CAPA Media Releases

Minister for Youth and Sport Kate Ellis presented the details of the Federal Government’s proposed “VSU Response” to the Federal Parliament today. If passed, the Student Services and Amenities Bill will enable universities to charge students a compulsory fee as of July 1 2009. Students will have the option of deferring the fee to a HECS-style loan scheme (to be called “SA-HELP”), with the amount institutions can charge capped at $125 for semester two this year and $250 per year (indexed) from 2010.

Inconsistencies in the Federal Government’s proposed Household Stimulus Package highlight the anomalous student income arrangements in place for Australia’s 270,000+ postgraduate students. 

Postgraduates to miss out on Training and Learning Bonus

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) cautiously welcomed the announcement today from Minister for Youth and Sport, Kate Ellis, of measures to address the impact of the former Federal Government’s “VSU” legislation.

Compulsory fee reintroduced

On measures announced today, universities would be able to charge students a compulsory fee of up to $250 per year as early as July 1 2009. Students would have the option of deferring the fee to a HECS-style loan scheme.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the release today of an Interim Report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation on the Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities.

The stage is set for a series of important reforms in higher education, with a range of reports due between now and the end of the year.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has published a summary of important developments for postgraduate students in an Issues Paper released today.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has responded positively to measures announced today in the 2008-2009 Federal Budget, however a number of missed opportunities have marred an otherwise auspicious start on the road to an education revolution.

Figures released today by The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) show that for the first time the stipend rate for Australian Postgraduate Awards (APAs) will slip below the poverty line by the end of 2008.

“These figures spell out what research postgraduates already know – that the basic stipend rate for the APA is, by itself, simply not enough to live on” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.

Want to play a key role in higher education through research?

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is looking to develop its capacity to respond to government reviews and inquiries, and continue to play a leading role in setting the agenda on postgraduate issues.

We are calling for expressions of interest from talented aspiring and experienced researchers to support our activities through collaborative and project based research.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s discussion paper on the impact of the former government’s “VSU” legislation.

“The discussion paper opens the way for the new government to stand by its commitment to ensuring quality student services and representation on campus,” 2008 CAPA President Nigel Palmer said.

CAPA’s 2007 report, The Impact of VSU on Postgraduate Students, highlighted postgraduates as among the groups most disadvantaged by the impact of VSU.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the outcome of the 2007 Federal Election. “We look forward to working with Labor to rebuild the higher education sector, to support the promise of an education revolution, and to ensure that Australia remains a leader of innovation and research, in the sciences, in the humanities and in the arts. There will be many opportunities for the new Labor government to demonstrate “new leadership”.