Federation University has welcomed the Federal Government’s higher education reform package, which has a strong focus on regional and remote students.
Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett congratulated Education Minister Dan Tehan on the reform package and said it actions a number of the recommendations identified in the National Regional, Rural and Remote Tertiary Education Strategy (2019).
The new package aims to grow university places in regional Australia by 3.5 percent a year and will support regional, remote and Indigenous students to undertake high-level tertiary studies.
It includes lower student fees for subjects like nursing, psychology, teaching, engineering and science.
Professor Bartlett commended the additional $400 million over four years for regional students, universities and communities, and said the support was timely as regional and rural campuses offered Federation’s students a safe and affordable environment for gaining a high-quality education and accessing well-paid jobs.
The University also welcomed the package’s focus on boosting regional research opportunities through a collaborative grants program that will fund regional universities to partner with industry and other universities.
The Education Minister also announced that a new national regional, rural and remote Education Commissioner would be established to champion higher education and oversee the implementation and monitoring of the government’s Regional Education Strategy.
Federation University is the number one university in Australia for First Generation Student Enrolments and number one in Victoria for Social Equity (Good Universities Guide).
“All Australians, regardless of where they live or their background, deserve fair and equal access to a high-quality education and support to achieve a fulfilling career,” said Professor Bartlett.
“This provides tertiary education in regional, rural and remote Australia, with practical and focused actions moving forward. Students, communities and providers should benefit from the new reform package. Regional, rural and remote students, communities and tertiary education providers will also benefit from this decision.”
