September 12, 2024

IRU Response: Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024

The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024. In our submission to the Universities Accord, IRU raised many of the issues this Bill seeks to address and we look forward to seeing these and further measures implemented as the government works through the remaining Accord recommendations. 

Summary IRU position 

The IRU supports: 

• Changes to the HECS-HELP system to cap the indexation rate to either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index (WPI), whichever is the lower. 
• Applying a credit to students’ HELP accounts to ensure the indexation cap has effect from 1 June 2023. 
• The new Commonwealth Prac Payments Scheme to support teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students to complete university placements. 
• Expansion of enabling programs through new funding for ‘FEE-FREE Uni Ready Courses’. 

The IRU recommends that government considers: 

• Further work to address the issue of student debt, including unwinding of the Job-Ready Graduate package and its impact on the cost of degrees. 
• Expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme over time to the full range of equity group students who have mandatory placement requirements as part of their course of study. 
• Different arrangements to ensure the most efficient and effective administration of the Commonwealth Prac Payments program. 
• Increased flexibility to better manage the governance and service provision issues around the obligation to provide 40 per cent of Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF) to student-led organisations. 

Read the full submission here.