On this page:
Department of Education
Website: Department of Education
Postal address:
Student Provider and Integrity Branch
Higher Education Division
Department of Education
GPO Box 9839
Canberra ACT 2601
Enquiries regarding the administration of HELP, including notifications to the Assistant Secretary may be submitted to HEenquiries@education.gov.au or the postal address listed above.
Enquiries regarding CGS, HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HELP and STARTUP‑HELP policy, and loading may be directed to CGS@education.gov.au and HELP.Policy@education.gov.au
Questions or concerns about the SA-HELP policy and student services and amenities fee may be directed to SSAF@education.gov.au
Questions or concerns about FEE-HELP at non-Table A Universities and private providers may be directed to FEE-HELP@education.gov.au
Enquiries regarding Unipay and HELP advance payments and estimates for Table A and Table B providers may be directed to FEP@education.gov.au
Enquiries regarding research students or RTP scholarships may be directed to rbgrants@education.gov.au
Enquiries about Regional University Study Hubs and the Tertiary Access Payment can be directed to regional@education.gov.au
HELP information booklets and factsheets are available for download from the Study Assist website.
Students can make enquiries to the department using the contact form on the Study Assist website. Alternatively, students may phone the enquiry line on 1800 020 108
Australian Taxation Office
Website: Australian Taxation Office
Phone: 13 28 61
Queries regarding compulsory and voluntary repayments or viewing a HELP debt using myGov may be directed to the phone line listed above.
Department of Home Affairs
Website: Department of Home Affairs
Phone: 13 18 81
The Privacy Act 1988 prevents the Department of Home Affairs from providing information about the visa status of individuals to the provider for the purpose of determining HELP eligibility without the applicant’s consent. Requests for information from provider enrolment officers should be in writing and accompanied by a signed authorisation from the applicant and details such as the applicant’s full name, date of birth and current visa and passport numbers.
Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
Website: Administrative Review Tribunal
Phone 1800 228 333
Useful Links
Websites
- Transforming the Collection of Student Information (TCSI) – www.tcsisupport.gov.au
- Startup Year Program - www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program/startup-year
- Study Assist - www.StudyAssist.gov.au
- Research Training Program (RTP) – www.education.gov.au/research-block-grants/research-training-program
- Unique Student Identifier (USI) - www.USI.gov.au
Higher Education Support Act 2003 and amendments
- Higher Education Support Act 2003
- Amendments to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 can be found at www.legislation.gov.au
Other legislation
- Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024
- Archives Act 1983
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007
- Corporations Act 2001
- Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000
- Electronic Transactions Act 1999
- Higher Education Support (HELP Tuition Protection Levy) Act 2020
- Higher Education (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection Levy) Act 2020
- Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
- Freedom of Information Act 1982
- Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
- Migration Act 1958
- Privacy Act 1988
- Social Security Act 1991
- Student Identifiers Act 2014
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
Guidelines
- Higher Education Support (Administration) Guidelines 2022
- Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines 2020
- Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017
- FEE-HELP Guidelines 2017
- Higher Education Provider Guidelines 2023
- Higher Education Support (Student Learning Entitlement) Guidelines 2021
- Higher Education Support (STARTUP-HELP) Guidelines 2023
- Higher Education Support (OS-HELP) Guidelines 2023
- Higher Education Support (Student Services, Amenities, Representation and Advocacy) Guidelines 2022
- Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015
- Tuition Protection (Up-front Payments Guidelines) 2020
Ministerial determinations
The following Ministerial determinations are available on the department’s website at the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and Guidelines page:
- Ministerial determination under HESA subsection 36-15(2)
Determinations for courses which are not enabling courses can be found at: https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program/resources/courses-which-are-not-enabling-courses
Determinations made for components of the HELP Tuition Protection Levy can be found at: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2020L00947/asmade/text
Determinations made for components of the Up-Front Payments Tuition Protection Levy can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2021L01004/asmade/text
The Ministerial determination specifying the visas in a class or subclass of visas that an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder may hold and still be eligible for HELP is available is available at legislation.gov.au