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.

Current Panel members are:

Mr Peter Grant, PSM	Panel Chair. Private Consultant
Mr David Service	Director – Centre for Actuarial Research, School of Finance and Applied Statistics, Australian National University
Mr Mark Lucas	Director – iAE Global
Mr Richard Arkell	Managing Director – ACL International and ACE
Mr Alan Lord	Executive Director – Cambridge International College
Mr Andrew Crevald	Managing Director –  Perth Institute of Business and Technology
Dr Paul Beirne	Dean – Melbourne College of Divinity
Mr David Windridge	Chief Executive Officer – MEGT (Australia) Ltd
Dr Vivienne Watts	Vice-President of Academic Administration – Avondale College
Mr Craig Storen	Group Manager Finance, Property and Planning, and Chief Finance Officer –Department of Education, Science and Training

The 2008 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 met two times in 2007 to determine the criteria for 2008, with the criteria being finalised on 16 November 2007. Details of the 2008 Contributions Criteria are available on:  Contributions Criteria.

The 2008 Contributions Criteria, which will be used to calculate providers’ 2008 contribution, can also be found at the ESOS Fund Manager’s website http://www.esosassurancefund.com.au.