CAPA Submissions

CAPA represents the views and concerns of postgraduate students in its dealings with State and Federal parliamentary bodies by writing submissions on pressing educational policy issues. CAPA through its network of established peak body and government contacts and monitoring of the higher education sector provides detailed submissions in response to government policy directions on matters concerning the needs of postgraduate students.

Base Funding (Lomax-Smith) Review

At CAPA's 2010 Annual Council Meeting, postgraduate representatives from across Australia engaged in a lengthy discussion to revise existing CAPA policy on the funding of higher education. We ultimately ratified the following policy principles, which have fundamentally shaped the recommendations in this submission:

Submission in response to Inquiry into the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010

On Tuesday 21 October 2010 the Selection Committee asked the Committee to inquire into and report on the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010.

The Committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Thursday 4 November 2010.

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into New Student Fees under the Senate Select Committee on the Scrutiny of New Taxes

On 30 September 2010 the Senate referred the following matter to the Select Committee on New Taxes for inquiry and report.

CAPA's submission in response to the Strengthening the AQF Consultation Paper

The AQF Council is seeking stakeholder comments on the full package of specifications and policies as part of a strengthened AQF.

The AQF Council met on Wednesday 16 June 2010 and agreed on the package of policies that should comprise the strengthened AQF, including:

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010

The Migration Amendment (Visa Capping) Bill 2010 (the Bill) seeks to amend the Migration Act 1958 to enable the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (the Minister) to cap visa grants and terminate visa applications based on the class or classes of applicant applying for the visa.

Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Inquiry into the Migration Treatment of Disability

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, the Hon Bill Shorten, have asked the Committee to undertake an inquiry relating to the health requirement in the Migration Act.

Submission to the Review of the ESOS Act 2009

About the Review

The  Hon Bruce Baird is reviewing the Education Services for Overseas Students  (ESOS) Act 2000 and he has called for feedback on Australia’s  international education sector to feed into the process that will help to  further enhance both the quality of education and protection of international  students in Australia.

Submission: Inquiry into Income Support for Students Bill 2009 and Rural and Regional access to Tertiary Education Opportunities

The following is in response to the invitation for submissions to the Senate Inquiry into the Social Security and Other Legislations Amendment (Income Support for Students) Bill 2009, which has also adopted terms of reference from the Senate Inquiry into Rural and Regional access to Secondary and Tertiary Education Opportunities. 

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into International Student Welfare

[From the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website]

On 17 June 2009 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee for inquiry and report:

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2009

[From the Senate Committee website]

On 12 February 2009, the Senate referred the provisions of the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009 to the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for report by 10 March 2009.

Supplementary Submission to the House of Reps Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Aust Universities

On 23 April 2008 the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation to undertake an inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities.
The Committee invited interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday 30 May 2008.

Submission in response to the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Initiative Consultation Paper

On the 4th of June 2008 Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, announced the release of the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative consultation paper.

Administered by Australian Research Council (ARC), the Consultation Paper was the first formal step in communicating with the sector regarding the ERA initiative (it is worth noting that the ERA is being administered by the ARC, whereas its predecessor, the Research Quality Framework (RQF), was administered by the (then) Department of Education, Science and Training(then DEST, now DEEWR)).

Submission to the Future Fellowships Consultation Paper

On the 23rd of May 2008 Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, called for interested Australians to respond to a consultation paper on the development of the Government’s new Future Fellowships scheme.

In the Federal Budget, the Government met its election commitment to fund the $844 million Future Fellowships scheme for top mid-career researchers.