Labor pledge to help more battlers into university
DEAKIN has welcomed a federal Labor Party pledge to invest $174 million to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain places at university.
Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek yesterday announced a Labor Government would invest an extra $174 million to “help ensure all Australians get the chance to study at uni”.
“Our $174 million commitment will go towards mentoring, support and other specialised programs designed to boost opportunities for uni study in communities where graduation rates are low,” Ms Plibersek said.
Deakin University vicechancellor Jane den Hollander said the funding would boost programs already offered by many universities, such as Deakin.
“As Victoria’s first regional university, we are acutely aware that the higher education gap between regional and metropolitan communi- ties is real,” Professor den Hollander said.
“With more than 20 per cent of our 60,000 students coming from regional and rural communities, we know that young people from country backgrounds are less likely to engage in higher education or training than their metropolitan counterparts — but we also know when a young person is given the opportunity to have an education, their outcomes improve.
“We welcome any policy and funding that supports the work we do at Deakin to encourage disadvantaged students.
“Deakin remains convinced that a world class and equitable higher education system requires strong and consistent policy and long-term government investment supported by private contribution.
“We know regional communities like Geelong need an increasingly skilled workforce if we are to meet the needs of the new world and the jobs that are created.”