Fact Sheet
Update March 2004
10. Striving for Greater Equity
While in recent years the participation of some disadvantaged groups in
higher education has increased, this has not been the case for all.
Additional financial support, culturally appropriate and responsive policy,
clear directives on equity programmes and performance-based rewards are
needed to ensure that there are no barriers to access to higher education
for any group in Australia.
Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP)
[see Fact Sheets: Higher Education Loan Programme - HECS-HELP
and Higher Education Loan Programme - FEE-HELP & OS-HELP)]
HELP incorporates three types of loans to help students meet the costs of
their higher education.
No eligible student will have to pay fees up front at the point of entry
to higher education.
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Higher Education Equity Programme
Since 1990, five equity groups in addition to Indigenous Australians have
been recognised as disadvantaged in their access to higher education. These
are:
people from a non-English
speaking background;
people with disabilities;
people from rural and isolated
areas;
women in non-traditional areas
of study; and
people from socio-economically
disadvantaged backgrounds.
These groups of students are supported under the Higher Education Equity
Programme (HEEP), through which the Australian Government provided $6
million to the sector in 2003. While significant improvements in
participation and access have been made for some of these disadvantaged
groups, the participation of other groups remains a concern. Current equity
groups are being reviewed to ensure that HEEP remains focused on groups
experiencing significant educational disadvantage. This review will ensure
that equity groups are properly identified and performance is measured
effectively. It will also inform the development of a new funding formula
for HEEP.
HEEP will be increased by $4.5 million per year from 2005. Funds will be
allocated according to a performance based formula to be developed to ensure
that higher education providers remain focused on improving outcomes for
equity groups. Block grants will no longer be provided. Higher education
providers eligible for HEEP allocations will include those that:
run an outreach programme to
attract equity group students to higher education;
offer specialised support for
equity group members to assist their progression through higher education;
manage the Commonwealth
Learning Scholarships Programme (refer below and to Fact Sheet:
Commonwealth Scholarships); and
implement an Institutional
Equity Scholarship Programme to complement the Commonwealth Learning
Scholarships Programme.
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Increased assistance for students with disabilities
The Australian Government’s Students with Disabilities Programme assists
public higher education providers to meet the needs of students whose
disabilities require additional infrastructure and services.
Funding for the Programme will be increased by $3 million per year from
2005. This will significantly increase the capacity of higher education
providers to provide access to education for people with disabilities.
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Commonwealth Learning Scholarships [see Fact Sheet:
Commonwealth Scholarships]
The Commonwealth Learning Scholarships Programme is being
introduced in 2004 to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds
with the costs associated with higher education. Scholarships are
available to full-time undergraduate students who are Australian citizens or
holders of permanent humanitarian visas. There are two scholarships –
one for educational costs and one for accommodation costs. Both
are merit based and non-repayable.
The allocation of Commonwealth Learning Scholarships to institutions
takes into account their proportion of full-time low socio-economic HECS
liable undergraduate students, and their student enrolments in the target
equity groups. Institutions are responsible for the
allocation of Commonwealth Learning Scholarships. The Australian Government
provides guidelines for the allocation of these
scholarships, however, individual institutions determine their own selection
and offer processes.
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Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS)
Some 26,000 full-time students from low socio-economic backgrounds and
2,500 full-time Indigenous students commence university studies each year.
Many of these students face particular challenges in meeting their education
costs.
Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships have been introduced to
provide such students with a scholarship of $2,000 per year for up to four
years to assist with their education costs. Institutions will
give special consideration to Indigenous students when offering scholarships
to ensure a fair proportion of scholarships are awarded to Indigenous
students. In 2004, 2,500 CECS have been provided. By 2007, 5,075 new
scholarships will be awarded each year and 17,635 students will be in
receipt of a CECS. This increases to 5,105 new scholarships each year by
2008 and a total of 22,740 students will have received a CECS. The CECS will
be funded at a cost of approximately $84 million over four years ($128
million over five years).
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Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS)
Around 10,000 students from rural and isolated areas, many of whom are
from low socio-economic and/or Indigenous backgrounds, move away from home
each year to commence higher education. For many of these students and/or
their parents, the cost of accommodation represents a significant burden.
Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships will provide low income students
from rural and regional areas with $4,000 per year for up to four years to
assist them with accommodation costs when they move to undertake higher
education. In 2004, 3,000 CAS have been provided. By 2007, 3,553 new
scholarships will be awarded each year and approximately 13,595 students
will be in receipt of a CAS. By 2008, 3,574 new scholarships will be awarded
each year and 17,169 students will have received a CAS. The Australian
Government will provide approximately $138 million over four years to the
CAS programme ($199 million over five years).
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Improving participation and outcomes in higher education
for Indigenous Australians
Indigenous participation in higher education is assisted through the
Indigenous Support Fund (ISF), which is separate to the Higher Education
Equity Programme. The ISF provided $24 million to higher education providers
in 2003 aimed at improving participation and outcomes for Indigenous people
in higher education. Indigenous people are an important focus of equity
policy.
The reform package includes an increase in funding for the ISF of $10
million by 2007 ($17 by 2008), the introduction of five national Indigenous
Staff Scholarships and the establishment of an Indigenous Higher Education
Advisory Council (IHEAC). These measures are described in the Fact Sheet:
Improving Educational Participation and Outcomes for Indigenous People.
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Contact Details
Media inquiries:
Virginia Cook
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 0412 971 323
Other inquiries:
Equity Issues and Commonwealth Learning Scholarships
Bernadette McDonald
Director, Equity Unit
Higher Education Group
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 02 6240 7490
HELP
Laura Santini
Director, Commonwealth Supported Students Unit
Higher Education Group
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 02 6240 9607
Indigenous Support Fund and Higher Education Advisory Council
Robyn Cooper
Director, Strategic Policy Team
Indigenous & Transitions Group
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 02 6240 8637
Indigenous Staff Scholarships
Jim Castro
Director, National Projects Team
Indigenous & Transitions Group
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 02 6240 7858
Email: Backing Australia's Future
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