On this page:
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ACSF | Australian Core Skills Framework |
| Act | VET Student Loans Act 2016 |
| ADI | Authorised Deposit-Taking Institution |
| APP | Australian Privacy Principles, as defined in the Privacy Act 1988 |
| AQF | Australian Qualifications Framework |
| ART | Administrative Review Tribunal |
| ASQA | Australian Skills Quality Authority |
| ATO | Australian Taxation Office |
| AVETMISS | Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard |
| business day | Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a public holiday in the place in which the relevant act is to be or may be done |
| CAN | Commonwealth Assistance Notice |
| census day | A date on or by which enrolment may be cancelled without incurring tuition fees for the course or the part of the course. See also section on census days in this manual. |
| CHESSN | Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number |
| course | A course listed in the VET Student Loans (Courses and Loan Caps) Determination 2016 |
| Department | Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
| eCAF | Electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form – the electronic application form for VSL. |
| EFTSL | Equivalent full-time study load |
| ETA | Electronic Transactions Act 1999 |
| HESA | Higher Education Support Act 2003 |
| HITS | HELP Information Technology System |
| Listed Course Provider | Refer s27 of the Act: an RTO that is a Table A or Table B provider (HESA), a TAFE established under state or territory legislation or a training organisation owned by the Commonwealth, or state or territory, or body specified in the Rules. |
| National VET Regulator | The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national VET regulator. In Victoria, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) also has regulatory powers, as does the Training Accreditation Council in Western Australia. |
| Minister | The Minister responsible for the administration of VSL |
| NVR | National Vocational Education and Training Regulator, or ASQA |
| NVR Act | National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 |
| provider | An RTO approved as a VSL approved course provider under the Act |
| RTO | Registered Training Organisation as listed on the National Register of VET at training.gov.au |
| Rules | VET Student Loans Rules 2016 |
| Secretary | a person holding, occupying or performing the duties of the position of Secretary of the department, responsible for the administration of VSL |
| Table A or Table B provider | Refer to the meaning outlined in HESA: Table A provider – a body listed in Table A in HESA section 16-15. Table B provider – a body listed in Table B in HESA section 16-20. |
| TCSI | Tertiary Collection of Student Information |
| TEQSA | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency |
| TPA | Third party arrangement—where another person or body provides services on behalf of the VSL approved provider (which may require approval under the Act [Act s 15]) |
| Units of competency | Components of a training package or VET accredited course that define the skills and knowledge needed, and how to apply them in a workplace context. Also known as modules for VET accredited courses. |
| USI | Unique Student Identifier issued under the Student Identifiers Act 2014 |
| VET National Register | Training.gov.au is the National Register on Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia. Training.gov.au is the authoritative source of nationally recognised training and Registered Training Organisations |
| VETSL debt | VET Student Loan debt as defined in the Act (effective from 1 July 2019) |
| VRQA | Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority |
| VSL | VET Student Loans |
| VSL Tuition Protection Director | Statutory appointed Director to manage the VSL tuition protection arrangements. |
| VSL Tuition Protection Fund | A sector-specific special account established to administer the VSL tuition protection arrangements. |
| VSL tuition protection levy | A levy payable by non-exempt providers for the purposes of funding VSL tuition protection arrangements. |
| VSL tuition protection levy framework | Levy framework developed by the Australian Government Actuary for the purposes of funding and administering VSL tuition protection arrangements. |
| WA TAC | Western Australia Training Accreditation Council |