HSC Information
HSC study can be particularly daunting. All the rules and requirements as well as the huge range of subjects can scare and confuse you. It doesn't have to be that way. On this page you will find information and links to more information about HSC rules and requirements as well as lots of helpful subject specific material.
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HSC Study Requirements:
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All courses that are studied as part of the Higher School Certificate are actually divided into two courses - the Preliminary Course and the HSC course. The Preliminary Course in a given subject (eg; Biology) is normally studied in Year 11, while the HSC Course is normally studied in Year 12.
You must satisfactorily complete the Preliminary Course in a subject before being eligible to study the HSC Course. It is on the HSC Course that you will be examined in the Higher School Certificate exams.
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The NSW Education Standards Authority - NESA - (the organisation which oversees the whole HSC and its awarding to students) specifies that you must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 Units in the Preliminary Course (normally Year 11) and 10 Units in the HSC Course (normally Year 12).
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NESA requires that you must study a range of subjects that fit the following pattern:
You must study:
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at least 12 Preliminary and 10 HSC units of study
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at least 2 units of English
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at least 4 subjects
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at least 6 Board Developed units
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at least 3 courses of 2 unit value or greater
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no more that 6 units of Science can be used to contribute to the HSC
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HSC Study Requirements:
(Video © The Australian Taxation Office).
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Everyone has a different TFN. Your TFN is yours for life, even if you change jobs, move interstate or change your name. If you leave the country and later come back to Australia, you still use the same TFN.
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When you make enquiries about your tax records, the Australian Taxation Office will ask you for your TFN. They will also ask for other information to check that you are who you say you are.
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Your TFN is valuable. Do not share it with friends and do not provide it over the internet when applying for jobs.
Why do you need a TFN?
It is not compulsory to have a TFN. However, without it:
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your employer must take 47% of your wages in tax
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financial institutions are required to tax your interest at the highest marginal tax rate currently 45%)
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Centrelink will generally not pay you an allowance such as - Youth Allowance, Newstart or Austudy
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you will not be able to defer your higher education fees
There are two ways you can apply for a Tax File Number:
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1. Apply online and then attend an interview at an Australia Post Office:
This is the easiest way to apply for a TFN. There are 3 steps in the process:
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Complete the online form. You can access the form here (or at)
https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/apply-for-a-tfn -
Print off the summary - after completing the form, you need to print off the application summary. You will need it for the next step.
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Attend an Australia Post interview - you must attend an interview at your local Australia Post outlet within 30 days of completing your online application. Bookings are not essential, but are recommended. You will need to take 2 things with you to your interview:
i) Your printed application summary
ii) Your "Proof of Identity" documents (see notes below about what is required for proof of
identity).
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2. Complete the paper based form and send in your "Proof of Identity":
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If you are not able to attend an interview, you can complete the paper based application form. To get this you can contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61 and ask them to send you a copy of the "Tax file number - application and enquiry for individuals" or check your local Post Office or newsagent as they may have them.
You can view a sample of this form here.
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One you have completed the application you need to send it off to the address that is on the form and you must also include certified copies of your identification documents (see notes below on this). Do not send original documents as the ATO do not return any documents to you.
Your Proof of Identity
When you apply for a Tax File Number (via either of the above methods) you have to verify your identity to the ATO. You need to provide certain documents to do this. The documents you require vary depending on whether you are over or under 16 years of age.
To get all the details on which documents you can use, click here.