A Fair Go For Rural and Regional Students
The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee has recommended that the Government create a Tertiary Access Fund for rural and regional students.
The Committee tabled its report into the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support for Students) Bill 2009 and Committee Chair, Senator Fiona Nash, said the fund would address the inequity of access to tertiary education that exists between rural and regional students and their metropolitan peers.
“The committee has also recommended that the Government put in place auditing processes to ensure that once students have received Independent Youth Allowance they do not live at home while they are studying.
“Students who must leave home to pursue their studies should be paid Independent Youth Allowance after earning a fixed amount in 18 months, a Senate committee has recommended.
“The Committee has asked that the Relocation Scholarship be extended to all students who receive Independent Youth Allowance. The other recommendation is that the increase in the personal income threshold be introduced on 1 January 2011.
“The majority of submissions were on the proposed changes to the workforce participation criteria to qualify for Independent Youth Allowance and the significant impact that these would have on rural and regional students.”
Senator Nash said the Committee seriously considered the impact of tightening the workforce participation criteria on rural and regional students wanting a tertiary education.
“The cost of rural and regional students attending tertiary education in metropolitan areas is anything between $15,000 and $25,000 a year, making it prohibitive for many families.”
There are currently no comments, be the first to post one.