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, research and compliance activity aimed at meeting the needs of students, education or training providers, and employers. 

Students need a USI if they are:

• studying nationally recognised VET
• seeking a VET student loan
• a higher education student seeking Commonwealth financial assistance e.g. HELP loan or enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place.
• a higher education student graduating.

Without a USI a student may not be able to graduate or receive a statement of attainment and may need an exemption from a USI. 

The Student Identifiers Act 2014 (the Act) sets out legal requirements for how the USI initiative is administered. The Act has strict requirements for how USI and related information is collected, managed, used and protected. 

In line with these requirements, the USI Registry System holds USIs and personal information for account holders. Account holders can access and update the information on the USI Registry System at any point via the Student Portal or by calling us. To understand more about personal information collected, how it may be disclosed and how individuals can access their information read our Privacy Policy.

Student Identifiers Registrar

The Act provides for a Commonwealth statutory office holder, the Student Identifiers Registrar (the Registrar). The Registrar is responsible for administering the USI initiative and the USI Registry System that helps students and education and training providers create, find and update USIs securely.

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

The current Registrar, Ms Vivianne Johnson is acting in the role until 19 September 2026.

The Registrar is supported by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) staff in the Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar.

Business priorities

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

The Registrar's business priorities for 2025 to 2027 are:

• robust and secure technology
• strengthened governance and continuous improvement 
• efficient quality service delivery
• risk based and data driven regulation and compliance
• strategic and operational collaboration
• a professional culture delivering with integrity.

The Registrar provides a report annually to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Education. The report is prepared in compliance with section 51 of the Act and is published in the DEWR Annual Report.

Statements

The Registrar has been provided with a Statement of Expectations from the Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training, and the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education.

The Registrar’s response is the Statement of Intent.

Our governance