What is the USI?
The USI initiative commenced on 1 January 2015 and is a reference number made up of ten numbers and letters that is free and easy to create and stays with you for life.
If you are a new or continuing student undertaking nationally recognised training, you will need a USI in order to receive your qualification or statement of attainment. This includes nationally recognised training delivered by secondary schools.
The USI will give you access to an online record of your nationally recognised training in the form of a USI Transcript. This can be used when applying for a job, seeking a credit transfer or demonstrating pre-requisites when undertaking further training.
Under the Student Identifiers Act 2014 and Student Identifiers (Exemptions) Instrument 2014, training organisations are not allowed to issue a qualification or statement of attainment unless the student has a USI or the student or the training is exempt from the USI initiative.
Under the Student Identifiers Act 2014, training organisations are not allowed to include a USI on qualifications or statements of attainment to protect the privacy of the USI account holder.
Under the Student Identifiers Regulation 2014, training organisations are not allowed to use the USI as a student number.
The USI initiative is also valuable for government as it enables the collection of information about students’ training activity and their movements within the VET system. This information provides an important foundation for understanding and improving VET performance and better meeting the needs of students, training organisations and employers.
Contacting the Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar (OSIR)
Phone:
- Calling within Australia: 1300 857 536
- Calling internationally: +61 2 6240 8740
The Office of the Student Identifiers Registrar phone support hours are 9am to 5pm Australian Eastern Time Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, with a call back option for Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory to 5pm their local time.
To access the contact information link to the Australian Government USI webpage please follow the link.
Email: admin@usi.gov.au
We normally respond to emails within 7 business days, however, if your question is urgent or you would like immediate support, please contact us by phone.
