Universities Australia today releases the final report from its commissioned national survey of almost 19,000 students across all 37 public universities - Australian University Student Finances 2006.
"This final report affirms the initial findings released in March and shows the financial difficulties many young Australians face in completing their university studies", Chair of the Survey Steering Group and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, Professor Alan Robson said today.
"The complete findings from this survey highlight the need for changes to Australia's current student income support mechanisms, to ensure all students can achieve the best possible education outcomes from their time at university, regardless of their socio-economic background", Professor Robson said.
"In particular, these additional findings show that Indigenous students face greater financial obstacles in achieving their educational goals and are more likely to be studying part-time out of financial necessity. Over three quarters (76.7%) of Indigenous students studying part-time indicated that they would prefer to study full-time if their financial circumstances permitted.
"This final report also focuses on the plight of postgraduate coursework students. In order to gain an additional qualification to further their career aspirations, these students are having to use up their savings, go into debt, or rely on their partners in order to survive," he said.
"Universities welcome the various student income support measures announced by Minister Bishop as part of the 2007 Federal Budget.
"Now it is time to build on those measures for our university students, and two practical suggestions Universities Australia is campaigning for leading into the 2007 Federal election are:
1. removal of the assessable income component for all scholarships and bursaries regardless of their funding source
2. a reduction in the age of independence for Youth Allowance from the current 25 years to 18 in order that university students will not be assessed on the basis of their parents' income and assets.
"The age of independence for Youth Allowance is governed by section 1067A (4) of the Social Security Act 1991 which states that `A person is independent if the person is at least 25 years old.' The provision goes onto to further state that `A person is independent if the person is at least 25 years old. This age will be progressively reduced over time.'
"Universities Australia calls on the Australian Government to amend the Social Security Act 1991 to reduce the age of independence to 18 years of age," Professor Robson said.
These are two practical measures that the Australian Government can introduce that will substantially improve the lot of our university students.
"Universities Australia will be working with all stakeholders across the community for further long-term improvements in student income support," Professor Robson concluded.
For the full report and associated fact sheets please click here
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