VET Student Loans (External Dispute Resolution Scheme) Specification 2017 I, Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, make the following legislative instrument. Dated 23 May 2017 Simon Birmingham Minister for Education and Training Contents 1 Name 2 Commencement 3 Authority 4 Definitions 5 Specification of external dispute resolution scheme 6 Specification of external dispute resolution scheme operator 1 Name This is the VET Student Loans (External Dispute Resolution Scheme) Specification 2017. 2 Commencement This instrument commences on 1 July 2017. 3 Authority This instrument is made under section 42A of the VET Student Loans Act 2016. 4 Definitions In this instrument: approved course provider has the same meaning as given in the VET Student Loans Act 2016 Commonwealth Ombudsman means the office established by the Ombudsman Act 1976 HESA means the Higher Education Support Act 2003 VET FEE-HELP Assistance has the same meaning as given in the HESA VET provider has the same meaning as given in the HESA VET student loan has the same meaning as given in the VET Student Loans Act 2016 VSL Act means the VET Student Loans Act 2016 VET Student Loans Ombudsman means the office established by the amendments to the Ombudsman Act 1976 as set out in Schedule 1 of the Education and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2017 5 Specification of external dispute resolution scheme (1) For subsection 42A(1) of the VSL Act, I specify the VET Student Loans Ombudsman as the scheme that provides for investigation and resolution of disputes relating to: 1. VET student loans 2. compliance by approved course providers with the VSL Act 3. VET FEE-HELP assistance 4. compliance by VET providers with the HESA. 6 Specification of external dispute resolution scheme operator (1) For subsection 42A(2) of the VSL Act, I specify that the person who holds the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman is the operator of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman scheme.