Landmark Reforms for Postgraduates in 2009 Federal Budget
Research Postgraduates win long awaited stipend rate increase
“The increase in the stipend rate for Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) recipients is an important step toward ensuring the sustainability of Australia’s capacity for innovation, and for Australia’s universities” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.
“The aims of the APA scheme are to attract talented graduates to pursue research, offer them adequate living support during their studies, and enable them to seek out further opportunities as researchers on completion of their degree.
“The APA has had very poor fitness for purpose. CAPA’s submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities clearly showed that the APA has failed to keep pace with average weekly earnings, offers living support below the Henderson Poverty Line, and runs out well short of the time it takes to complete a quality research degree.
“In supporting postgraduates, research stipends not only help sustain close to 60% of Australia’s current R&D output, they also provide for Australia’s future innovation capacity, with the aim of supporting tomorrow’s world class teachers and researchers in the successful completion of a research higher degree.
“The importance of better support for the next generation of teachers and researchers was clearly highlighted in the House of Representatives Inquiry Report. In the context of an economic downturn, reforms like this certainly help make Australia “recovery ready”. We applaud the Federal Government, and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr in particular, for standing by a commitment to building Australia’s capacity for innovation, and for supporting the future of quality teaching and research in Australia’s universities.”
Coursework Postgraduates secure win in important student income support reforms
An estimated 40,000 coursework masters students will now be able to apply for Youth Allowance or Austudy thanks to important reforms to student income support announced in the 2009 Federal Budget.
“The Federal Government’s commitment to participation and equity in higher education is clear, based on today’s announcements” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.
The 2006 Australian University Student Finances Report found that full time postgraduate coursework students were among those enduring the most difficult financial circumstances. As the “Bradley” Review of Australian Higher Education made clear, student income support reform is a key priority in efforts to improve participation and equity in higher education. The logical starting point is with those who are currently the most disadvantaged.
“These measures also see an end to the awkward arrangements inherited from the previous Federal Government, where only masters students in courses meeting special criteria were able to apply for Youth Allowance or Austudy.
“Today the Federal Government has stood by a commitment to improving equity and participation in higher education. We commend the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in particular, in championing a student centred approach to higher education” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer concluded.