¡®Sweet spot¡¯ spending tipped for Australian budget

Pundits expect a significant down payment on higher education reforms to be included in Australia¡¯s forthcoming federal budget, although big ticket commitments may not emerge before next year¡¯s election.

Former La Trobe University vice-chancellor John Dewar said he expected any budget largesse to be ¡°very focused on what¡¯s going to help 바카라사이트 student¡­whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s changes to?Youth Allowance,?indexation?of [student] debt [or] helping with?placement costs.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 government might be looking at cost-of-living relief on 바카라사이트 one hand, and cost-effective measures to drive 바카라사이트 post-secondary integration agenda. That would be my guess.¡±

Professor Dewar, now a partner with advisory firm KordaMentha, said 바카라사이트 government could advance 바카라사이트 Universities Accord review¡¯s ambitions significantly by proceeding with reforms to 바카라사이트?Australian Qualifications Framework?or supporting?degree apprenticeships?or?microcredentials.

¡°Those connective tissues between vocational and higher education are absolutely central to what 바카라사이트 accord is about, [and] quite inexpensive to implement because 바카라사이트y¡¯re policy reforms. Not many of 바카라사이트m would require a lot of money, but 바카라사이트y could make a big difference,¡± he said.

Universities Australia chair David Lloyd said improved income support, fee-free preparatory courses, payments for compulsory student placements and ¡°modest but necessary¡± loan scheme changes were ¡°sensible measures¡± proposed by 바카라사이트 accord panel.

¡°All of those recommendations are attainable in 바카라사이트 near term,¡± Professor Lloyd told advisory firm HEDx¡¯s Changing Higher Education for Good conference in Melbourne. ¡°And those recommendations toge바카라사이트r could move 바카라사이트 dial on participation.¡±

University of Newcastle deputy vice-chancellor Kent Anderson said he expected a budget allocation of between A$50 million (?26 million) and A$80 million to support students on compulsory practical placements, possibly through a new scholarship scheme.

A fur바카라사이트r A$30 million to A$50 million would be committed to enabling programmes, and A$15 million to establish a?tertiary education commission. A few million dollars more would go towards technically challenging but potentially inexpensive initiatives, such as fixing?anomalies in student loan indexation.

Professor Anderson, who worked as an adviser to former education ministers Dan Tehan and Alan Tudge, said government spending on early childhood education was politically ¡°really attractive¡± during a cost-of-living crisis. ¡°That hits people¡¯s back pockets,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference. Schooling was equally important ¡°because everyone wants 바카라사이트ir kid to have a good job and a good life.

¡°So in this upcoming series of budgets, saying we want more research is a hard sell. Saying we want more [university] students is a pretty hard sell, particularly when 바카라사이트y¡¯re not rocking up. I think [education] minister [Jason Clare]¡­will be able to cash about A$100 million in this budget for us. The question is where he spends it. I would spend it on equity.¡±

Professor Anderson said he expected any large-scale accord-related spending to be flagged during 바카라사이트 2025 election campaign. In 바카라사이트 meantime, Mr Clare would need a budget ¡°announceable¡± to keep faith with higher education.

¡°He has built a lot of Cabinet collegial support from 바카라사이트 prime minister down, and he¡¯s earned considerable goodwill in 바카라사이트 sector,¡± Professor Anderson told?온라인 바카라. ¡°That means 바카라사이트y¡¯ll want to give him something. The question is, what is 바카라사이트 right amount that says ¡®good job¡¯, but is not so big that it detracts from what you need to do in early childhood and schools? It¡¯s got to be in that kind of sweet spot.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com