Contributions Review Panel

The Contributions Review Panel (the Panel) is established under section 54 of the ESOS Act to determine the criteria for each provider’s annual contribution to the ESOS Assurance Fund (the Fund).

The ESOS Fund Manager (PricewaterhouseCoopers) calculates and collects each provider’s contribution based on the criteria.

The Panel also hears and determines providers’ appeals against determinations of their contributions.

Providers registered on CRICOS (who are not exempt) must pay an annual contribution to the ESOS Assurance Fund .  The Fund protects the interests of overseas students and intending overseas students by ensuring they are placed in a suitable alternative course(s), or have their course money refunded, if the provider cannot offer the courses the student(s) have paid for.

While contributors to the Fund cannot challenge the contributions criteria, they can seek a review of their contribution amount.  A provider seeking a review must first apply to the Fund Manager, and, if unhappy with the outcome, can seek a review by the Panel.  The fee for a review is $300. A provider must pay its annual Fund contribution on time even if it has applied for a review.

The review process is set by the ESOS legislation, and information is available from the Fund Manager. Further information on the Contributions Review Panel can be found in the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act)  and the Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2001 . 

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The Panel comprises 10 people appointed by the Minister for their qualifications and experience.  At least five of the members represent the interests of providers who must pay the annual Fund contribution, and at least four of these must represent the interests of providers who are members of tuition assurance schemes.

On 18 September 2008, Julia Gillard, Minister for Education, appointed 5 new members to the Panel.

The current Panel members are:

Mr Peter Grant, PSM	Panel Chair. Private Consultant
Mr Richard Arkell	General Manager ELICOS and TESOL Programs Navitas English, ACL Pty Ltd
Mr Andrew Crevald	College Director/Principal, Navitas Ltd, Perth Institute of Business & Technology
Ms Kay Ganley	CEO/Director, Charlton Brown (new Panel member)
Dr Tom Karmel	Managing Director, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) (new Panel member)
Ms Patricia Neden	CEO, Innovation and Business Skills Australia (new Panel member)
Ms Dianne Potter	Senior Executive Officer, Australian Council of Independent Vocational Colleges (ACIVC) (new Panel member)
Mr David Service	Senior Lecturer, Actuarial Studies, School of Finance and Applied Statistics, Australian National University
Mr Andrew Smith	National Executive Officer, Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) (new Panel member)
Mr Craig Storen	Group Manager (Chief Finance Officer), Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

The 2009 Contributions Criteria

Each year the ESOS Fund Manager proposes draft criteria for the Panel to consider.  The role of the Panel is to accept the criteria without change, or ask the ESOS Fund Manager to revise the criteria.

The Panel will meet shortly to determine the criteria for 2009. Details of the 2008 Contributions Criteria are available on:  Contributions Criteria.

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