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Archived PublicationsFact Sheet (for latest Fact Sheets please go to Fact Sheets 2004)11. Improving participation and outcomes for Indigenous peopleIndigenous people are under-represented in higher education, despite improvements over the last decade. Indigenous students represent 1.2 per cent of the domestic student population, but represent 1.9 per cent of the Australian population. A number of initiatives under the reform package will encourage greater Indigenous involvement in higher education policy development and provide additional financial assistance to higher education institutions to improve outcomes for Indigenous people. Indigenous Support FundThe Commonwealth supports activities to improve the participation and success of Indigenous people in higher education through the Indigenous Support Fund (ISF), which provided $24.3 million to institutions in 2003. The amount of funding through ISF will be increased by a total of $10.4 million over three years to 2007 to enable institutions to provide greater support for Indigenous people. Based on advice provided through the Review consultations and to ensure a more effective programme, eligibility requirements have been improved and will include evidence of participation of Indigenous people in the decision-making processes of the institution (which may include existence of an Advisory Committee on Indigenous Issues); existence of an institutional Indigenous Employment Strategy; and evidence of the implementation of enabling strategies for improving participation and completions for Indigenous students. Each institution will be required to report on their expenditure of ISF funding and will have to indicate the amount of money provided to an Indigenous Support Centre (should one exist at the institution). ISF will continue to be allocated according to a performance-based formula of 50 per cent for Indigenous student load, 35 per cent for Indigenous student progression and 15 per cent for award completions by Indigenous students. Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education will continue to receive its ISF allocation as a block grant. Indigenous Higher Education Advisory CouncilThe Commonwealth currently has no formal mechanism for consultation with the Indigenous community on higher education issues. An Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council will be established to advise the Minister and the Department of Education, Science and Training. The Council will also:
Funding of $260,000 per year will be provided for the Council, which will commence operations in the second half of 2003. Indigenous Staff ScholarshipsA strong and visible presence by Indigenous people in higher education reduces cultural isolation and heightens the potential for successful outcomes for Indigenous people studying or working in the higher education sector. Many Indigenous staff at Australia’s public higher education institutions are also leaders and mentors to Indigenous people contemplating or undertaking study, and the demands of this role may limit their professional development opportunities. A scholarship programme will be established for Indigenous staff (academic or general) who have actively encouraged Indigenous students to participate in higher education and complete their courses. The scholarships will enable staff to take one year of leave from their university employment to undertake full-time higher education study in their chosen academic or professional area. This will recognise their commitment to assisting students in higher education and enhance their own academic/professional standing. Five national scholarships will be awarded per year, each providing approximately $10,400 to cover tuition fees for that year, and a non-taxable stipend of approximately $20,900 for each scholarship holder. The scholarships will be awarded on merit as determined by the Minister following advice from the new Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council, with priority given to people undertaking postgraduate awards. Commonwealth Learning ScholarshipsThe Commonwealth Learning Scholarships Programme will be introduced from 2004 to assist rural and regional, low income and Indigenous students with costs associated with higher education. There will be two scholarships – one for educational costs and one for accommodation costs. Both will be merit based, non-repayable and will target students from low income backgrounds. Commonwealth Learning Scholarships will be distributed to institutions on the basis of their proportion of full-time low income students, taking into account their ability to increase the number of low income students attending their institution. Institutions will be responsible for the allocation of Commonwealth Learning Scholarships to individual students. The Commonwealth will provide guidelines for the allocation of these scholarships but individual institutions will determine their own selection and allocation processes. Institutions will be required to give priority to students from the low-SES and Indigenous groups when allocating scholarships. Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS) will be introduced to provide students with a scholarship of $2,000 per year for up to four years. Priority will be given to full-time students from low socio-economic and/or Indigenous backgrounds. In 2004, 2,500 new CEC Scholarships will be provided. By 2007, 5,075 new scholarships will be awarded each year and 17,635 students will be in receipt of a CEC Scholarship. The CECS will be funded at a cost of $84.4 million over four years. Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS) will provide full-time students from rural and regional areas with $4,000 per year for up to four years to assist them with accommodation expenses where they have to move to undertake higher education. In 2004, 1,500 scholarships will be offered, allocated on the basis of academic merit. By 2007, 2,030 new scholarships will be awarded each year and approximately 7,550 students will be in receipt of a CAS. The Commonwealth will provide $75.8 million over four years to the CAS programme. The reforms outlined in this Fact Sheet are subject to the passage of Commonwealth legislation. Full implementation details for the reforms will be provided over the coming months. Contact DetailsMedia inquiries:
Other inquiries:
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Any comments or
queries should be sent to:
highered@dest.gov.au
Department of Education, Science and Training
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