✦ Plain-English Summary

Student Identifiers Amendment (Higher Education) 2019

What it does

From 2023 onwards, higher education providers (universities) won't be allowed to award degrees or qualifications to students unless those students have been assigned a student identifier — a unique ID number used to track educational records. This extends a similar requirement that already applies to vocational training organisations.

Why it matters

Student identifiers help the government monitor educational outcomes, funding, and student progress across institutions. They also make it easier to verify qualifications and track things like student loan repayments. Without this requirement, universities could issue degrees without proper identification, creating gaps in official records.

Key details

• When it kicks in: The rule takes effect from 2023 (not immediately — universities get time to prepare)
• Who's affected: All higher education providers and their students applying for degrees or regulated qualifications
• Conditional parts: Some amendments only come into force if related bills also pass parliament, so not all changes are guaranteed to activate

Official Description

Amends the Student Identifiers Act 2014 to: enable the extension of the unique student identifier from vocational education and training (VET) to higher education students; expand the powers and functions of the Student Identifiers Registrar to include the operation of the student identifier in the higher education sector; and make minor amendments contingent on the commencement of the Education Legislation Amendment (Tuition Protection and Other Measures) Act 2019 and Student Identifiers Amendment (Enhanced Student Permissions) Act 2019 .

Committee Referrals

Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.