Since 1st January 2015, if you studying nationally-recognised training at a Registered Training Organisation such as  the Australian College of Professionals, (ACOP), you are required to have a Unique Student Identifier. This USI will give you ongoing access to your records and results, so they are always available if you choose to enrol in further training or need to show a future employer.

Obtaining a USI is an easy process. You simply click on the link, make sure you have a form of ID with you and enter the required details. It takes less than 5 minutes to enter and obtain your USI.

A USI:

• is made up of 10 numbers and letters, and
• gives you access to an account that contains your training records and results from 1^st January 2015 onwards, and
• will help you provide evidence of your studies when you apply for a job or further study.

For further information please go to https://www.usi.gov.au/students

Your USI will help keep your training records and results together in an online account controlled by you.

Each time you enrol to study with a new training organisation, your USI will be used to store your training records and results.

By having a USI you will be able to access your training records and results (or transcript) whenever you need them.  For example, for a new employer or when you enrol to study at a new training organisation.

Your USI can be accessed online from your computer, tablet or smart phone and gives you access to your training records and results at your fingertips.

Protection of Privacy for Students

Your Unique Student Identifier (USI) account contains personal information, contact details and access to your training records and results (transcript). The USI Registry System has been designed to keep this information safe and secure and is only accessed by those organisations listed in the terms and conditions.

The USI Registry System also allows you to choose which training organisations can see this information and when.

Your Privacy

The personal information that you provide to the Student Identifiers Registrar is collected, used, and may be disclosed, in accordance with the provisions of the Student Identifiers Act 2014 and the Privacy Act 1988.  The Student Identifiers Registrar’s Privacy Policy provides  information about the protection of your information, including how you can access and seek correction of your personal information held by the Student Identifiers Registrar and how to make a complaint about a breach of your privacy and how such complaints are handled.

Training Organisations

If you give permission for a training organisation to view your records and results (transcript) you can also choose:

• If they can see your personal and contact information.
• Just your personal information and NOT your contact information.
• For how long a training organisation may see your records and results (transcripts) (e.g. a week, a month, a year).

Enrolment Process

• Register for a course by completing an online Enrolment
• Fill in all the required information including your Unique Student Identifier (USI). You will need to apply for a USI if you do not already have one.

How to apply for a Unique Student Identifier (USI)

If you wish to apply for your own USI, go to this webpage and complete the required information. Apply for a USI

USI Registry System 

If you ask the Australian College of Professionals to make an application for a student identifier on your behalf, the Australian College of Professionals will have to declare that the Australian College of Professionals has complied with certain terms and conditions to be able to access the online student identifier portal and submit this application, including a declaration that the Australian College of Professionals has given you the following privacy notice:

You are advised and agree that you understand and consent that the personal information you provide to us in connection with your application for a USI:

• is collected by the Registrar for the purposes of:
  • applying for, verifying and giving a USI;
  • resolving problems with a USI; and
  • creating authenticated vocational education and training (VET) transcripts;
• may be disclosed to:
  • Commonwealth and State/Territory government departments and agencies and statutory bodies performing functions relating to VET for:
    • the purposes of administering and auditing Vocational Education and Training (VET), VET providers and VET programs;
    • education related policy and research purposes; and
    • to assist in determining eligibility for training subsidies;
  • VET Regulators to enable them to perform their VET regulatory functions;
  • VET Admission Bodies for the purposes of administering VET and VET programs;
  • current and former Registered Training Organisations to enable them to deliver VET courses to the individual, meet their reporting obligations under the VET standards and government contracts and assist in determining eligibility for training subsidies;
  • schools for the purposes of delivering VET courses to the individual and reporting on these courses;
  • the National Centre for Vocational Education Research for the purpose of creating authenticated VET transcripts, resolving problems with USIs and for the collection, preparation and auditing of national VET statistics;
  • researchers for education and training related research purposes;
  • any other person or agency that may be authorised or required by law to access the information;
  • any entity contractually engaged by the Student Identifiers Registrar to assist in the performance of his or her functions in the administration of the USI system; and will not otherwise be disclosed without your consent unless authorised or required by or under law.

USI Privacy Notice

If you do not already have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and you want the Australian College of Professionals to apply for a USI to the Student Identifiers Registrar (Registrar) on your behalf, the Australian College of Professionals will provide to the Registrar the following items of personal information about you:

• your name, including first or given name(s), middle name(s) and surname or family name as they appear in an identification document;
• your date of birth, as it appears, if shown, in the chosen document of identity;
• your city or town of birth;
• your country of birth;
• your gender; and
• your contact details.

When we apply for a USI on your behalf the Registrar will verify your identity. The Registrar will do so through the Document Verification Service (DVS) managed by the Attorney-General’s Department which is built into the USI online application process if you have documents such as a Medicare card, birth certificate, driver licence, Australian passport, citizenship document, certificate of registration by descent, ImmiCard or Australian entry visa.

If you do not have a document suitable for the DVS and we are authorised to do so by the Registrar we may be able to verify your identity by other means. If you do not have any of the identity documents mentioned above, and we are not authorised by the Registrar to verify your identity by other means, we cannot apply for a USI on your behalf and you should contact the Student Identifiers Registrar.

In accordance with section 11 of the Student Identifiers Act 2014 Cth (SI Act), we will securely destroy personal information which we collect from you solely for the purpose of applying for a USI on your behalf as soon as practicable after the USI application has been made or the information is no longer needed for that purpose, unless we are required by or under any law to retain it.

The personal information about you that we provide to the Registrar, including your identity information, is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 Cth (Privacy Act). The collection, use and disclosure of your USI are protected by the SI Act. Page 59