Re-crediting of HELP Balances
When may a HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) balance be re-credited?
A student’s HELP balance can be re-credited under Division 2 or 3 of Part 6 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016.
A student’s HELP balance may be re‑credited under this part if an amount of a VET student loan has been used to pay tuition fees for the student for a course, or a part of a course.
Recredit for Special Circumstances
A student may apply for the student’s FEE- HELP balance to be re-credited under section 68 of the Act because of special circumstances.
The School must re‑credit a student’s HELP balance if:
(a) the student applies to the provider in writing for the re‑credit; and
(b) the application is made within 12 months after the census day for the course, or the part of the course; and
(c) The School is satisfied that special circumstances prevented, or will prevent, the student from completing the requirements for the course, or the part of the course.
What are special circumstances?
Special circumstances are circumstances that:
(i) are beyond the student’s control; and
(ii) do not make their full impact on the student until on or after the census day for a course, or the part of a course; and
(iii) make it impracticable for the student to complete the requirements for the course, or the part of the course, during the student’s enrolment in the course, or the part of the course;
The School will be satisfied that a student's circumstances are beyond the student's control if a situation occurs that a reasonable person would consider is not due to the person's action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which the student is not responsible. The situation must be unusual, uncommon or abnormal.
The Secretary may also re‑credit a student’s HELP balance in relation to special circumstances if a course provider:
(i) is unable to act or is being wound up or has been dissolved; or
(ii) has failed to act and the Secretary is satisfied that the failure is unreasonable.
When can the Secretary of DESE (Department of Education Skills and Employment) recredit a VSL Balance?
A student may apply to the Secretary for the student’s HELP balance to be re‑credited under section 71 of the Act if:
(i) the provider, or a person acting on the provider’s behalf, engaged in unacceptable conduct in relation to the student’s application for the VET student loan; or
(ii) the provider has failed to comply with the Act or an instrument under the Act and the failure has adversely affected the student;
What timeframe can I request a re-credit?
Applications for re‑crediting under section 68 of the Act must be made within 12 months after the census day for the course, or the part of the course, concerned, or within that period as extended by the provider;
Applications for re‑crediting under section 71 of the Act must be made within 5 years after the census day for the course, or the part of the course, concerned, or within that period as extended by the Secretary;
Can I request reconsideration and review of decisions whether or not to re‑credit HELP balances?
Yes you can request a review of the decision using the Schools Complaints, Appeals and Grievance process. There will be no charge for the review to be requested.
No victimisation or discrimination policy for students for seeking a review.
In accordance with Section 90 of the VSL Rules a student will not be victimised or discriminated against for:
a) seeking review or reconsideration of a decision; or
b) using the provider’s processes or procedures about dealing with grievances; or
c) making an application for re-crediting of the student’s FEE- HELP balance under Part 6 of the Act.