Media Release: Student Services and Amenities Bill means Universities have both Opportunity and Obligation
While the long awaited passage today of the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and other measures) Bill 2010 gives universities the resources to rebuild student services on campuses, it also makes universities responsible for ensuring that students have independent representation and have an active role in how their money is to be spent.
National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) President Jeannie Rea said today, “In giving universities the right to charge up to $263 (indexed annually) per student, universities should be engaging with their students in determining the right mechanisms for both services and representation.”
“The evidence is clear that loss of student services in the university sector has been devastating. This Bill gives universities the opportunity to re-establish essential health, welfare and academic advocacy services, which were either reduced or abandoned in almost every university in the country.”
“However, universities must recognise that under the Bill and associated Guidelines there is an obligation on their part to ensure that students play an active and independent role in the allocation of funds derived from their SSAF fee.”
“NTEU strongly believes that autonomous student organisations are by far the best mechanism for delivering student orientated services, activities and representation, and we call on universities to work co-operatively in negotiating agreements that are not only in the best interests of the students, but ensures that they have a meaningful voice.”
Ms Rea concluded, “It may be some time before campus culture will be at the level it was prior to the devastating effects of the anti student organisation legislation bought in by the Coalition. However, NTEU is optimistic that, with the good will and effort of all concerned, student services and representation will be revitalised and renewed.”
For more information or comment contact:
Jeannie Rea, NTEU President, 0434 609 531
Paul Kniest, Policy and Research Co-ordinator, 0418 170 622
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Branch Contacts
Branch Office
Room 412 Seddon Bdg (82D) St Lucia Campus
University of Queensland
Phone: 07 3365 2538
Fax: 07 3365 2949
uq@nteu.org.au
http://www.nteu.org.au/uq
Andrew Bonnell
Branch President
a.bonnell@uq.edu.au
Lachlan Hurse
Branch Organiser
lhurse@nteu.org.au
Comments
[ -1 ] How is relieving struggling students of 200-300$ a year ASSISTING us? Its just blatant abuse of power flying under the banner of 'social inclusion'. I'm not even on campus so will never see a cent of the fee returned to me. - UWA Honors student
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