This section contains all of the documents, links and support information that you will need to assist you in your VET FEE-HELP Application process.

Please look for information on this page first.

If you are after information that you cannot find on this page, please don't hesitate to email or call us using the details below, and one of our friendly staff will be happy to help you.

Please click the links below for the answers to the questions covering the following topics:

Am I eligible for VET FEE‑HELP?
Am I studying at an approved VET FEE‑HELP provider?
Can subsidised students access VET FEE‑HELP?
How much can I borrow?
Is there a loan fee?
Will previous study or other debts affect my eligibility?
How do I apply?
How do I repay my VET FEE‑HELP loan?
How much will my loan/debt be?
Need more information?

Your consumer rights

Under Australian Consumer Law:

• The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) is the national law for fair trading and consumer protection.
• The ACL commenced on 1 January 2011 and is a cooperative reform of the Australian Government and the States and Territories through the Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs (CAF).
• The ACL is administered and enforced jointly by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the State and Territory consumer protection agencies, with the involvement of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on relevant matters

Your consumer rights:

If a salesperson initiates contact with you to offer an 'unsolicited consumer agreement', they must follow rules around:

• how and when they can approach you;
• what information they must give you;
• your right to change your mind.

The law applies to salespeople supplying goods or services for trade or commerce and does not cover other door knockers such as religious groups or charity fundraisers. However, consumers can always ask any unwanted visitors to leave their premises.

Cancellation rights (‘cooling-off’)

If you have been sold training over the phone or by a door-to-door salesperson, that person must tell you about your cooling off rights before you sign the agreement:

• you can change your mind and cancel the contract for any reason without penalty within 10 business days
• the salesperson cannot take payment during the cooling-off period for any goods or services and cannot supply any services.

If you change your mind and want to 'cool-off'

If you sign a sales agreement and then change your mind:

• you have 10 business days to cool-off or cancel the agreement, starting the first business day after you receive the agreement document;
• you can terminate the agreement verbally or in writing any time during the cooling-off period. Written termination can be delivered personally, sent via post, emailed or sent via fax. The agreement will be cancelled from the day you give notice;
• the trader must promptly return or refund any money paid under the agreement or a related contract;
• for goods bought on credit or finance, the trader must contact the credit provider and arrange for cancellation;
• the salesperson must not try to convince you to waive your rights to cool off.

Extended cooling-off period

If the salesperson has breached your legal rights you may be entitled to a longer cooling-off period. 

You may terminate an agreement up to three months after it is made if the salesperson: 

• telephoned or visited you outside of the permitted selling hours;
• did not disclose the purpose of the call or visit;
• did not identify him/herself.

This period is extended to six months if the salesperson:

• did not provide you with information about the cooling-off period;
• was in breach of other requirements for uninvited sales approaches (such as failing to provide a written copy of the agreement or not including required information in the written agreement);
• supplied goods or services during the cooling-off period (if the agreement is worth over $500).

What to do after you cool off

• If any goods were delivered or given to you in person, you must return them (or what remains of them) within a reasonable time or tell the supplier where to collect them.
• If you have not taken reasonable care of the goods, the supplier can seek compensation for depreciated value.
• You do not have to pay compensation for normal use of the goods or circumstances beyond your control.
• If the supplier does not collect the goods within 30 days of termination, then you can keep them.

In addition, with VET FEE-HELP:

(https://www.education.gov.au/stamping-out-abuse-vet-fee-help-scheme)

From 1 January 2016, VET providers will:

not be allowed to charge a student the total course tuition fees in one up-front hit - this will result in students only incurring a debt as they progress through a course;

have to issue a student with a VET FEE-HELP Invoice Notice at least 14 days prior to each census date for the VET unit study - this will ensure students are fully aware of the debts they may incur after the census date; and

not accept a VET-FEE-HELP loan request from a student until a two-day ‘cooling off’ period has elapsed after enrolment.period has elapsed after enrolment.