Latest news with #UniversitiesAccord
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Thousands of Australian uni students will now receive $331 a week for practical placements. But not everyone's happy
Thousands of university and Tafe students will receive financial support to complete mandatory placements for the first time from Tuesday, in a major win for stakeholders who have spent years pushing the commonwealth to address 'placement poverty'. But not all students are eligible for the payments, and others say the federal government hasn't gone far enough to address a cost-of-living crisis facing young people. Here's what you need to know. From 1 July, eligible domestic students completing teaching, nursery, midwifery and social work degrees will be able to access $331.65 per week during mandatory practical placements, benchmarked to the single Austudy rate. It's equivalent to about $60 per day, or $8 an hour. The education minister, Jason Clare, said the payment would 'give people who have signed up to do some of the most important jobs in this country a bit of extra help to get the qualifications they need'. The federal government estimated about 68,000 higher education students and around 5,000 VET students would be able to access the means-tested support each year. Students would have to prove they weren't earning more than $1,500 per week and had worked more than 15 hours in a job outside of university prior to starting the placement to access the payments. International students have also been excluded. The payments were a recommendation of the Universities Accord, handed down to the commonwealth last year. The blueprint for the future of higher education found providing financial support for placements was 'essential' to ensure students could complete their degrees 'without falling into poverty', and to stem high dropout rates. Clare said he had met students who told him 'they can afford to go to uni, but they can't afford to do the prac'. 'Placement poverty is a real thing,' he said. 'Some students say prac means they have to give up their part-time job, and that they don't have the money to pay the bills.' The accord recommended the government provide support for 'key industries' including nursing, care and teaching. Clare said that was why these three areas were the focus of initial reform. The announcement has received widespread attention. When the prime minister took to TikTok in mid-June to tout paid practical placements, it was his most watched video since joining the platform, raking in 1.3m views. But his audience was split: some praised the PM for taking a 'step in the right direction'; others questioned why their courses had missed out. The Greens, Students Against Placement Poverty (SAPP) and the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) have urged the federal government to expand the eligibility to all students completing placements, and to increase the payments to at least the minimum wage. A range of degrees that also require hundreds of hours of mandatory placements – including veterinary science, medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, paramedicine and psychology – have been excluded from the payments. Deputy leader for the Greens and higher education spokesperson, Mehreen Faruqi, called the policy 'overly complex, poorly targeted and far too stingy to make a real difference'. Siena Hopper, a spokesperson for SAPP, accused 'a package initially envisioned to provide a living wage to students undertaking tertiary placement' of being 'largely reduced to another bureaucratic hurdle'. 'The absurdity of means testing is clear in comparison to longstanding trade apprenticeship arrangements,' she said. 'No student should have to prove they are worthy of payment for their labour.' AMSA said in a statement it was 'disheartening' that medical students, who are required to complete 2,000 hours of full-time placements, had been left out, adding the 'intense' study requirements were causing burnout and university dropouts. 'Like all placement students, medical students are a part of the workforce,' AMSA said. 'Nothing exemplifies this more than the recent NSW doctor strikes which saw medical students actively called upon to fill the shoes of junior doctors.' The reforms come off the back of a series of changes to higher education, including wiping $3bn in student debt, the establishment of a student ombudsman and fee-free Tafe places. Clare said he would remain 'directly focused' on students in Labor's current term of government. 'The next step in the reform program, big structural change, is around fixing the funding of our universities. You'll see that roll out next year, including demand-driven funding for equity students and a real needs-based funding approach to universities.' The new Australian Tertiary Education Commission, beginning its work from Tuesday, will be tasked with looking at funding arrangements, including tackling the widely critiqued jobs ready graduate scheme, which increased fees for some courses, including humanities, to fund cuts incentivising students to study teaching, nursing, maths, science and engineering. Around five years since its introduction, arts degrees are now $50,000.
The Advertiser
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
If you're going for a home loan but still have a HECS debt, you might want to wait
People with outstanding student loans will have an easier time getting a mortgage from September, when new lending rules will take effect. Banks will be able to disregard higher education loan program (HELP) debts, which include HECS debt, when assessing a homebuyer for a mortgage. The changes were finalised this week, after the Albanese government made a pre-election pledge in February to level the playing field for people with student debts. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has advised banks to remove HELP debt from debt-to-income reporting, a metric used to determine a person's capacity to repay a mortgage. The regulator has also clarified that it may be reasonable for banks to completely disregard a person's HELP debt from serviceability assessments, where it's expected the loan will be paid off within 12 months. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the changes would make lending rules fairer. "We're making sure young people with a HELP debt are treated fairly and supporting them to get into the property market," he said. The changes mean a dual-income household with two student debts could borrow an additional $50,000 in the year they expect to pay off their student loan, according to the government's own analysis. APRA has written to lenders and the industry to advise them of the changes and their new obligations. The revised standards for banks will come into effect on September 30, 2025. In its letter to lenders, APRA said the changes would provide regulatory clarity and reaffirm the flexibility banks had in considering borrowers' individual circumstances. The regulator expects the changes will allow some borrowers with student debts to secure a home loan sooner. Education Minister Jason Clare said the Universities Accord found that banks' assessments of student debt made it harder for young Australians to buy a home. "HECS was never meant to be a handbrake on owning a home," he said. "That's not fair and we're fixing it." The federal government will also move ahead with its plan to reduce student debts by 20 per cent, something it committed to before the May election. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised the legislative changes would be his first priority if his government was to be re-elected. The government has reaffirmed this, saying it will be the first piece of legislation introduced when Parliament returns on July 22, 2025. The 20 per cent reduction will occur once the legislation passes Parliament. However, the government has clarified the discount will be calculated based on a person's HELP debt amount as at June 1, 2025, before indexation was applied. This means the 2025 indexation will only apply to the remaining balance after the 20 per cent reduction. People with outstanding student loans will have an easier time getting a mortgage from September, when new lending rules will take effect. Banks will be able to disregard higher education loan program (HELP) debts, which include HECS debt, when assessing a homebuyer for a mortgage. The changes were finalised this week, after the Albanese government made a pre-election pledge in February to level the playing field for people with student debts. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has advised banks to remove HELP debt from debt-to-income reporting, a metric used to determine a person's capacity to repay a mortgage. The regulator has also clarified that it may be reasonable for banks to completely disregard a person's HELP debt from serviceability assessments, where it's expected the loan will be paid off within 12 months. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the changes would make lending rules fairer. "We're making sure young people with a HELP debt are treated fairly and supporting them to get into the property market," he said. The changes mean a dual-income household with two student debts could borrow an additional $50,000 in the year they expect to pay off their student loan, according to the government's own analysis. APRA has written to lenders and the industry to advise them of the changes and their new obligations. The revised standards for banks will come into effect on September 30, 2025. In its letter to lenders, APRA said the changes would provide regulatory clarity and reaffirm the flexibility banks had in considering borrowers' individual circumstances. The regulator expects the changes will allow some borrowers with student debts to secure a home loan sooner. Education Minister Jason Clare said the Universities Accord found that banks' assessments of student debt made it harder for young Australians to buy a home. "HECS was never meant to be a handbrake on owning a home," he said. "That's not fair and we're fixing it." The federal government will also move ahead with its plan to reduce student debts by 20 per cent, something it committed to before the May election. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised the legislative changes would be his first priority if his government was to be re-elected. The government has reaffirmed this, saying it will be the first piece of legislation introduced when Parliament returns on July 22, 2025. The 20 per cent reduction will occur once the legislation passes Parliament. However, the government has clarified the discount will be calculated based on a person's HELP debt amount as at June 1, 2025, before indexation was applied. This means the 2025 indexation will only apply to the remaining balance after the 20 per cent reduction. People with outstanding student loans will have an easier time getting a mortgage from September, when new lending rules will take effect. Banks will be able to disregard higher education loan program (HELP) debts, which include HECS debt, when assessing a homebuyer for a mortgage. The changes were finalised this week, after the Albanese government made a pre-election pledge in February to level the playing field for people with student debts. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has advised banks to remove HELP debt from debt-to-income reporting, a metric used to determine a person's capacity to repay a mortgage. The regulator has also clarified that it may be reasonable for banks to completely disregard a person's HELP debt from serviceability assessments, where it's expected the loan will be paid off within 12 months. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the changes would make lending rules fairer. "We're making sure young people with a HELP debt are treated fairly and supporting them to get into the property market," he said. The changes mean a dual-income household with two student debts could borrow an additional $50,000 in the year they expect to pay off their student loan, according to the government's own analysis. APRA has written to lenders and the industry to advise them of the changes and their new obligations. The revised standards for banks will come into effect on September 30, 2025. In its letter to lenders, APRA said the changes would provide regulatory clarity and reaffirm the flexibility banks had in considering borrowers' individual circumstances. The regulator expects the changes will allow some borrowers with student debts to secure a home loan sooner. Education Minister Jason Clare said the Universities Accord found that banks' assessments of student debt made it harder for young Australians to buy a home. "HECS was never meant to be a handbrake on owning a home," he said. "That's not fair and we're fixing it." The federal government will also move ahead with its plan to reduce student debts by 20 per cent, something it committed to before the May election. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised the legislative changes would be his first priority if his government was to be re-elected. The government has reaffirmed this, saying it will be the first piece of legislation introduced when Parliament returns on July 22, 2025. The 20 per cent reduction will occur once the legislation passes Parliament. However, the government has clarified the discount will be calculated based on a person's HELP debt amount as at June 1, 2025, before indexation was applied. This means the 2025 indexation will only apply to the remaining balance after the 20 per cent reduction. People with outstanding student loans will have an easier time getting a mortgage from September, when new lending rules will take effect. Banks will be able to disregard higher education loan program (HELP) debts, which include HECS debt, when assessing a homebuyer for a mortgage. The changes were finalised this week, after the Albanese government made a pre-election pledge in February to level the playing field for people with student debts. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has advised banks to remove HELP debt from debt-to-income reporting, a metric used to determine a person's capacity to repay a mortgage. The regulator has also clarified that it may be reasonable for banks to completely disregard a person's HELP debt from serviceability assessments, where it's expected the loan will be paid off within 12 months. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the changes would make lending rules fairer. "We're making sure young people with a HELP debt are treated fairly and supporting them to get into the property market," he said. The changes mean a dual-income household with two student debts could borrow an additional $50,000 in the year they expect to pay off their student loan, according to the government's own analysis. APRA has written to lenders and the industry to advise them of the changes and their new obligations. The revised standards for banks will come into effect on September 30, 2025. In its letter to lenders, APRA said the changes would provide regulatory clarity and reaffirm the flexibility banks had in considering borrowers' individual circumstances. The regulator expects the changes will allow some borrowers with student debts to secure a home loan sooner. Education Minister Jason Clare said the Universities Accord found that banks' assessments of student debt made it harder for young Australians to buy a home. "HECS was never meant to be a handbrake on owning a home," he said. "That's not fair and we're fixing it." The federal government will also move ahead with its plan to reduce student debts by 20 per cent, something it committed to before the May election. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised the legislative changes would be his first priority if his government was to be re-elected. The government has reaffirmed this, saying it will be the first piece of legislation introduced when Parliament returns on July 22, 2025. The 20 per cent reduction will occur once the legislation passes Parliament. However, the government has clarified the discount will be calculated based on a person's HELP debt amount as at June 1, 2025, before indexation was applied. This means the 2025 indexation will only apply to the remaining balance after the 20 per cent reduction.
The Age
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Four years ago, 800 teenagers left school. Then, they were tracked
The study monitored 800 students who left high school in 2020 while receiving support from the charity. Unsurprisingly, better school attendance, higher grades and completing year 12 were all associated with better employment and training outcomes, the research found, but access to career advice was fundamental to success. 'Highly engaged young people had clear goals, strong support networks and well-developed career management skills. They successfully navigated alternative pathways, overcame setbacks and adjusted plans while staying on track,' the report said. Last year, the long-awaited Universities Accord set a target for students from poorer backgrounds to make up 25 per cent of university places. The Rudd government in 2009 set a target of 20 per cent, but universities have so far failed to achieve anywhere close to that. There were 66,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds in tertiary education in 2023, federal Department of Education data shows, about 16.9 per cent of all students. There has also been a decline in the number of students taking up initial teacher education degrees, as well as a slight decrease in those taking up nursing, while society and culture courses were also down. By comparison, information technology, engineering and hospitality and personal service courses were up, the data released in March showed. Loading The Smith Family said its report indicated schools needed to focus on intentional career development learning which should include personalised career advice and support. The report also found while 87 per cent of young people from a disadvantaged background were either working or studying three years after leaving high school, those who had work were often in insecure, part-time jobs which had very limited opportunities for promotion. The charity's head of research and advocacy Anne Hampshire said career counselling must connect young people with the world of work beyond school. 'Many of the young people we spoke to wanted much more personalised careers advice, thinking about what they were interested in, helping them to connect to employers, helping them to get exposure to different industries and particularly new jobs that are going to be created in the future,' she said. 'We cannot expect the one lone careers adviser to provide that support for the whole of the school. What works much, much more is when there are partnerships developed ... to really support within the school, young people to have access to employers, to universities.' McCullough knows the value of supporting boys from disadvantaged backgrounds first-hand. After his stints as a plumber and plasterer, he landed a job as a trainee with Top Blokes, a charity organisation which runs mentoring programs for young men focused on healthy masculinity, respectful relationships, mental health, leadership, and positive decision-making. 'I wanted to do something where I can connect with people more on that psychological level,' he said. Sara Abdalhadi graduated from Liverpool Girls High School last year and knew she always wanted to be a doctor. Having the goal was the easy part: actually securing a spot in a pre-med program meant she needed to be tactical about her academic focus. Fortunately, career counselling was readily available at her school. 'My career adviser was my rock,' she said. She met her every fortnight last year and, Abdalhadi said, helped her balance the competing priorities of getting the required ATAR, scoring well in the medical school admissions test and succeeding in an interview. 'I think she kept me going. Like, obviously, everyone has their bad days, and everyone loses hope sometimes, especially when you're coming from, like, a school that is not as recognised as other schools,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Four years ago, 800 teenagers left school. Then, they were tracked
The study monitored 800 students who left high school in 2020 while receiving support from the charity. Unsurprisingly, better school attendance, higher grades and completing year 12 were all associated with better employment and training outcomes, the research found, but access to career advice was fundamental to success. 'Highly engaged young people had clear goals, strong support networks and well-developed career management skills. They successfully navigated alternative pathways, overcame setbacks and adjusted plans while staying on track,' the report said. Last year, the long-awaited Universities Accord set a target for students from poorer backgrounds to make up 25 per cent of university places. The Rudd government in 2009 set a target of 20 per cent, but universities have so far failed to achieve anywhere close to that. There were 66,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds in tertiary education in 2023, federal Department of Education data shows, about 16.9 per cent of all students. There has also been a decline in the number of students taking up initial teacher education degrees, as well as a slight decrease in those taking up nursing, while society and culture courses were also down. By comparison, information technology, engineering and hospitality and personal service courses were up, the data released in March showed. Loading The Smith Family said its report indicated schools needed to focus on intentional career development learning which should include personalised career advice and support. The report also found while 87 per cent of young people from a disadvantaged background were either working or studying three years after leaving high school, those who had work were often in insecure, part-time jobs which had very limited opportunities for promotion. The charity's head of research and advocacy Anne Hampshire said career counselling must connect young people with the world of work beyond school. 'Many of the young people we spoke to wanted much more personalised careers advice, thinking about what they were interested in, helping them to connect to employers, helping them to get exposure to different industries and particularly new jobs that are going to be created in the future,' she said. 'We cannot expect the one lone careers adviser to provide that support for the whole of the school. What works much, much more is when there are partnerships developed ... to really support within the school, young people to have access to employers, to universities.' McCullough knows the value of supporting boys from disadvantaged backgrounds first-hand. After his stints as a plumber and plasterer, he landed a job as a trainee with Top Blokes, a charity organisation which runs mentoring programs for young men focused on healthy masculinity, respectful relationships, mental health, leadership, and positive decision-making. 'I wanted to do something where I can connect with people more on that psychological level,' he said. Sara Abdalhadi graduated from Liverpool Girls High School last year and knew she always wanted to be a doctor. Having the goal was the easy part: actually securing a spot in a pre-med program meant she needed to be tactical about her academic focus. Fortunately, career counselling was readily available at her school. 'My career adviser was my rock,' she said. She met her every fortnight last year and, Abdalhadi said, helped her balance the competing priorities of getting the required ATAR, scoring well in the medical school admissions test and succeeding in an interview. 'I think she kept me going. Like, obviously, everyone has their bad days, and everyone loses hope sometimes, especially when you're coming from, like, a school that is not as recognised as other schools,' she said.
