Higher Education Support Act 2003

Chapter 4 - Repayment of loans  

PART 4-1 - INDEBTEDNESS  

Division 144 - Special measures for location-preferred HELP debtors - health practitioners  

SECTION 144-1   Meaning of location-preferred HELP debtor (health practitioner)  

144-1(1)    
A person is a location-preferred HELP debtor (health practitioner) in relation to a *course of study if:

(a)    the person has completed the course of study; and

(b)    the course of study is covered by subsection (2) ; and

(c)    the person incurred a *HECS-HELP debt or a *FEE-HELP debt in relation to the course of study; and

(d)    the person holds the registration or accreditation as a kind of health practitioner for the course of study specified by the HELP Debtor Guidelines (Health Practitioners) (the Guidelines ) for the purposes of this paragraph; and

(e)    the person carries out work as that kind of health practitioner in the circumstances (if any) specified by the Guidelines for the purposes of this paragraph; and

(f)    the work is carried out in an area specified by the Guidelines, by reference to the *ABS Remoteness Structure, as a rural area, a remote area or a very remote area for the purposes of this paragraph; and

(g)    the number of hours during which the person carries out work is not less than the minimum number of hours (if any) specified for a health practitioner of that kind by the Guidelines for the purposes of this paragraph; and

(h)    the person satisfies any other applicable requirements specified by the Guidelines for the purposes of this paragraph.

Eligible courses of study

144-1(2)    
For the purposes of this Division, a *course of study is covered by this subsection if:

(a)    it is a *course of study in medicine specified by the Guidelines for the purposes of this paragraph; or

(b)    it is a course of study:

(i) the completion of which would allow a person to be registered as a nurse practitioner within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act 1973 ; and

(ii) that is specified by the Guidelines for the purposes of this subparagraph; or

(c)    it is a course of study otherwise specified by the Guidelines for the purposes of this paragraph.

HELP Debtor Guidelines (Health Practitioners)

144-1(3)    
Without limiting subsection 238-10(1) , the Guidelines may set out:

(a)    circumstances in which a person is taken, or is taken not, to carry out work as a *location-preferred HELP debtor (health practitioner) as a particular kind of health practitioner; or

(b)    circumstances in which a person is taken, or is taken not, to carry out such work in a rural area, a remote area or a very remote area; or

(c)    circumstances in which a person is taken, or is taken not, to be a location-preferred HELP debtor (health practitioner) in relation to a *course of study for particular periods.