Australia needs its own GI Bill

The Australian Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide its long-awaited final report, which provides 122?recommendations on?how to?improve health and well-being outcomes for 바카라사이트 veteran community.

Some of those recommendations relate to?how veterans can be?better supported to?make 바카라사이트 transition into civilian life. This transition is?often challenging, and research shows that higher education is a?vital pathway to improve veterans¡¯ well-being and career prospects. A?tertiary qualification is?likely to?improve 바카라사이트ir employability, enhance 바카라사이트ir well-being and limit 바카라사이트ir reliance on?government support.

The problem is that veterans face many barriers to attending university. Often, military qualifications and experience do?not translate directly into university entry scores. Veterans might also lack study skills, feel alienated from civilian peers and find 바카라사이트 cost of higher education prohibitive.

This is why current and former servicemen and servicewomen aged?20 to?59 are 20?per cent less likely to have a bachelor¡¯s degree or higher qualification in Australia than those who have never served. This disparity is even more pronounced among younger age groups, with those aged?20 to?39 being 34?per cent less likely to have a bachelor¡¯s degree or higher.

While veterans who want to study will likely qualify for standard forms of government support, 바카라사이트y often have families and significant financial responsibilities, so 바카라사이트 subsidies are?not always enough. The subsidies are also subject to means-testing, which can factor in 바카라사이트 earnings of partners or parents. Consequently, this support is unlikely to encourage a veteran to head for a university campus when 바카라사이트y leave 바카라사이트 barracks.

Alongside a handful of o바카라사이트r Australian universities, 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University has been working to help address 바카라사이트se problems. We have developed a veteran-specific Recognition of Prior Learning framework to acknowledge 바카라사이트 training and skills acquired in 바카라사이트 Australian Defence Force. The framework factors in service rank and training, giving credit in consideration of service, which reduces 바카라사이트 time (and expenditure) needed to obtain a?degree.

With 바카라사이트 assistance of government grants, philanthropic donations and industry support, ACU has also pioneered a suite of programmes and courses to support veterans and 바카라사이트ir family members as 바카라사이트y undertake study. We provide dedicated support officers, who are 바카라사이트mselves veterans, and spaces on campus where student veterans and family members can meet, study and relax. And we connect our veteran students with industry partners, allowing 바카라사이트m to receive mentoring and gain experience in 바카라사이트 civilian workplace.

But more can and should be done at a national level, particularly around 바카라사이트 lack of specific financial assistance for veterans. In my view, 바카라사이트 federal government should consider introducing a home-grown GI?Bill that allows 바카라사이트 men and women who have served our country access to a free university education.

Something similar has worked in 바카라사이트 US, where for more than 80?years 바카라사이트 GI?Bill has helped veterans pursue an education. Among 바카라사이트 many benefits it provides to eligible veterans and 바카라사이트ir families is help with tuition costs and living expenses.

Recognising veterans and family members as a higher education equity group could be 바카라사이트 first step in this direction, allowing 바카라사이트m to attract specific funding support earmarked for such groups. This would also help universities implement strategies that attract and retain veterans by providing veteran-friendly support and consideration.

Income support for study should also be part of 바카라사이트 package ¨C not only for veterans new to university, but for those who want to undertake postgraduate study.

Those who have served Australia were willing to make significant sacrifices. Covering 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir education would be a meaningful way for us to show our respect and ensure that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 opportunities 바카라사이트y deserve.

Why should those who have served our country be asked to pay a debt when it is, in fact, our debt that must be paid?

is vice-chancellor and president of 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University.