Introduction

USI (Unique Student Identifier)

The USI is a reference number assigned to each student in Australia who is enrolled in nationally recognised training or studying at a tertiary institution. International students studying in Australia and planning to graduate in 2023 or beyond need a USI. International students must land in Australia and go through customs before they can obtain a USI.

The USI is a unique identifier that allows for tracking of students' progress and achievement in courses across multiple education providers and systems.  A USI stays with the student for life, and must be recorded with any nationally recognised course they undertake. Students can use their USI to enrol in courses, access their training records, and share their information with other education providers or employers.

The USI was introduced in 2015 as part of the Australian government's reforms to the VET sector. It is designed to streamline the administration of VET courses and provide students with access to their training records and achievements in a central location.  From 1 January 2023, all higher education students, including those who commenced prior to 2021, must have a USI.

The key factors for a USI are as follows:

• Personal information: To obtain a USI, students must provide their personal information, including their full name, date of birth, and contact details. This information is used to create a unique identifier for the student.

• Verification: The USI system requires that a student's identity be verified before a USI can be issued. This is usually done through the use of official identity documents such as a passport or driver's license.

• Access to training records: The USI is designed to give students access to their training records and achievements across multiple education providers and systems. This means that education providers must report a student's enrolment, progress, and completion data so that it can be accessed by the student through their USI account.

• Privacy and security: The USI system is subject to strict privacy and security standards to protect the personal information of students. Education providers and other organisations that use the USI must comply with these standards to ensure that student data is kept confidential and secure.

Compliance

In terms of compliance reporting, the USI is an important tool for education providers to maintain accurate and up-to-date records of their students' enrolment, completion, and achievement data. The Australian government requires education providers to report this data. This data is used to monitor the quality of courses and to inform policy decisions.

As part of the compliance reporting requirements, education providers must ensure that each student has a valid USI before they can be enrolled in a course. The USI must be verified by the education provider at the time of enrolment.

The USI allows for accurate and consistent reporting of student data, which is essential for monitoring the quality of courses and ensuring compliance with government regulations.

Meshed Platform

The USI Registry System is an online platform that allows registered training organisations (RTOs), education providers, and other authorised parties to access and verify a student's USI via web services.

The USI Registry System can be integrated (real-time) with the Meshed Platform to streamline the USI processes. This helps to reduce administrative burden and improve the accuracy and completeness of student records. 

To access the USI Registry System using the Meshed Platform integration an education provider must first register with the USI Registry System. This involves completing an online registration form, agreeing to the terms and conditions of use, and the configuration of authentication details in the Meshed Platform.

Once the integration is enabled the following functions are available:

• USI creation and retrieval: The USI Registry System can be used to create and retrieve USIs for students. The Meshed Platform can send requests along with the student's personal and identifying information, to create or retrieve a USI.

• USI authentication: The USI Registry System can be used to authenticate a student's USI. The Meshed Platform can send requests along with the student's USI and other relevant details, to verify the USI and ensure that it belongs to the correct student.

USI Integration Functions

Login to the Meshed Platform

You will be directed to your Home page

Click on the USI icon

This will then take you to USI Page

You will find 4 icons on the right section of the page

Student USI Verification Process

On the USI page, you will find 4 icons

Click to go to Student USI verification page

On this page, you have number of filter options available to get the list of Student that you would like to either - Enter and Verify their USI or get the list of Student with No USI and then enter relevant details to prepare Student record to be ready to Generate USI

Search Filters

1. USI Filter
   1. No USI – search option to view the Student who do not have USI entered in Meshed Platform

1. 1. Has USI – search option to view the Student who do have USI entered in the system and an option to verify the USI

1. 1. All (include both has/not have USI) – search option to view list student with or without USI entered

1. Course Type – this filter is to only show the Student list based on the Course Type – VET, ELICOS, HigherEd or ALL etc.

1. Search by and Search fields – this filter parameter has various options and provide way to search the data as per the selection criteria (this is similar to Student Search facility – Student tab in the Meshed Platform)

PATH 1: VERIFY USI

Student USI is available (provided by Student) and process to enter the USI and verify USI
Student Search – Search the Student data based on one of the search type available – refer to Search Filters above

If the USI is available from the student, i.e. Student has gone directly to the USI.gov.au website and has entered necessary details and has their USI or have the USI available but did not enter during the application stage.

• Enter USI number in the box

• On the Action button, Click on icon

• System will then connect with USI system and then display if the USI is valid USI or provide message.

If the USI entered is valid then the system will display valid USI message.

Once the USI is saved in the system there will be additional USI verify icon that will be visible, to check the USI again if required.

PATH 2: PREPARE Student Record

Student USI is not available and Student records has to be checked and prepared by the staff to make it ready to generate USI
Student Search – Search the Student data based on one of the search type available – refer to Search Filters above

On this section follow the below steps to enter the relevant information to prepare the record ready for USI generation.

• Birth Place – Enter the Student birth place as per the passport or other valid documents

• Consent Form – if the Student has provided the Consent Form this will be visible here and you can download the consent form.

• DVS document information – DVS stands for Document Verification System and it is mandatory requirement before we can generate a USI.

The acceptable documents are

• • Driver's License
  • Medicare Card
  • Australian Passport
  • Visa (with Non-Australian Passport) for international students
  • Birth Certificate (Australian) *please note a Birth Certificate extract is not sufficient
  • Certificate Of Registration By Descent
  • Citizenship Certificate
  • ImmiCard
• If the document detail is available or Student has provided the data then this will be visible here, else there is be link "Not provided yet"

You can then click the link "Not provided yet" to open up the pop-up window to enter the DVS info/Document

Based on the information provided by the Student, you can then update the data for DVS type, detail and upload the document. Uploading of document is optional, but recommended for evidence purposes.
Once data is entered, then you can click
This will then be displayed in the search page

• File Check – File check is the process to flag the record to ensure Staff has checked the DVS document. System will record the staff details and the date that this is checked.

• Staff Verified – Staff Verified is the process to flag the record to ensure all the necessary data has been entered/DVS document checked and record is now ready for Generation of USI. Please note without this the data will not be appearing in the Generate USI page.

• Once all the above data is entered/checked/Verified, then you can update the data and this student record will then be visible in the Generate USI section.

Create Student USI

On the USI page, you will find 4 icons

Click to go to Student USI verification page

On this page, you can search for the Student records that have been prepared ready to generate USI.

Search Filters

Search by and Search fields – this filter parameter has various options and provide way to search the data as per the selection criteria (this is similar to Student Search facility – Student tab in the Meshed Platform)

Once you have searched the Student list then you have two options to Generate USI

Individual Student USI Generation

• For each Student you will find 2 icons – Verify and Generate

• Click on the Generate icon to communicate with USI register and the Student USI number
• System will confirm the message

Bulk Student USI Generation

• Select the Students that you would like to Generate USI in bulk – Select the Checkbox for each Student or select Checkbox on the header to Check All.

• – you can view more records by change the View rows
• You can also export the visible data using the Export Grid icon  
• Click Bulk Generate USI

• System will process the selected Student records and then Generate/Update USI for the selected Student(s).

Locate USI

On the USI page, you will find 4 icons

Click  to go to Locate missing student USI page

On this page can search for a list of Students, and for those Students who have a USI but did not provide it during their application, retrieve their USI from the USI system.

Search Filters

Search by and Search fields – this filter parameter has various options and provide way to search the data as per the selection criteria (this is similar to Student Search facility – Student tab in the Meshed Platform)

Once you have searched the Student list then you have two options to Locate USI

Individual Student USI Location

• For each Student you will find 2 icons – Verify and Locate

• Click on the Locate icon to communicate with USI register and locate the Student USI number
• System will confirm the message

Bulk Student USI Location

• Select the Students that you would like to Locate USI for in bulk – Select the Checkbox for each Student or select Checkbox on the header to Check All.

• You can also export the visible data using the Export Grid icon  
• Click Bulk Locate USI 

• System will process the selected Student records and then Locate USI for the selected Student(s).

USI Configuration

The Meshed USI Integration allows for a two-way, real-time integration with the USI Registry System, by using a web services connection.  The integration supports USI Verification and USI Creation.

The USI Registry System is a government online service that requires Student Management System (SMS) users to use the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) credential for interaction. Machine credentials are used for system to system web services and is installed on the server hosting the training organisation’s system. A Machine credential identifies a business rather than a person. This means users of a USI web service enabled Student Management System (SMS) do not need their own individual credentials.

More information about the USI and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) credential is available on the following links:

• USI Website (external link)
• AUSKey replaced by new M2M (external link)

More information about the Meshed Platform USI Integration Configuration is here.

Student Portal

Student can enter their USI number from their Portal or Submit the Consent Form from their Portal

Login to Student Portal

You will be redirected to Home Page

Edit Profile

Click on the Profile icon or Profile tab to go to Edit Profile page

On the Edit Profile page, you can enter your USI number and then Click Update to record your USI.
System will then check your USI with your firstname, lastname and DOB and verify and return Valid or Invalid message.

Consent Form

To submit the consent form to allow the Provider to apply on behalf of yourself follow the below steps. This will enable your Training provider to receive the consent form (in PDF), and then enable to apply for USI on your behalf.
Click USI Request (Consent Form) icon on your homepage

You will be redirected to USI Consent Form page

Here you can enter the following information

• Birth Place – Enter the Student birth place as per the passport or other valid documents
• DVS document information – DVS stands for Document Verification System and it is mandatory requirement before we can generate a USI.

The acceptable documents are

• • Driver's License
  • Medicare Card
  • Australian Passport
  • Visa (with Non-Australian Passport) for international students
  • Birth Certificate (Australian) *please note a Birth Certificate extract is not sufficient
  • Certificate Of Registration By Descent
  • Citizenship Certificate
  • ImmiCard
• DVS document file upload – if you have a scan copy handy then you can upload here or provide a copy to your College/Training Provider
• Information and Help regarding DVS document is on the right side

Once you have entered the relevant information, you can click Submit.
This will generate the PDF version of Consent form and email to your training provider and also to yourself.