[Anthropgrad] FW: [Parsanews] CAPA Federal Budget Media Release (payment increase for students)

[Phoenix Freeman]

------ Forwarded Message



From: Nigel Palmer [mailto:president at capa.edu.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 13 May 2009 11:42 AM
To: president at capa.edu.au
Subject: **** CAPA Federal Budget Media Release: Tuesday May 12th *****
 

Dear colleague,

 

Please find below text from media statements issued by CAPA yesterday
evening in response to measures announced in the 2009 Federal Budget.

 

 

*** Attention Education Journalists:  Tuesday May 12, 2009  ***

 
Landmark Reforms for Postgraduates in 2009 Federal Budget
Research Postgraduates win long awaited stipend rate increase
³The increase in the stipend rate for Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
recipients is an important step toward ensuring the sustainability of
Australia¹s capacity for innovation, and for Australia¹s universities² CAPA
President, Nigel Palmer said.
 
³The aims of the APA scheme are to attract talented graduates to pursue
research, offer them adequate living support during their studies, and
enable them to seek out further opportunities as researchers on completion
of their degree.  
 

 
³The APA has had very poor fitness for purpose. CAPA¹s submission to the
House of Representatives Inquiry into Research Training and Research
Workforce Issues in Australian Universities clearly showed that the APA has
failed to keep pace with average weekly earnings, offers living support
below the Henderson Poverty Line, and runs out well short of the time it
takes to complete a quality research degree.
 
³In supporting postgraduates, research stipends not only help sustain close
to 60% of Australia¹s current R&D output, they also provide for Australia¹s
future innovation capacity, with the aim of supporting tomorrow¹s world
class teachers and researchers in the successful completion of a research
higher degree.
 
³The importance of better support for the next generation of teachers and
researchers was clearly highlighted in the House of Representatives Inquiry
Report.  In the context of an economic downturn, reforms like this certainly
help make Australia ³recovery ready².  We applaud the Federal Government,
and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr
in particular, for standing by a commitment to building Australia¹s capacity
for innovation, and for supporting the future of quality teaching and
research in Australia¹s universities.²
 
 
 
Coursework Postgraduates secure win in important student income support
reforms 
An estimated 40,000 coursework masters students will now be able to apply
for Youth Allowance or Austudy thanks to important reforms to student income
support announced in the 2009 Federal Budget.
 
³The Federal Government¹s commitment to participation and equity in higher
education is clear, based on today¹s announcements² CAPA President, Nigel
Palmer said.
 
The 2006 Australian University Student Finances Report found that full time
postgraduate coursework students were among those enduring the most
difficult financial circumstances.  As the ³Bradley² Review of Australian
Higher Education made clear, student income support reform is a key priority
in efforts to improve participation and equity in higher education. The
logical starting point is with those who are currently the most
disadvantaged.
 

 
³These measures also see an end to the awkward arrangements inherited from
the previous Federal Government, where only masters students in courses
meeting special criteria were able to apply for Youth Allowance or Austudy.
 
³Today the Federal Government has stood by a commitment to improving equity
and participation in higher education.  We commend the Deputy Prime Minister
Julia Gillard in particular, in championing a student centred approach to
higher education² CAPA President, Nigel Palmer concluded.
 
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Contact for comment on budget night:
CAPA President Nigel Palmer ­ 0405 448 147
                   
CAPA is the national peak body representing Australia's 270,000+
postgraduate students.
Level 3, Trades Hall, 2 Lygon St, Carlton South, VIC, 3053.  www.capa.edu.au
<http://www.capa.edu.au/>

 

______________________________

Nigel Palmer
National President, 2009
Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA)
Level 3, Trades Hall
2 Lygon St
Carlton South VIC 3053
Mobile 0405 448 147
Phone (03) 9650 7666
Fax (03) 9650 5011
president at capa.edu.au
www.capa.edu.au
______________________________

 

 


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