F2008L04659
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Commonwealth of Australia
Higher Education Support Act 2003
HECS-HELP BENEFIT GUIDELINES
Guidelines made under section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act
2003
I, Julia Gillard,
Minister for Education pursuant to section 238-10 of the Higher Education
Support Act 2003 (‘the Act’), make the attached HECS-HELP Benefit Guidelines,
which provide for matters under Part 4-2 of the Act.
Dated this 21st day
of November 2008.
───────────────────────
JULIA GILLARD
Minister for
Education
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Higher Education Support Act 2003
HECS-HELP BENEFIT GUIDELINES
(i) CITATION
These guidelines may be cited
as the ‘HECS-HELP Benefit Guidelines’.
(ii) AUTHORITY
These guidelines are made
under section 238-10 of the Higher
Education Support Act 2003, for
the purposes of Part 4-2 of the Act.
(iii) DATE OF EFFECT
These guidelines shall come
into effect on the day after the day on which they are registered on the
Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Higher Education Support Act 2003
HECS-HELP BENEFIT GUIDELINES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 PURPOSE 3
1.5 INTERPRETATION 3
CHAPTER 2 ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS 6
2.1 PURPOSE 6
2.5 ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR MATHEMATICS OR SCIENCE GRADUATES 6
2.10 ELIGIBLE
OCCUPATIONS FOR A MATHEMATICS OR SCIENCE GRADUATE 6
2.15 ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TEACHERS 10
CHAPTER 3 WORKING
OUT AN ELIGIBLE PERSON’S HECS-HELP BENEFIT FOR AN INCOME YEAR 12
3.1 PURPOSE 12
3.5 MAXIMUM
HECS-HELP BENEFIT AMOUNT FOR AN INCOME YEAR 12
3.10 WORKING
OUT A PERSON’S HECS-HELP BENEFIT FOR AN INCOME YEAR 12
3.15 EXAMPLES
OF CALCULATING THE HECS-HELP BENEFIT 14
CHAPTER 4 APPLYING
FOR THE HECS-HELP BENEFIT 19
4.1 PURPOSE 19
4.5 MANNER
OF APPLICATION 19
4.10 INFORMATION
THAT THE FORM MUST CONTAIN 19
4.15 TIME
WITHIN WHICH AN APPLICATION MUST BE MADE 19
CHAPTER 5 NOTIFICATION
OF DETERMINATIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER 20
5.1 PURPOSE 20
5.5 TIME
WITHIN WHICH NOTIFICATION OF A DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE 20
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE
1.1.1 The purpose of these guidelines is to
specify:
(a)
the eligibility requirements for
the HECS-HELP benefit;
(b)
how the amount of an eligible
person’s HECS-HELP benefit for an income year is worked out;
(c)
the form, manner and time within
which an eligible person must apply for the HECS‑HELP benefit;
(d)
the time within which the
Commissioner must notify an applicant of a determination of the person’s
HECS-HELP benefit.
1.5 INTERPRETATION
1.5.1
In these guidelines, unless the
contrary intention appears, terms used have the same meaning as in the Higher
Education Support Act 2003.
1.5.5
In these guidelines, unless the
contrary intention appears:
Act means the Higher Education Support Act 2003;
Completion, in relation to a course of study, means successful completion of the academic requirements of the higher education
provider at which that course of study was undertaken, and completed
has an equivalent meaning;
Debt incurred at
course completion means a
person’s relevant debt multiplied by the HELP debt indexation factor as
at 1 June each year after completion
of the course of study;
In
this definition, the term HELP debt
indexation factor includes reference to the factor specified in section 106N of
the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 where the person completed the
course of study prior to 1 January 2005.
Early childhood education teacher means a person who:
(a) completed
an early childhood education teaching course in whole or in part as a
Commonwealth supported or HECS liable student; and
(b) has
a debt incurred at course completion in respect of that course; and
(c) spends the majority of the time during an employed
week in which they are employed in an early childhood setting
teaching children aged 0-5 years but does not include a person who is employed
as a primary education teacher; non-teaching child care director, coordinator,
manager, preschool aide or other non‑teaching assistant and who does not
meet this requirement.
Early childhood education teaching course means a course that leads to the award of a qualification
that is recognised by a State or
Territory Government as meeting the requirements to teach early childhood
education;
Early childhood
setting means a facility
providing education and / or childcare services to children aged 0-5 years
(that is, prior to the first year of compulsory schooling) including child care
centres, preschools and kindergartens and excludes primary school settings.
Eligible Occupation means, for a person who is:
(a) a
mathematics or science graduate: an occupation specified in subsection 2.10.1 of these
guidelines;
(b) an
early childhood education teacher: an occupation in which the person
meets the requirements of paragraph (c) of the definition of early childhood
education teacher that is undertaken in a location specified in paragraph
2.15.1.20;
Employed means having earned income in relation to an eligible
occupation for an income year where the person is a resident of Australia for
taxation purposes;
Employed Week, in relation to an income year, means a
week in the year, which does not include a day that is before 1 July
2008, during which a person is employed in an eligible occupation
for at least 15 hours, including any period of paid or unpaid leave, or, if the
week includes only some days in the income year, at least 15 hours
divided by 7 and multiplied by the number of such days, rounded down to the
nearest hour;
Entitlement weeks means for a
person who is:
(a) a
mathematics or science graduate, 260 weeks minus the number of weeks in respect of which the Commissioner has determined a
HECS-HELP benefit for all income years for the person as a mathematics
or science graduate;
(b) an
early childhood education teacher, 260 weeks minus the number of weeks
in respect of which the Commissioner has determined a HECS-HELP benefit for all
income years for the person as an early childhood education teacher;
Form means the
form referred to in section 4.5;
HECS liable student means a contributing student as defined in section 34 of the Higher
Education Funding Act 1988;
Majority means more than fifty per cent;
Mathematics or science
graduate means a person who:
(a) completed
an undergraduate natural and physical science course of study in or
later than second semester 2008; and
(b) was a Commonwealth
supported student for some or all of that course; and
(c) has a debt
incurred at course completion in respect of that course;
Natural and physical
science course of study means
a course of study in the field of
natural and physical sciences, as defined in subitem 13(4) of Schedule 2 of the
Higher Education Support Amendment (2008 Budget Measures) Act 2008;
Relevant debt means:
(a) for
a person who is a mathematics or science graduate:
the
sum of:
(i) the person’s accumulated HELP debt plus any HECS-HELP
debts that have been incurred but which have not yet become part of the
person’s accumulated HELP debt, at the time of completion of the person’s natural and physical science
course of study (‘relevant course of study’); and
(ii) any amounts on account of the HELP debt
indexation factor applied to those debts (in accordance with the Act) on
or before completion of the relevant course of study;
minus the sum of:
(iii) any voluntary discharge of the amounts
referred to in paragraphs (a)(i) or (a)(ii), in accordance with Division 151 of
the Act, on or before completion of the relevant course of study;
and
(iv) any compulsory discharge of the amounts
referred to in paragraphs (a)(i) or (a)(ii), in accordance with Division 154 of
the Act, on or before completion of the relevant course of study;
and
(v) any other discharge of the amounts referred to
in paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) other than as a HECS-HELP benefit on or before
completion of the relevant course of study; and
(b) for a person who is an early childhood education teacher:
the sum of:
(i) the person’s accumulated HELP debt plus any HECS-HELP
debts that have been incurred but which have not yet become part of the
person’s accumulated HELP debt, at the time of completion of the person’s early childhood education teacher
course of study (‘relevant course of study’); and
(ii) any amounts on account of the HELP debt
indexation factor applied to those debts (in accordance with the Act) on
or before completion of the relevant course of study;
minus the sum of:
(iii) any voluntary discharge of the amounts
referred to in paragraphs (b)(i) or (b)(ii), in accordance with Division 151 of
the Act, on or before completion of the relevant course of study;
and
(iv) any compulsory discharge of the amounts
referred to in paragraphs (b)(i) or (b)(ii), in accordance with Division 154 of
the Act, on or before completion of the relevant course of study;
and
(v) any other discharge of the amounts referred to
in paragraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii) other than as a HECS-HELP benefit on or before
completion of the relevant course of study.
Where
some or all of the early childhood
education teacher course of study was
undertaken prior to 1 January 2005, the terms accumulated HELP debt, HECS‑HELP
debts and HELP debt indexation factor in this definition respectively include
any accumulated HEC debt, semester debt as defined in the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 (HEFA) and any amount on account of indexation factor applied
to those debts under HEFA.
Second semester 2008 means a teaching period whether described by a higher
education provider as a semester or by any other name that commences after 30 June 2008
and on or before 31 December 2008.
Week, in relation to an income year, means a calendar week
in that year, or where a calendar week includes only some days that are in the income
year, the days in that calendar week that are in the income year.
1.5.10 Terms in these guidelines that are in italics have
the meaning stated in subsection 1.5.5 of these guidelines.
CHAPTER 2 ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS
2.1 PURPOSE
2.1.1 The purpose of this chapter is to specify
the eligibility requirements for the HECS-HELP benefit for a person in respect
of an income year for the purposes of section 157-1 of the Act.
2.5 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MATHEMATICS
OR SCIENCE GRADUATES
2.5.1 A person is eligible
for the HECS-HELP benefit for an income year if the person is a mathematics
or science graduate and the person satisfies all of the following
requirements:
2.5.1.1 The person has not at any time between completion of the person’s natural and physical science course
of study and the end of the income
year discharged in full their accumulated HELP debt;
2.5.1.5 The person has a compulsory repayment
amount for the income year;
2.5.1.10 The person has one or more entitlement
weeks as a mathematics or science graduate at the commencement of
the income year;
2.5.1.15 The
person has at least one employed week in the income year in an eligible
occupation as a mathematics or science graduate;
2.5.1.20 The HECS-HELP benefit determined by
the Commissioner for the person as a mathematics
or science graduate for all previous income years is less than the person’s
debt incurred at course completion as a mathematics or science
graduate.
2.10 ELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS FOR A
MATHEMATICS OR SCIENCE GRADUATE
2.10.1
An eligible occupation for
a mathematics or science graduate is an occupation that is specified in
the table below or is determined in writing by the Minister for the purposes of
this subsection:
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OCCUPATION
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DESCRIPTION
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Actuary
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Analyses mathematical,
statistical, demographic, financial or economic data to predict and assess
the long-term risk involved in financial decisions and planning.
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Agricultural scientist
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Studies commercial
plants, animals and cultivation techniques to enhance the productivity of
farms and agricultural industries.
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Agronomist
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Studies commercial
plants, animals and cultivation techniques to enhance the productivity of
farms and agricultural industries.
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Biochemist
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Studies the
biochemistry of living organisms and the molecular structure and function of
related components.
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Biologist
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Studies the origin,
anatomy, physiology, reproduction and behaviour of living organisms and the
ways in which they interact with the environment in which they live.
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Biophysicist
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Studies the structure
and function of biological molecules, cells and organisms using the
principles and methods of physics.
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Botanist
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Studies the anatomy,
physiology, biochemistry and ecology of plants.
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Chemist (not dispensing
pharmacist)
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Studies the chemical
and physical properties of substances and develops and monitors chemical
processes and production.
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Chemistry technician
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Performs laboratory
tests on organic and inorganic chemicals, analyses test data and carries out
technical functions in support of Chemists or Chemical Engineers in a wide
variety of areas such as fuels, agricultural products, food, pharmaceuticals,
paints, metals, plastics, textiles, detergents, paper, fertilisers and
cosmetics.
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Ecologist
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Studies and develops
policies and plans for the control of factors which may produce pollution,
imbalance or degradation of the environment.
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Environmental scientist
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Studies, develops,
implements and advises on policies and plans for managing and protecting the
environment, flora, fauna and other natural resources.
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Forester
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Studies, develops and
manages forest areas to maintain commercial and recreational uses, conserve
flora and fauna, and protect against fire, pests and diseases.
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Geologist
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Studies the
composition, structure and other physical attributes of the earth to increase
scientific knowledge and to develop practical applications in fields such as
mineral exploitation, civil engineering, environmental protection and
rehabilitation of land after mining.
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Geophysicist
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Studies the composition,
structure and other physical attributes of the earth, locates minerals,
petroleum or ground water, and detects, monitors and forecasts seismic,
magnetic, electrical, geothermal and oceanographic activity.
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Laboratory assistant
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Assists scientists in
the physical, chemical, biological or life sciences by collecting and
preparing samples, carrying out experiments, making measurements with
scientific equipment, recording results and presenting results for critical
analysis.
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Laboratory technician
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Performs tests and
experiments, and provide technical support functions to assist with research,
design, production and teaching in chemistry, earth sciences, life sciences,
and physical sciences.
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Life scientist
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Examines the anatomy,
physiology and biochemistry of humans, animals, plants and other living
organisms to better understand how living organisms function and interact
with each other and the environment in which they live.
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Mathematician
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Develops and applies
mathematical principles and techniques to solve problems in all areas of the
sciences, engineering, technology, social sciences, business, industry and
commerce.
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Medical laboratory
scientist
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Conducts medical
laboratory tests to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
disease.
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Medical laboratory
technician
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Performs routine
medical laboratory tests and operates diagnostic laboratory equipment under
the supervision of Medical Laboratory Scientists and Pathologists.
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Medical physicist
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Applies scientific knowledge and engineering and technological
skills to help prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and health conditions,
and develops, tests and evaluates specialist equipment.
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Medical technician
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Operates anaesthetic,
cardiac, operating theatre and medical testing equipment, performs and assists
with laboratory tests, and fills prescriptions in support of Health
Professionals.
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Metallurgist
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Researches, develops,
controls and provides advice on processes used in extracting metals from
their ores, and processes used for casting, alloying, heat treating or
welding refined metals, alloys and other materials to produce commercial
metal products or develop new alloys and processes.
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Meteorologist
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Studies the physics and
dynamics of the atmosphere to increase understanding of weather and climate,
and to forecast changes in the weather and long-term climatic trends.
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Microbiologist
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Studies microscopic
forms of life such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
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Park ranger or ranger –environmental/cultural/guide
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Assists in controlling
a State or national park, scenic area, historic site, nature reserve,
recreation area or conservation reserve in accordance with authorised
policies and priorities.
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Physicist
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Studies matter, space,
time, energy, forces and fields, and the interrelationship between these physical
phenomena, to further understanding of the laws governing the behaviour of
the universe; and seeks to apply these laws to solve practical problems and
discover new information about the earth and the universe.
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Physiologist
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Studies the anatomy and
physiology of humans.
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Primary school teacher
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Teachers a range of
subjects within a prescribed curriculum to primary school students.
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Secondary school
teacher of mathematics or science
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Teaches mathematics or science subjects within a prescribed
curriculum to secondary school students, as the majority of the
teacher’s teaching activity in relation to each employed week.
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Soil scientist
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Studies the location,
composition and characteristics of soils to improve soil management, ensure
soil conservation, classify soil types and increase soil productivity.
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Soil technician
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Collects and tests
earth and water samples, records observations and analyses data in support of
Geologists or Geophysicists.
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Statistician
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Designs and applies
statistical principles and techniques for collecting, organising and
interpreting quantifiable data, and uses statistical methodologies to produce
statistical reports and analyses for government, commercial and other
purposes.
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Technical officer
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Performs tests and
experiments, and provide technical support functions to assist with research,
design, production and teaching in chemistry, earth sciences, life sciences,
and physical sciences.
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Zoologist
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Studies the anatomy,
physiology, characteristics, ecology, behaviour and environments of animals.
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2.15 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION TEACHERS
2.15.1 A person is eligible for the HECS-HELP
benefit for an income year if the person is an early childhood education
teacher and the person satisfies all
of the following requirements:
2.15.1.5 The person has not at any time between
completion of the person’s early childhood education teaching course
and the end of the income year discharged in full their accumulated HELP debt;
2.15.1.10 The person has one or more entitlement
weeks as an early childhood education teacher at the commencement of
the income year;
2.15.1.15 The HECS-HELP benefit determined by the
Commissioner for the person as an early
childhood education teacher for all previous income years is less than the
person’s debt incurred at course completion as an early childhood
education teacher;
2.15.1.20 The
person has at least one employed week in the income year in an eligible
occupation as an early childhood education teacher in a postcode
location specified in the following table, which lists postcodes for regional
or remote areas, Indigenous Australian communities or areas of high socio‑economic
disadvantage, or a postcode determined in writing by the Minister for the
purposes of this paragraph.
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State
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Postcode
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ACT/NSW
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2017-2018, 2094, 2128,
2141-2144, 2160-2166, 2168, 2170, 2174, 2177, 2190-2192, 2194-2200, 2204,
2256, 2262-2263, 2281, 2284, 2294-2298, 2303-2304, 2306-2308, 2312, 2319,
2324-2327, 2329, 2338, 2341, 2343, 2346-2347, 2355-2357, 2359-2361, 2365,
2369, 2370-2372, 2379-2382, 2386-2388, 2390, 2395-2406, 2408-2411, 2415,
2422-2431,2440-2441, 2243, 2447-2449, 2452-2553, 2455-2456, 2460, 2462-2463,
2465-2466, 2469-2477, 2485, 2502, 2505-2506, 2518, 2528, 2536, 2540-2541,
2545-2546, 2551, 2555, 2559, 2564, 2566, 2581, 2584-2585, 2587-2588, 2590,
2609, 2623, 2633, 2645, 2648-2650, 2653, 2660-2661, 2663, 2668, 2672, 2675,
2700, 2702, 2706, 2711-2712, 2715, 2717, 2720, 2722, 2725-2726, 2730-2731,
2739, 2760, 2767, 2770, 2790-2795, 2797, 2805-2810, 2820-2821, 2823-2825,
2827-2836, 2839-2840, 2842-2849, 2852, 2864, 2868-2871, 2873-2880, 2898-2899
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VIC
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3011-3012, 3019-3022,
3025, 3031, 3046-3048, 3051, 3053, 3060-3061, 3065-3066, 3072-3075, 3081,
3086, 3169, 3171, 3173-3175, 3177, 3200, 3214, 3219, 3236, 3250-3251, 3264,
3304, 3310-3311, 3317, 3319, 3322, 3324, 3335, 3338, 3355-3356, 3360,
3370-3371, 3373, 3377, 3380, 3390, 3392-3393, 3412, 3414, 3423, 3450, 3460,
3464-3465, 3467, 3469, 3472, 3475, 3478, 3480, 3485, 3496, 3500, 3505,
3516-3518, 3520, 3523, 3527, 3533, 3540, 3546, 3549, 3555-3556, 3558, 3566,
3575, 3580, 3588, 3591, 3594-3595, 3612, 3618, 3621, 3629-3630, 3638-3639,
3641, 3644, 3660, 3666, 3672, 3677, 3699, 3713, 3732-3733, 3737, 3799, 3825,
3833, 3835, 3840, 3842, 3858, 3865, 3885-3888, 3872-3888, 3890, 3892-3893,
3895-3896, 3909, 3915, 3939-3940, 3950, 3962, 3965-3967, 3971, 3976, 3984,
3989, 3995
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State
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Postcode
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QLD
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4008, 4019, 4021, 4074,
4076-4077, 4110, 4114, 4117, 4131-4132, 4153, 4183-4184, 4205, 4207, 4215,
4225, 4287, 4303-4306, 4310-4313, 4341-4343, 4345-4347, 4352-4353, 4355,
4357, 4362, 4365, 4370-4373, 4377-4378, 4380, 4383-4385, 4387-4388, 4390,
4401-4402, 4405-4408, 4410-4413, 4415-4428, 4454-4455, 4461-4462, 4465-4468,
4470-4472, 4474-4475,4477-4482, 4486-4494, 4496-4498, 4501, 4507-4508, 4510,
4515, 4570-4571, 4574, 4580, 4600-4601, 4605-4606, 4608, 4610-4615,
4620-4621, 4625-4627, 4630, 4650, 4655, 4659-4660, 4662, 4670-4671,
4673-4674, 4676-4678, 4680, 4694-4695, 4697, 4699, 4700-4707, 4709,
4711-4728, 4730-4733, 4735-4746, 4750-4751, 4753-4754, 4756-4757, 4798-4800,
4802-4812, 4814-4825, 4828-4830, 4849-4850, 4852, 4854-4861, 4865, 4868-4888,
4891, 4895
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SA
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5007-5008, 5010-5015,
5017, 5019, 5023, 5031, 5033, 5035, 5043, 5047, 5074-5075, 5084-5086, 5088,
5094, 5107-5108, 5110, 5112-5113, 5115-5116, 5120, 5163-5166, 5168, 5173,
5203, 5214, 5221, 5238, 5253, 5256, 5259-5260, 5263-5265, 5277-5280, 5090,
5301, 5304, 5309, 5311, 5320-5322, 5330-5331, 5340-5346, 5354, 5357, 5374,
5381, 5401, 5411-5414, 5421-5422, 5431, 5433-5434, 5440, 5470, 5472-5473,
5495, 5520-5522, 5540, 5550, 5554, 5556, 5558, 5570-5571, 5573, 5575-5577,
5580-5583, 5601, 5603, 5605-5606, 5608, 5670, 5690, 5700, 5710, 5720,
5722-5725, 5730-5734
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WA
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6017-6018, 6022, 6037,
6043-6044, 6061, 6064, 6102-6103, 6109, 6167-6168, 6213, 6218, 6220-6221,
6224-6225, 6229, 6239, 6254, 6258, 6262, 6304, 6306, 6308-6309, 6317, 6330,
6335, 6346, 6348, 6355-6356, 6359, 6370, 6372, 6383-6384, 6398, 6401, 6403,
6405, 6409-6410, 6418-6419, 6421-6432, 6434-6438, 6440, 6442-6443, 6445-6448,
6450, 6452, 6460-6461, 6463, 6467-6468, 6470, 6472-6473, 6475-6477, 6479,
6484-6485, 6487-6488, 6490, 6511, 6514, 6530, 6532, 6535-6537, 6560, 6564,
6569, 6612, 6620, 6623, 6625, 6627-6628, 6630-6632, 6635, 6638-6640, 6642,
6646, 6701, 6705, 6707, 6710-6714, 6716, 6718, 6720-6723, 6725-6726, 6728,
6731, 6733, 6740, 6743, 6751, 6753-6754, 6758, 6760-6762, 6765, 6770,
6798-6799
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TAS
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7009-7011, 7016, 7019,
7027, 7030, 7112-7113, 7116-7117, 7119-7120, 7139-7140, 7150, 7163,
7172-7180, 7182-7187, 7190, 7209-7211, 7213-7216, 7248, 7253, 7255-7257,
7259-7261, 7263-7265, 7270, 7301-7302, 7304-7306, 7310, 7315, 7320-7322,
7325, 7330-7331, 7466-7470
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NT
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0800, 0810, 0812, 0820,
0822, 0828, 0830, 0832, 0835-0838, 0840-0841, 0845-0847, 0850, 0852-0854,
0860, 0862, 0870, 0872, 0880, 0885-0886
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CHAPTER 3 WORKING
OUT AN ELIGIBLE PERSON’S HECS-HELP BENEFIT FOR AN INCOME YEAR
3.1 PURPOSE
3.1.1 The purpose of this chapter is to specify how an eligible person’s
HECS-HELP benefit amount for an income year is worked out for the purpose of subsection
157-15(1) of the Act.
3.5 MAXIMUM HECS-HELP BENEFIT
AMOUNT FOR AN INCOME YEAR
3.5.1 The maximum HECS-HELP benefit for a mathematics
or science graduate is $1,500 for the 2008-09 income year. For each
subsequent income year it is the amount specified in subsection 3.5.10.
3.5.5 The maximum HECS-HELP benefit for an early
childhood education teacher is $1,600 for the 2008-09 income year. For each
subsequent income year it is the amount specified in subsection 3.5.10.
3.5.10 The maximum HECS-HELP benefit for an income
year that is later than the 2008-09 income year is worked out by multiplying
the maximum HECS-HELP benefit for the previous income year by the HELP debt
indexation factor (as calculated in accordance with section 140‑10 of the
Act) for 1 June in the financial year that coincides with that
previous income year.
3.10 WORKING OUT A PERSON’S HECS-HELP BENEFIT FOR AN
INCOME YEAR
Mathematics or science graduate
3.10.1 The HECS-HELP benefit amount for an income year
that must be determined by the Commissioner for a person who is to receive the benefit as a mathematics or science
graduate is the smallest of the three
amounts worked out in paragraphs 3.10.1.1, 3.10.1.5 and 3.10.1.10 (“Benefit 3.10.1”), unless subsection
3.10.10 applies, in which case the HECS-HELP benefit amount is Benefit 3.10.1
multiplied by the Reduction Factor specified in subsection 3.10.10.
3.10.1.1 The amount worked out using the
following formula:
Where:
A = the maximum HECS‑HELP benefit amount for
a mathematics or science graduate for the income year, calculated in
accordance with subsections 3.5.1 and 3.5.10; and
B = the number of employed weeks for
the person in the income year that does not exceed the lesser of 52 weeks and
the person’s entitlement weeks;
3.10.1.5 The
compulsory repayment amount for the person for that income year; or
3.10.1.10 The person’s debt incurred at course
completion as at the time of
the determination in respect of the course that qualifies the person to be
a mathematics or science graduate minus the sum of the HECS‑HELP
benefit amounts that the Commissioner has determined for all income years for the person as a mathematics or science graduate.
Early childhood education teacher
3.10.5 The HECS-HELP benefit amount for an income
year that must be determined by the Commissioner for a person who is to receive
the benefit as an early childhood
education teacher is the smallest of
the four amounts worked out in paragraphs 3.10.5.1, 3.10.5.5, 3.10.5.10 and
3.10.5.15 (“Benefit 3.10.5”), unless subsection 3.10.10 applies, in
which case the HECS-HELP benefit amount is Benefit 3.10.5 multiplied by the
Reduction Factor specified in subsection 3.10.10.
3.10.5.1 The amount worked out using the
following formula:
Where:
A = the maximum HECS‑HELP benefit amount for
an early childhood education teacher for the income year, calculated in
accordance with subsections 3.5.5 and 3.5.10; and
B = the number of employed weeks for the
person in the income year that does not exceed the lesser of 52 weeks and the
person’s entitlement weeks;
3.10.5.5 if the person has a compulsory
repayment amount, the compulsory repayment amount for the person for that
income year;
3.10.5.10 if no compulsory repayment amount is
required for that income year, the amount of the person’s accumulated HELP debt
for that income year; or
3.10.5.15 the person’s debt incurred at course
completion as at the time of the determination in respect of the course
that qualifies the person to be an early
childhood education teacher minus the sum of the HECS‑HELP
benefit amounts that the Commissioner has determined for all income years for the person as an early childhood education teacher.
Both a mathematics or
science graduate and an early childhood education teacher
3.10.10 This section applies if a person is
eligible for a HECS-HELP benefit in an income year:
(a) as both a mathematics or science graduate
and an early childhood education teacher; and
(b) the person has a compulsory repayment amount for
that income year (CR); and
(c) the sum of Benefit 3.10.1 and Benefit 3.10.5 exceeds
the person’s compulsory repayment amount for that income year.
The
Reduction Factor is:
with
the result rounded to six decimal places with 0.0000005 to be rounded down
where
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“Combined Benefits”
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=
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Benefit 3.10.1
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+
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Benefit 3.10.5
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3.10.10.1 If 3.10.10 applies, then, with
reference to paragraphs (a) and (b) of the definition of the term "entitlement
weeks" in subsection 1.5.5 above, the ‘number
of weeks in respect of which the Commissioner has determined a HECS-HELP
benefit’ under subsections 3.10.1 and
3.10.5, respectively for the income year is taken to be the result of the following calculation
rounded to the nearest whole number of weeks with 0.5 to be rounded down:
For
paragraph (a):
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Value of B in 3.10.1.1
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x
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Reduction Factor
(as calculated in subsection 3.10.10)
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For
paragraph (b):
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Value of B in 3.10.5.1
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x
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Reduction Factor
(as calculated in subsection 3.10.10)
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3.15 EXAMPLES OF CALCULATING THE HECS-HELP BENEFIT
3.15.1 The
following examples are provided to illustrate the calculation of the HECS-HELP
benefit.
Example 1
Anna
completed an eligible undergraduate science degree in November 2008 and worked
as a chemistry technician from January 2009 to June 2009 for a period of 26 employed
weeks in the 2008-09 income year.
Anna had incurred a HELP
debt of $12,000 upon completion of her science degree.
Anna lodges her 2008-09
income tax return in August 2009 and applies for the HECS‑HELP benefit at
the same time.
Her repayment income is
$60,000 and her compulsory repayment amount is $3,600.
Anna’s HECS-HELP benefit
amount is calculated as follows:
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Maximum HECS‑HELP benefit
amount for the income year for a mathematics or science graduate
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÷
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52
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x
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Number of employed weeks for the person in
the income year
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=
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HECS‑HELP benefit for income
year
|
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$1,500
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÷
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52
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x
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26
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=
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$750
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The Commissioner determines that Anna’s
HECS-HELP benefit is $750. Anna is
required to make a HELP repayment of $2,850 ($3,600 - $750) (section 154-3 of
the Act).
Anna’s accumulated HELP debt is reduced by her
compulsory repayment amount (ie $3,600) (Step 4 of the Method Statement under subsection
140-5(1) of the Act).
Example 2
Max completed an early childhood education
teaching course of study in 2007.
He was employed as a preschool teacher in an eligible
remote area for the entire 2008‑09 income year.
Max lodges his 2008-09 income tax return in July 2009 and applies for the
HECS-HELP benefit at the same time.
His repayment income is $28,000 and
his accumulated HELP debt is $10,000.
Max’s repayment income is below the minimum repayment
threshold and no compulsory HELP repayment is required.
Max is eligible for the maximum HECS-HELP benefit as
an early childhood education teacher, which is $1,600.
The Commissioner determines that Max’s HECS-HELP
benefit is $1,600. Max’s accumulated HELP debt is reduced by $1,600 to $8,400
(Step 4A of the Method Statement under subsection 140-5(1) of the Act).
Example 3
Sharon completed an undergraduate
science degree course of study at the end of 2008.
She has worked as a laboratory assistant since
January 2009 and received a HECS‑HELP benefit in each income year prior
to 2015-16. The Commissioner
had determined a HECS‑HELP benefit as a mathematics or science graduate for all income
years for a total of 228 employed weeks.
Sharon lodges her 2015-16 income tax return and applies for the
HECS-HELP benefit at the same time. Sharon was employed for 40 employed weeks in 2015-16.
Her accumulated HELP debt is $2,000 and her repayment
income in 2015-16 is $70,000
The number of entitlement weeks for Sharon as a mathematics or science graduate is:
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260 weeks
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–
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The number of weeks in respect of
which the Commissioner has determined a HECS-HELP benefit for all previous
income years as a mathematics or science graduate.
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That is: 260 – 228 = 32
weeks
Although Sharon was employed for 40 employed weeks she will only be entitled to
receive the HECS-HELP benefit for 32 weeks as this is all that remains in
relation to her entitlement weeks.
Sharon will then have received her full entitlement to a HECS-HELP
benefit in respect to her eligible undergraduate science degree.
Example 4
Ben completed an undergraduate science degree at the
end of 2008. He had also previously completed an early childhood education
teaching course in 2001.
Ben was employed for 15 hours per week as a preschool
teacher in an eligible remote area for the 50 weeks in the 2008‑09 income
year. He also worked for 15 hours per week for 40 weeks as a teacher in a
primary school over the same period.
Ben is eligible for the HECS-HELP benefit as both a mathematics or
science graduate and an early childhood education teacher.
Ben’s repayment income is $50,000 and his compulsory
repayment amount is $2,250.
Ben’s HECS-HELP benefit that would have been worked
out under each of those subsections
("Benefit
3.10.1" and "Benefit 3.10.5", respectively) is:
For
subsection 3.10.1 (Mathematics
and science graduate):
= $1153.85
For
subsection 3.10.5 (Early childhood
education teacher):
= $1538.46
As the sum of these amounts ($2692.31) is greater
than Ben’s compulsory repayment amount ($2250), for the purposes of their
respective subsections, each of the two benefit amounts is reduced by the “Reduction
Factor”.
The
Reduction Factor is:
where
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“Combined Benefits”
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=
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Benefit 3.10.1
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+
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Benefit 3.10.5
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=
0.835713
For
the purposes of subsection 3.10.1, the amount of Benefit (3.10.1) is reduced
to:
|
Reduction Factor
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x
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Preliminary Benefit
(3.10.1)
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= $964.29
For
the purposes of subsection 3.10.5, the amount of Benefit (3.10.5) is reduced
to:
|
Reduction Factor
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x
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Benefit (3.10.5)
|
= $1285.71
Entitlement weeks
In addition, with reference to paragraphs (a) and (b)
of the definition of the term "entitlement weeks" in subsection
1.5.2, the ‘number of weeks in respect of which the Commissioner has determined
a HECS-HELP benefit’ for Ben under subsections 3.10.1 and 3.10.5, respectively for the 2008-09 income year is taken to
be the result of the following calculation rounded to the nearest whole number
of weeks with 0.5 to be rounded down:
For
paragraph (a) of the definition of “entitlement weeks”, the number of weeks is:
|
Value of B
in 3.10.1.1
|
x
|
Reduction Factor
(as calculated in subsection 3.10.10)
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= 33.43 weeks rounded to 33 weeks.
For
paragraph (b) of the definition of “entitlement weeks”, the number of weeks is:
|
Value of B
in 3.10.5.1
|
x
|
Reduction Factor
(as calculated in subsection 3.10.10)
|
= 41.79 weeks rounded to 42 weeks
Ben will have 33 weeks deducted from his entitlement weeks as a mathematics
or science graduate and 42 weeks deducted from his entitlement weeks
an early childhood education teacher.
CHAPTER 4 APPLYING FOR THE
HECS-HELP BENEFIT
4.1 PURPOSE
4.1.1 The purpose of this chapter is to specify for
the purposes of subsection 157-5 of the Act the:
(a) manner in which a person must apply to the
Commissioner for the HECS-HELP benefit;
(b) information that must be included in the form;
and
(c) time within which the application must be made to the
Commissioner.
4.5 MANNER OF APPLICATION
4.5.1 An application must be made in the form
approved in writing by the Commissioner.
4.5.5 A person must complete, sign and submit
the form to the Commissioner in respect of the income year for which
they are applying. It must contain the information that the form
requires.
4.5.10 A person must submit the form in
accordance with the instructions determined in writing by the Commissioner.
4.5.15 An application is not valid unless the
person lodges an income tax return for the income year or advises the
Commissioner that they are not required to lodge a return for the income year.
4.10 INFORMATION THAT THE FORM MUST
CONTAIN
4.10.1 The form must contain the
information required to identify the person and enable their eligibility for
the HECS-HELP benefit to be determined. The form may require documents
or other information to be attached to the form.
4.15 TIME WITHIN WHICH AN APPLICATION MUST BE MADE
4.15.1 An application must be submitted no later than two years after the end of the
income year for which a person is applying for the HECS-HELP benefit.
CHAPTER 5 NOTIFICATION OF DETERMINATIONS MADE
BY THE COMMISSIONER
5.1 PURPOSE
5.1.1 The purpose of this chapter is to specify
for the purposes of subsection 157-25 of the Act the time within which
the Commissioner must notify an applicant in writing of his or her
determination of the person’s HECS-HELP benefit.
5.5 TIME WITHIN WHICH NOTIFICATION
OF A DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE
5.5.1 The Commissioner must notify a person in
writing of the Commissioner’s determination of the person’s HECS-HELP benefit
on or before 60 days after the day on which the Commissioner has made the
determination.
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