Special thanks to 2007 RMIT University placement students Geoffrey Mead and Kirstin Ritchie for assisting in the compilation of these figures.

• It appears likely that parental educational levels (and parental occupation levels) are the best predictor of the likelihood of higher education participation. (Universities Australia – 2008)
• While rural students make up a third of the secondary student population, they only contribute 17% to those in tertiary education. (ABC online – 2007)
• Commonwealth figures demonstrate the significant reduction over the past decade in unmet demand for TAFE places. However, the decrease, from 69,400, still leaves 34,200 places in demand. (DEST – 2006)
• Vocational educational training (VET) appears to have more appeal than higher education for some people from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds. The participation rates of low SES people relative to medium/high SES people are stronger in VET than in higher education. However, despite the higher rate of VET participation there is still a shortfall in overall participation in tertiary education for people from low SES backgrounds. (Universities Australia – 2008)
  [Getting there - JustAct alternatives for change]

• For performance at university access to education, rather than success once enrolled, is a key problem for low socio-economic status (SES) students (however, low SES remote students and Indigenous Australian students continue to lack positive outcomes from university participation once enrolled). (Universities Australia – 2008)
• About 70% of full-time undergraduates work an average of 15 hours a week during a semester – 39% believed their paid employment had an adverse affect on their studies. (Universities Australia – 2007)
• One in eight students reported that they regularly go without food or other necessities because they cannot afford them. (Universities Australia – 2007)
• The maximum Youth Allowance benefit that can be received by a student under 25 and living in a share house is 38% ($245 per fortnight) below the poverty line ($645.15 per fortnight). (National Union of Students – 2006)
• Although payments are helpful, the Youth Allowance eligibility criteria are far too strict, and Youth Allowance does not address the needs of regional Australians, creating a barrier to tertiary education. (Godden – Monash University, Charles Sturt University, The Foundation for Young Australians, and The University of Western Australia – 2007)
• A Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) report found that at least four postgraduate student associations have been reduced to 5% of their pre-voluntary student unionism (VSU) funding, while their staff numbers have been cut by half. Importantly, representation and advocacy services for students (often beneficial for students considering leaving their courses) have been severely reduced. (Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations – 2007)
• Cutbacks resulting from voluntary student unionism are expected to negatively impact low-income and rural students. One university has been forced to halve its yearly $10,000 budget for food vouchers and eliminate a textbook subsidy, while another has been forced to terminate its $1500 interest-free loan scheme. (Students’ Representatives Council, University of Sydney – 2007)

Note: In 2008 the Commonwealth Government is considering changes to current laws unfavourable to student organisations. Check out this 2009 update on student income support. [Staying there - JustAct alternatives for change]

• Students from high socio-economic (SES) backgrounds are far more likely to pay their HECS/FEE-HELP fees up-front, leaving students from lower SES backgrounds with a large debt upon entering the workforce and a consequent lower after-tax income. (Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management – 2006)
• The national HECS debt has reached nearly $13 billion with the Government expecting close to 20% ($2.5 billion) not to be paid back (DEST – 2007), while one in three OECD nations provide free education. (OECD – 2007)
• Professor Richard James has found that two-thirds of secondary students expressed a preference for university over other options. (National Centre for Vocational Research- 2007)
• Despite a preference for university study over other types of tertiary education only half the proportion of those aspiring to will go on to university and realise their aspirations. (Dusseldorp Skills Forum – 2007).
• Although TAFE graduates have greater labour force participation than university graduates, they are twice as likely to be employed part-time (25% compared to 12%) and more than twice as likely to be unemployed (12% compared to 5%). (NCVER – 2002).
  [Beyond - JustAct alternatives for change]

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