Eligible students in eligible courses of study at Christian Heritage College (CHC) are able to receive assistance from the Commonwealth government in the form of access to the Higher Education Loans Program (HELP) and/or Commonwealth support.

In compliance with the requirements of HESA (2003), CHC must provide students who request Commonwealth assistance and/or Commonwealth support with a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN). CHC will comply with the requirements of HESA (2003) and the Administration Guidelines 2012 regarding the information to be included on the CAN and the dates by which CANs are to be issued.

This policy applies to all eligible domestic students who are Commonwealth assisted or supported.

Restricted to:       Domestic students who meet the eligibility requirements for Commonwealth assistance and/or Commonwealth support.

Excludes:              International students and domestic students who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Commonwealth assistance and/or Commonwealth support.

1.    To clarify the requirements for the issuing of a CAN for students who are Commonwealth assisted through HELP and those students who are Commonwealth supported.

2.    To clarify the responsibility of CHC staff in the issuing of a CAN.

1.   General

1.1      CHC must issue a CAN to all students who are enrolled in a unit of study with CHC and are:

1.1.1    seeking Commonwealth assistance for the unit or for a student services and amenities fee (SA fee) imposed by CHC; or

1.1.2    Commonwealth supported for that unit.

1.3       A student is considered to be “Commonwealth supported” for a unit if the student has submitted a Request for a Commonwealth supported place and a HECS-HELP loan form.

2.   Information to be included on the Commonwealth Assistance Notice

3.1       The notice must be called the ‘Commonwealth Assistance Notice’ (CAN).

3.2       The CAN must include the following information as applicable to each student’s enrolment at the census date for the unit(s) of study to which the notice applies:

3.2.1         the student’s name;

3.2.2         the name of the higher education provider;

3.2.3         the student’s student number as issued by CHC;

3.2.4         the student’s Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN);

3.2.5         the award(s) in which the student is enrolled at CHC for which EFTSL is recorded at the census date(s) contained in the CAN;

3.2.6         the student cohort to which the student belongs;

3.2.7         the total EFTSL in which the student is enrolled;

3.2.8         the total amount of up-front payment;

3.2.9         the total amount of HECS-HELP discount;

3.2.10     the total amount of HECS- HELP debt;

3.2.11     the total amount of FEE-HELP assistance;

3.2.12     the total amount of the FEE-HELP loan fee; and

3.2.13     the total amount of FEE-HELP debt.

3.3       For each unit of study, the CAN must include the following information as applicable to each student’s enrolment:

3.3.1         the unit code and title;

3.3.2         the census date of the unit;

3.3.3         whether the student is required to make a student contribution or pay tuition fees or is an exempt student (which may be referred to as the student’s ‘status’);

3.3.4         the EFTSL value;

3.3.5         the student contribution amount;

3.3.6         the tuition fee amount;

3.3.7         the amount of up-front payment;

3.3.8         the amount of HECS-HELP discount;

3.3.9         the amount of HECS-HELP debt;

3.3.10     the amount of FEE-HELP assistance;

3.3.11     the amount of FEE-HELP loan fee; and

3.3.12     the amount of FEE-HELP debt.

3.5       Where CHC has selected a student for receipt of OS-HELP, the CAN must include the following information:

3.5.1         the six-month period to which the OS-HELP assistance relates;

3.5.2         the amount of OS-HELP assistance for the relevant six-month period;

3.5.3         the amount of OS-HELP loan fee for the relevant six-month period; and

3.5.4         the total amount of OS-HELP debt for the relevant six-month period.

3.6       Where a student is seeking Commonwealth assistance for an SA fee imposed on the student by CHC, the CAN must include the following information:

3.6.1       the amount of the SA fee;

3.6.2       the day on which that SA fee was payable; and

3.6.3       the amount of SA-HELP debt in respect of that SA fee.

3.7       A CAN that contains information in respect of FEE-HELP assistance must display the following statement:

“It is your responsibility to ensure that you have sufficient FEE-HELP balance to cover the FEE-HELP amounts indicated in this notice. You are eligible for the amounts of FEE-HELP assistance contained in this notice only if you have sufficient FEE-HELP balance to cover those amounts.”

3.8       A CAN that contains information in respect of Commonwealth support or FEE-HELP assistance must display the following statement:

“The information regarding Commonwealth assistance contained in this notice is correct only insofar as you have correctly advised CHC of your entitlement to that assistance under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.”

3.9       The CAN must include information on the student’s right to request correction of information contained in the CAN within 14 days after the day the CAN was given, under Section 169-10(2) to 169-10(4) of the Act.

3.10     The CAN may contain other information as determined by CHC.

4.   Period within which the CAN must be given

4.1          A CAN that contains information in respect of unit(s) of study that are Commonwealth supported, or for which a student has sought FEE‑HELP assistance, must be given within 28 days of the earliest census date indicated on the CAN.

4.2       A CAN that contains information in respect of SA-HELP assistance must be given to a student by the later of:

4.2.1       28 days after the date on which the SA-HELP debt was incurred; and

4.2.2       the date on which CHC must give the student a CAN, if any, in accordance with Provision 4.1, provided that that date and the date on which the SA-HELP debt was incurred are both in either the first or second half year.

4.2.2.1   Where a date cannot be determined under Provision 4.2.2, the CAN required under this Provision must be given in accordance with Provision 4.2.1.

4.3       A CAN that contains information in respect of OS-HELP assistance must be given within 28 days of the date on which the OS-HELP debt was incurred.

5.1       If CHC believes the information on the CAN to be incorrect, or has ceased to be correct, a new CAN will be issued to the student with the correct information.

5.2       If, under Provision 3.9, a student believes any information on the CAN to be incorrect, they may request a review of the information contained on the CAN (see Supporting Procedures and Guidelines). Making the request does not affect the liability of the student to pay the contribution, nor the student’s entitlement to Commonwealth assistance.

5.3       If the information on the CAN is found to be incorrect, or has ceased to be correct, a new CAN will be issued to the student with the correct information.

5.4       If a revised CAN is issued, CHC will correct its records, and data sent to the Department accordingly.