Unique Student Identifier

Information about the Unique Student Identifier

First Aid Training

Introducing the Unique Student Identifier (USI)

What is the USI?

The Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a Federal Government initiative linking all of an individual’s training undertaken in the Vocational Education and Training sector. Without a USI number, students will not receive documented recognition for the VET sector training they complete.

Important Message:

The Federal Government requires students to have a USI number enrolling in nationally recognised first aid training longer than one day.

There is a temporary exemption from collecting USI numbers for single day courses until 31st December 2017. All courses longer than one day require a USI number when you enroll in the course. Without the USI, a record of your training will not appear on your USI transcript and St John NT will not be able to provide a certificate for courses longer than one day until the USI is provided.

What does this mean for students in 2017?

For students without a USI

  • If you are doing a first aid course longer than one day, you will need a USI.
  • If you have not already obtained your USI, please go to www.usi.gov.au and follow the prompts. (Important note: Valid ID is required). Upon enrolment to first aid course please have your USI ready.

For students with a USI

  • For many of our returning students, you may have already obtained a USI. This should also be the case if you have recently studied or are actively studying another course in the VET sector. Have you number ready when booking your first aid course online.

For employers

  • For employers sending one or more staff to training, we ask you to remind staff to bring their USI on the day or to obtain their USI before training commences.

Why has the USI been created?

Currently, it is not possible for students to obtain a complete record of their VET enrolments and achievements from a single online source. This is inconvenient not only for students and employers, but can also make it more difficult for training organisations to assess pre-requisites, credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Incomplete data about access to and use of the VET sector also inhibits the development of evidence-based VET programs.

A USI is effectively an account or reference number made up of numbers and letters. The USI will allow all of an individual’s training records, entered in the national vocational education and training (VET) data collection, to be linked. The USI will make it easier for students to find, collate and authenticate their VET achievements into a single transcript. It will also ensure that students’ VET records are not lost.

The USI is available online at no cost to the student and will stay with the student for life. It will be recorded with any nationally recognised VET course that is undertaken. The USI initiative will:

  • Seamlessly link a student’s VET achievements, regardless of where they studied.
  • Enable students to easily access secure digital transcripts of their achievements.
  • Give students access to, and more control over, their educational information.

There will be significant benefits for training providers resulting from the introduction of the USI. For example, the USI initiative will enable students to provide training providers with access to an online authenticated record of student attainment. This will assist with the recording of enrolment details and will help to streamline the assessment of course prerequisites, credit transfer and the assessment of eligibility for funding assistance. In the longer term, training providers will benefit from longitudinal data on course completions which will inform the development of future VET sector policy initiatives.

Information on individual Exemptions for Students

Induviduals who have a genuine personal objection to being assigned a USI can apply for an exemption to the Student Identifiers Registrar. To apply for an exemption, they must complete the Commonwealth Statutory Declaration form and send it to the Registrar at the following address:

Student Identifiers Registrar
C/- Department of Education and Training
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601

Applicants must include all the information required in the Statutory Declaration, which must be signed before and authorised witness. The list of authorised witnesses included in the Statutory Declaration form.

How do training organisations know if an individual has been exempted from the USI?

The Registrar will assess the information included in the Statutory Declaration. If the Registrar approves the request for an exemption, the USI Office will mail the individual a notice, signed by the Registrar, confirming that they have been exempted from the USI. Importantly, this notice will include the individual’s name and the place and date of birth which was included in the Statutory Declaration.

Individuals who have been exempted must show the original of this notice to their training organisation. On sighting the USI exemption notice, the training organisation should phone the USI Office on – 1300 857 536 to:

  • Confirm that the person has an in fact been exempted (this is to address the risk of fraudulent exemption notices being used);
  • Obtain a special code the training organisation will be able to use for the prupose of AVETMISS reporting in respect of the individual instead of the USI.

What will the effect of an individual exemption from the USI?

Training organisations will not need to collect a USI in order to issue VET qualification or statment of attainment to exempt induviduals. However, training organisations will still need to include the training activity undertaken by exempt students in the AVETMISS report they submit. They will need to include in the USI field of the AVETMISS report the special code provided by the USI Office.

If you require further assistance please contact the USI Office. For more information or to apply for a USI exemption, visit the Unique Student Indentifier website or call on: 1300 857 536

You can also speak with the St John NT Training teams:

  • Darwin (also covering Nhulunbuy and Katherine)

  • Alice Springs (also covering Tennant Creek and Yulara):

The trainer of my course made everyone in the class feel very comfortable, which translated into confidence - not something that all instructors possess.

Dr Gregory Chandler, Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS)

Brilliant presentation, informative and attention to course content Chris endeavoured to provide knowledge so that we were strengthened should we have a situation that we need to apply these skills. Far superior to the first course I attended.

Frances Williamson

Our First Aid training included a diverse mixture of Indigenous and non-indigenous, professionals and non-professionals of both categories and male and female. Regina managed to engage each and every one of us and developed a group and yet individual relationship with us all. She has a remarkable ability to read and relate to people individually and as a group!

Carlene Newell, CDP Support Worker, Tjuwanpa Outstations Resource Centre Inc

Thank you so much for coming yesterday. It was definitely the highlight of my kids day. One staff member mentioned that she heard a buzz in the courtyard during one of the breaks and the conversation was all about first aid!

Lyn Hart, Transition Teacher, Marrara Christian College

Your energetic, practical and relevant training workshops, across all levels in our school, were greatly appreciated by staff and students.

Geoff Gillman, Teaching Principal, Ti Tree School

The information was light-hearted enough to make everyone feel welcome but serious enough to get all the necessary information to sink in. Bravo.

Dr Gregory Chandler, Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS)

I just want to acknowledge the fantastic workshop presented by Ivan at our school. We learnt many new pieces of information that were important for our setting. He was supportive as we practiced the use of the AED while performing CPR.

Deb Levett, Alawa Primary School

On behalf of the staff and students of Ti Tree School I would like to thank the St John Ambulance First Aid in Schools Program… We look forward to being a part of this great program in the future.

Geoff Gillman, Teaching Principal, Ti Tree School

Just letting you know that we found Daniel to be an excellent trainer. His experience and background on Goulburn Island meant that he related well to the participants and understood our needs. It was a pleasure working with you.

Andrew Stanton, Business Services Manager, Djidbidjidbi Residential College

Our First Aid Trainer managed to remain flexible and versatile when it came to the space and the special needs of the participants without compromising the standard of training.

The YWCA of Darwin Parenting Support Program

There was good humour and fun and he very patiently answered questions and repeated information as required. We feel better prepared to handle a crisis which hopefully will not occur!

Deb Levett, Alawa Primary School

The students and staff thought our trainer was brilliant! Cannot speak any more highly of her, even the staff rated her as the best First Aid Trainer they had encountered!

Rebecca McDonald commenting on training in Tennant Creek

I would like to send a very big appreciation to our First Aid trainer for her great knowledge and efforts in helping the women complete their course. The ladies all went away with something they can remember from your teachings of first aid. So thank you once again.

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