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A Tertiary Access Allowance worth $10,000 a year should be given to every student who has to relocate away from home to study at university.
The Nationals Member for Mallee John Forrest said a Senate committee chaired by Nationals Senator Fiona Nash tabled today made eight recommendations to improve the opportunities for regional students.
The purpose of the $10,000 recommendation is to help families who currently pay between $15,000 and $20,000 a year to send a child away to a tertiary institution.
The student would not qualify if there was an equivalent course at a tertiary institution within 90 minutes by public transport.
“The committee has also recommended that the Government investigate the option of lower HECS fees for students attending regional universities, especially students who commit to staying in a regional area to work in their chosen profession after completing their studies,” Mr Forrest said.”
A long-term strategy should be developed to address the inequity in secondary educational opportunities in rural and regional Australia, with consideration given to whether the current level of funding under the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme was appropriate.
Other recommendations covered student housing, the inequity of secondary educational opportunities, maintenance of literacy and numeracy programs, temporary income support while students are on clinical placements or block release and a review by 2013, to assess funding agreements for regional universities.
A copy of the report is available online at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/rrat_ctte/rural_and_regional_education/report/index.htm
Mr Forrest said while the legislation remains in the Senate, the current legislation is still in operation.
He said Education Minister Julia Gillard had the opportunity to split the bill to allow increased youth allowance thresholds, but she chose not to.
“It is Ms Gillard’s responsibility that those changes won’t be implemented on 1 January 2010,” Mr Forrest said.
Mr Forrest can be contacted on 0428 500 186.
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