Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) 2024

✦ Plain-English Summary

# Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) 2024

## What it does

This bill makes changes to how student loans and university fees work in Australia. The main focus is updating the way student loan debts are adjusted each year for inflation, plus introducing some new support measures like free university prep courses and payments for students doing practical work placements.

## Why it matters

If you're a student with a HECS debt or considering university, this affects how much you'll owe and when. The inflation adjustment changes could mean your debt grows differently than before—either faster or slower depending on how inflation is calculated. The new free courses and placement payments aim to make university more accessible and support students doing real-world training.

## Key details

- **HELP indexation change**: From 1 June 2025, student loan debts will be indexed using a different inflation measure (likely CPI instead of the current method), which will change how quickly debts grow
- **Free uni prep courses**: From 1 January 2025, students can access fee-free university readiness courses to improve their chances of getting into higher education
- **Placement payments**: Universities can now receive government funding to pay students doing compulsory practical work, removing a financial barrier for some degrees
- **Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) changes**: From 1 January 2025, adjustments to how this fee is charged

Official Description

Amends the: Higher Education Support Act 2003 and 4 other Acts providing students with income contingent loans to provide that the calculation of a person’s loan or debt will take into account changes in the consumer price index or the wage price index; and Higher Education Support Act 2003 to require higher education providers to allocate a minimum of 40 per cent of their student services and amenities fees revenue to student-led organisations; rename enabling courses ‘FEE-FREE Uni Ready Courses’ for students in Commonwealth supported places and establish a Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding cluster for these courses; facilitate the establishment of a grant for eligible domestic students undertaking mandatory placements in identified priority areas (the Commonwealth Prac Payment); add Adelaide University to the list of Table A providers to reflect the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia; and provide a power for the minister to make transitional rules.

Committee Referrals

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Full bill PDF →APH page →

Audit History

Introduced

15 Aug 2024

Last updated on APH

10 Apr 2026

Outcome date

5 Dec 2024

Last checked by Crossbench

today

Full text indexed

today

🗳️

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.

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