Latest News
WUSA has survived the Review
At the last University Council meeting in August, the University voted to continue to recognise WUSA as the undergraduate student representative body. Recommendations were put forward that if implemented will strengthen student representation.
From here, WUSA will now begin negotiations with UOW for case-by-case funding. WUSA has already gained UOW support to have election costs of $20,000 covered to ensure that all undergraduates have the opportunity to vote. Now WUSA hopes to see improved financial support similar to other Universities across the country.
Higher Education Bulletin
The 2007 Federal Budget did not rectify 10 long years of under-funding by this Government but there were additional student income support measures, including a win for the Democrats with the extension of Rent Assistance to Austudy recipients. The $5 billion Higher Education Endowment Fund is an overdue investment in higher education infrastructure but much depends on the fine print that we have yet to see.
There were also some 'stings in the tail' which give some clue as to the extent to which the Howard Government plans to reform the higher education sector. In some cases, these changes have been quite radical and could drastically reduce the Commonwealth's role as primary patron of higher education.
See attachments for more details.
NUS Election 2007 Policy Analysis
What Future Will You Chose? - Election 2007 What's In It for Students?
want to get clued up for the upcoming Federal Election - which political party will represent your interests when in Government?
Check out the National Union of Students Report Card that identifies 10 key issue of importance for students. The report card gives students and the broader community information about where the major parties stand on these key issues.
To read full report, download the linked file.
Unis count cost of lost union fees
Jewel Topsfield
Age, November 2, 2007
MORE than 1000 jobs have been slashed at universities, hundreds of
student services have shut down and sporting club membership has
dropped by almost 20 per cent following the Federal Government's ban
on compulsory union fees.
A report on the impact of voluntary student unionism also accuses the
Government of using the $40 million a year transition fund - to help
universities cope with the loss of fees - as a pork barrel in
Coalition electorates.
"Campuses in Coalition-held seats received in total more than twice
the funding Š compared to the campuses in Opposition-held seats,"
said the report by Australian University Sport and the Australasian
Campus Union Managers Association.
Designed to depoliticise service delivery on campus, the voluntary
student unionism laws banned universities from collecting $179
million a year in compulsory union fees. These were used for services
Students lose union cash to HECS
The Australian: Brendan O'Keefe | November 01, 2007
HECS increases in the past two years have eaten away any extra money
students had in their pockets since voluntary unionism made service
fees non-compulsory. A report on the impact of VSU by Australian University Sport and the
Australasian Campus Union Managers Association said many domestic,
full-time, undergraduate students were worse off because of the
legislation.
The report says: "For students subject to HECS fees and who first
enrolled in 2005 or subsequently, the level of increase in HECS fees
in real terms relative to the 2004 year - and even after taking
account of the increased repayment threshold - has on average
significantly more than consumed any economic benefits gained from no
longer being required to pay compulsory amenities and services fees."
HECS increases had increased students' future debts and way beyond
the $300 to $400 they saved on amenities fees. And as student unions