BUDGET MUST INCLUDE STUDENT SERVICES PROVISIONS
May 12, 2008
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) expects the Federal Government to include specific provisions aimed at restoring university students’ access to essential and student-oriented services in tomorrow’s Budget.
Following the extensive consultations and national review held by Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, earlier this year, NTEU expects the government will announce measures to counteract the negative impacts of voluntary student unionism (VSU) introduced by the Howard government.
Dr Carolyn Allport, National President of NTEU, said today:
“The introduction of VSU has seen the demise of essential services for many students at
“We have already seen a number of elected student organisations in several universities around the country wound up as a direct result of VSU, leaving those students without independent advocacy, fewer support services (if any) and no student organised campus activities.”
NTEU is also aware that there are a number of other student organisations in imminent danger of collapsing due to a lack of funding. There is an urgent need for action if we are to prevent the further disintegration of campus life in our universities.
Dr Allport continued, “NTEU is expecting the Government, as a minimum, to announce the introduction of a short term Student Services and Representative Transition Fund.
This fund will sustain existing student representative bodies in danger of collapse as well as provide ‘start-up’ funding for universities to re-establish student representative bodies where they have been lost as a result of VSU,”
“VSU had nothing to do with improving the quality of education offered to Australian students but rather sought to gag the student voice in policy debates.”
“It is essential that the almost one million students enrolled in Australian universities have access not only to adequate student support services and independent advocacy, but are also able to participate in the internal and external policy debates.” Dr Allport concluded.
For more information contact:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU national president: (03) 9254 1910