ABSTUDY RESTRUCTURE PRE-EMPTS GOVERNMENT REVIEW INTO SCHEME
June 9 2004
A Federal Government review into changes to ABSTUDY has been pre-empted by plans to reduce the number of administration centres responsible for the assessing of ABSTUDY claims from 14 to 4 nationally.
In May this year, the Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson announced the Government would make changes to existing Indigenous Education support programs as part of the 2004 budget, yet the Government failed to report their plans to restructure ABSTUDY in that statement.
In addition, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training is currently conducting a review into the impacts of changes made to ABSTUDY in 2000 and will issue a discussion paper in late July. This restructure timetable totally preempts this review.
“In not providing any details in their 2004 Budget announcement, the Federal Government has chosen the back door to implement this restructure departmentally and has exacerbated Indigenous peoples concerns about the possible effects,” said Joel Wright, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Indigenous Officer.
“These concerns relate to delays in processing of claims, handling of queries and reduced student access to Indigenous officers. This is likely to result in a decline in the number of Indigenous participants in education.”
“The Government as a matter of good policy and decent courtesy should await the completion of the ABSTUDY review and the tabling of its report to Parliament before any further changes are made,” said Wright.
A Centrelink spokesperson said the decision to restructure was made to improve service delivery and reduce operating costs. The spokesperson also confirmed the decision was made without any consultation with Indigenous education stakeholders including the newly established Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council under the Ministry for Education, Science and Training.
“The Federal Government should follow through with its existing review into ABSTUDY, including holding consultations around the country, before it makes any changes to the administration of ABSTUDY.
For information and comment:
Maureen Ah Sam, Chair, NTEU Indigenous Tertiary Education Policy Committee: 040535 8164
Joel Wright, NTEU Indigenous Officer: 0408 525 492.