About us

Introduced in 2015, the USI is a linkage key, providing an important foundation for understanding and improving vocational education and training (VET) and higher education performance. 

The USI initiative supports targeted policy making and resource allocation by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to better meet the needs of students, education or training providers and employers.

Students need a USI if they are:

• studying nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET)
• seeking a VET student loan
• enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place or seeking Commonwealth financial assistance such as a HELP loan
• a higher education student graduating.

Student Identifiers Registrar

The Student Identifiers Act 2014 (the Act) provides for a Commonwealth statutory office holder, the Student Identifiers Registrar (the Registrar). The Registrar is responsible for administering the USI initiative nationally and manages the USI Registry System which creates and stores USIs; and helps students and education and training providers access the USI Registry System to create, find and update USIs securely.

The Registrar is appointed on a full-time basis for up to 5 years by the Minister for Skills and Training following consultation with the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council.

The current Registrar is Mr Craig Ward who commenced in the role on 15 January 2024.

The Student Identifiers Registrar is supported by staff from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations who form the Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar.

Business priorities

Our purpose is to provide a simple, secure and trusted services linking the education and training journey for all.

The Registrar's business priorities for 2024 to 2026 are:

• continuous improvement and building trust
• innovation and technology
• risk based and data driven regulation
• compliance
• collaboration and engagement
• culture.

The Student Identifiers Registrar provides a report annually to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). The report is prepared in compliance with Division 5 Section 51 of the Act and is published in the DEWR Annual Report.

Our governance