Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2009

[From the Senate Committee website]

On 12 February 2009, the Senate referred the provisions of the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009 to the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for report by 10 March 2009.

The purpose of the bill is to ensure the availability of quality student services. This is required following the loss of revenue from compulsory student levies previously in force. The bill will amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to provide universities with the option to implement a services fee from 1 July 2009. To ensure the fee is not a burden on students the bill provides for the establishment of a new component of the Higher Education Loan Program – Services and Amenities (SA HELP). It will recognise the roles and responsibilities of Tertiary Admissions Centres and will allow for future expansion of the VET FEE-HELP scheme.

The closing date for submissions was Friday, 20 February 2009.