This article applies to organisations that are higher education providers in Australia.

Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Act 2023 (Cth)

Relevant provisions of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Act 2023 (Cth) (the Amending Act) commenced on 1 January 2024, and amended the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) (the Act).

The Amending Act has imposed a new policy requirement for higher education providers.

New requirement to have a support for students policy

Organisations should be aware that newly introduced section 19-43 of the Act provides that a higher education provider must have a policy (a support for students policy) that deals with the support provided to the provider’s students to assist them to successfully complete the units of study in which they are enrolled. Section 19-43 further prescribes that a higher education provider’s support for students policy must include information on:

• the provider’s processes for identifying students that are at risk of not successfully completing their units of study; and
• the supports available from or on behalf of the provider to assist students to successfully complete the units of study in which they are enrolled; and
• comply with any requirements specified in the Higher Education Provider Guidelines.

The new section states that a higher education provider must comply with its support for students policy and must further provide a report to the Minister about the provider’s compliance with its support for students policy. The report must:

• include the information required by the Higher Education Provider Guidelines; and
• be given within the period, or at the intervals, specified in the Higher Education Provider Guidelines.

Organisations should be aware that failure to comply with the new requirements may result in a sanction of 60 penalty units (currently $18,780.00)

Conclusion

Higher education providers in Australia should ensure they prepare a supports for student policy that meets the requirements of new section 19-43 of the Act, as discussed above.