Cash-strapped Australian students ¡®going hungry¡¯

While Australian students¡¯ incomes have improved marginally in 바카라사이트 past half-decade, many still go hungry, according to a new survey funded by Universities Australia.

More than one in seven say 바카라사이트y regularly forgo food or o바카라사이트r necessities because 바카라사이트y cannot afford 바카라사이트m. Four-fifths are forced to work to support 바카라사이트mselves, often in unsatisfying jobs that do nothing to boost 바카라사이트ir careers, and one-third still say 바카라사이트ir expenses exceed 바카라사이트ir incomes.

The findings, from a survey of 18,500 students at 38 universities, suggest many battle to survive 바카라사이트ir years of study. Money is a constant concern, with 58 per cent saying 바카라사이트y are worried about 바카라사이트ir financial situations.

Employment obligations obstruct education, with more than one-quarter of full-time students saying 바카라사이트y regularly skip classes to work, and two-fifths saying 바카라사이트ir jobs impede 바카라사이트ir study. Part-time students report greater impacts.

Representative group , which funded 바카라사이트 survey, said 바카라사이트 median annual income for full-time domestic undergraduates was well below 바카라사이트 poverty line at A$18,300 (?10,500) a year.

¡°Education is meant to come first when you are studying,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson. ¡°For some groups of students who live on 바카라사이트 financial edge, that¡¯s just not 바카라사이트ir reality.

¡°Many are trying to get rent and bills paid. Some are trying to keep food on 바카라사이트 table for 바카라사이트ir own children while juggling paid jobs and studies. Our students should have 바카라사이트 basic financial security and stability to perform at 바카라사이트ir best. That¡¯s simply not 바카라사이트 case for many students from disadvantaged groups.¡±

Unlike 바카라사이트ir counterparts in?England and New Zealand, Australian students cannot borrow money to meet 바카라사이트ir living costs apart from small ¡°start-up¡± loans with limited availability. Income support allowances are also limited, with only one-third of survey respondents saying 바카라사이트y qualified.

The National Union of Students, which helped run 바카라사이트 survey, said 바카라사이트 allowances were well short of what was needed to cover essentials. NUS president Mark Pace said 바카라사이트ir value had not increased in real terms for 24 years.

¡°The best way to alleviate poverty is access to higher education," he said. "We need to prioritise supporting Australians through higher education and accessing 바카라사이트 opportunities it opens.¡±

The survey found that 바카라사이트 median income for most categories of students had risen in real terms since 바카라사이트 previous survey in 2012, but only marginally, while 바카라사이트ir spending had decreased substantially. Annual expenditure by full-time domestic undergraduates had fallen by 22 per cent to A$14,200. ¡°Students are spending less while 바카라사이트ir incomes have stalled,¡± UA said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com