Talking Stick - January 2012 - 11

Australian Legislation Update
From 2008 to 2012, the Australian undergraduate population will have increased by 20 percent, according to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). In the last year alone, undergraduate students at public colleges and universities rose from 480,000 to 500,000 students. In September 2011, the Australian Parliament passed the Higher Education Support Amendment (Demand Driven Funding System and Other Measures) Bill, developing a demand-driven funding system for higher education. The government is now responsible for providing its funding contribution for every enrolled domestic undergraduate student, according to the DEEWR. Before this amendment, government funding was limited to undergraduate students, preventing higher education providers from expanding by enrolling all eligible students. Colleges and universities now have the opportunity to determine enrollment numbers for their courses and student housing while maintaining higher education standards. However, some Australian institutions do not expect the majority of college students to live on campus, according to Kasia Quail, manager of student life at Deakin College in Geelong, Victoria. “Even if there is an increase in demand, we will still only house as many students as we have accommodation for,” she says. As a result of this legislation, Quail expects students to cluster at metropolitan colleges and universities, which could cause regional campuses to suffer. However, there is more privatized housing available for students in larger cities. The government also supports the increase of student accommodation through the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), which funds housing for low-income residents. Additionally, another section of the Higher Education Support Amendment, titled Student Services and Amenities, passed in October 2011. As a result of this legislation, Australian institutions are now permitted to charge a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) up to $263 per each full-time student in 2012, according to the DEEWR. The SSAF will be indexed annually, and the revenue from this can be spent on non-academic services, such as recreational activities and employment and career advice. Colleges and universities previously required a student activities fee, and Quail thinks the reintroduction will not upset the students. “When it was abolished the universities themselves picked up the slack and students’ perception of support services was that nothing had changed,” she says. “They were far more upset recently when this university announced an increase in car parking fees!” — Kristen Lott

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In the next Talking STick
Coming in the March + April issue: · · · How members are telling their retention success stories. Checking in on the political engagement of students. What are the issues for male students on campus today?

january + february 2012

Talking Stick - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - January 2012