identity reforms. Participating providers shared their lived experience delivering the program and ideas for the future.

DEWR will shortly commence a process to recruit new members following the departure of some organisations.

Managing cost pressures and additional fees

The department is aware that some providers are experiencing increased course delivery costs due to broader economic factors, including rising fuel prices and other input costs.
If you are considering introducing new or increased charges (for example, surcharges or levies), you must implement these in accordance with the VET Student Loans (VSL) legislative framework.

Charging fees other than tuition fees

You may charge fees other than tuition fees where appropriate. These fees: 

• are not covered by a VET Student Loan and must be charged as an out-of-pocket expense.
• must be clearly disclosed to prospective students before enrolment, including: 
  • that the fee is not part of tuition fees and not covered by VSL.
  • the purpose of the fee.
  • the student’s total liability.
  • when and how the fee will be paid.

You must not introduce new fees for existing students. If you need to change the cost of a course for current students, you must follow the formal process for varying tuition fees and obtain the Secretary’s approval.

Avoiding double charging

You must ensure that any additional charges do not result in students being charged twice for the same cost. If you have already included a cost in your tuition fees, introducing a separate fee for that same cost may result in double charging.

Varying tuition fees

If you want to adjust tuition fees to reflect increased course delivery costs, this is a separate process. You must obtain the Secretary’s approval before you apply any changes.

Key reminder

When responding to cost pressures, you must ensure: 

• students are fully informed in writing before enrolment.
• additional fees are clearly distinguished from tuition fees.
• you only apply changes to future enrolments, unless the Secretary has approved otherwise.
• you meet all requirements under the VSL program

More information can be found in the VSL Provider Manual sections 19 - Tuition fees, 21. Goods and services that must not be included in tuition fees, and 24 - Varying your tuition fees.

Lapsing providers

Providers with VSL approval lapsing on 31 December 2026

On 22 June 2026 we issued the application form and the request for relevant supporting documents to all providers whose VSL approval will lapse on 31 December 2026.

The VSL provider eligibility (refresher) quiz is a useful tool to refresh your knowledge of VSL program requirements. It will help you understand the information required when completing an application. We encourage you to take the quiz before completing the application form.

We also held an information session on 8 July 2026 to provide guidance on completing the application form and to address any questions.

Please ensure your Key Personnel, CEO and Primary VET Contact are up to date in HITS and reflect your current arrangements. Your key personnel should also be familiar with the VET Student Loans Act 2016 and the VET Student Loans Rules 2016.

In addition to the documents that you are required to submit with your application, all relevant data submitted under data reporting requirements in TCSI will be considered in assessing your application. Therefore, your VSL data in TCSI must be accurate, current and up to date. You must also provide evidence of current Worker Compensation and Public Liability insurance.

We expect you to submit the completed application by 14 August 2026. This will provide sufficient time for us to assess your application. Any delay with the submission of a complete and valid application, including payment of the application fee, may impact the outcome date for the application.

Special Tuition Protection component of VSL Levy reduced to zero

The TPS Advisory Board provided their final advice on the 2026 VSL Tuition Protection Levy settings on 20 May 2026. The legislative instrument has been published on the Federal Register of Legislation. For further information about the sector consultation period and the final settings for the 2026 VSL Tuition Protection Levy, please visit:

• 2026 Domestic Tuition Protection Levies Consultation
• Tuition Protection Service
• VET Student Loans (VSL Tuition Protection Levy) Act 2020

The TPS strongly encourages you to check and update all contact information in the HELP IT System (HITS) to ensure your organisation receives correspondence relating to the 2025 VSL Levy.

Further information is available on the TPS website, and providers are encouraged to contact the TPS via our online form.

Applications for the 2026 Tertiary Access Payment are still open

First-year tertiary students (Certificate IV and above) aged 22 and below could be eligible to claim the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP). 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 tertiary education at an education provider located at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home.

Once students apply, to receive the payment they’ll need to confirm their course details and the address they’ll be living at while studying with Services Australia.

Eligible students have until 31 December 2026 to apply for the TAP through the Services Australia website.

Did you know? Tips from the VSL Payments team

From November 2025 onwards you can access your monthly VSL payment information via your TCSI Analytics Payment Cashflow report and view details of loans that failed payment eligibility via your TCSI Analytics Failed Eligibility report. Information on payments pre November 2025 is still obtained via your Provider Payment Report in the HELP IT System (HITS). You can also export all these reports to excel.

1 November 2025 – onwards:

• TCSI Analytics Payment Cashflow report 
  • To view details of all loans included in the monthly payment right click on the relevant line and choose “drill through”
• TCSI Analytics Failed Eligibility report 
  • Displays all loans that are currently failing payment eligibility assessment and the failure reasons
  • Includes loans up to 90 days prior to the census date to give you time to correct any errors that would lead to non-payment after the census date passes

1 March 2017 - 31 October 2025:

• HITS Provider Payment Report: 
  • Summary tab (total payment/recovery amount in pay cycle)
  • Reported Data tab (details of individual units considered for payment, including payment amount or any applicable non-payment reasons)

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 at VET Student Loans – subscribe. You can access previous copies of the newsletter at VET Student Loans Provider Newsletter.