If you are a student who has a HECS-HELP debt, you may be impacted by the Job Ready Graduates Package.
What is it?
The Australian Government introduced the Job Ready Graduates (JRG) Package legislation in 2020 which is now applicable from 2022. This legislation changes the conditions you need to meet to receive Australian Government support during your studies (such as Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Higher Education Loan Program loans (HELP).
What is the major change?
Students must maintain a ‘reasonable completion rate’ in their units as of 1 January 2022. If a student fails or withdraws after census date (a WN grade) for more than 50% of the units of study they have attempted, they will be considered as having a ‘low completion rate’.
If students have a low completion rate in 2022 or thereafter, they will not be eligible for Commonwealth assistance (such as getting HELP loans for their studies).
Who will this change apply to?
- Students who enrol in a new award course on or after 1 January 2022 (this includes if they were a student before 2022 and have changed into a new course in 2022), and
- are enrolled in a Commonwealth-supported place (CSP), or
- are enrolled in a full fee-paying place and are using FEE-HELP/ HECS-HELP to defer fees.
What are the options available to students who are considered to have a “low completion rate”?
- Continue their course by paying upfront. If students pay upfront and increase their completion rate to 50 per cent or higher, they will be eligible for Commonwealth assistance in their course again.
- Transfer to a new course at the same or a different provider. If students change to a new course, their previous completion rate will not carry over, and they will be able to access Commonwealth assistance for their new course.
- Apply for Late Withdrawal for the failed courses (if applicable).
If this is something that you are concerned about, or if you would like to apply for Late Withdrawal, contact ANUSA at sa.assistance@anu.edu.au.