Charles Sturt University’s Post

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Charles Sturt University welcomes the Government’s announcements of paid placements for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students, and relief for study debts. These measures were recommended in the Australian Universities Accord final report. University students have been forced to overcome substantial financial barriers to complete placements and pay for their courses, especially in recent times when cost-of-living expenses have hit hard. Australia’s productivity and wellbeing depends on enabling more students to attend and graduate from university, filling essential skills gaps for our communities. While these changes are welcomed, it is disheartening that financial support for students on placements will not commence until July next year. Students need this money now. In 2023, Charles Sturt had more than 16,000 student placements, totaling more than 1.9 million hours, many of which must be completed away from their hometowns. We are anticipating similar figures in 2024 and argue strongly that these students need to receive these payments to support them to continue their studies. These measures are a welcome start to addressing the cost of university education especially for regional and equity students, but more is needed. The University calls on the government to urgently develop the needs-based funding model that will enable universities to support equity students to succeed. - Professor Renée Leon Vice-Chancellor

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