Universities Australia: The peak body representing Australia's Universities

Equity & access

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Universities Australia policy and information relating specifically to student equity, access and participation in university study - including students from rural and regional areas, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and Indigenous students.

A separate index is available relating to Indigenous issues more broadly, including Indigenous cultural knowledge, reconciliation, and the Indigenous workforce.

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Policy & advocacy

  • Implementation Universities Australia welcomed the decision by Government to accept all the recommendations of the Review led by Michael Knight which sensibly mirrored the views of the higher education sector as articulated in the universities' submission to the Review.¦ Read More
  • The Knight Review Universities Australia welcomed the release recently of the Government's response to the Strategic Review of the Student Visa Program 2011 (the Knight Review) . Universities Australia considers the report's recommendations have sensibly mirrored the views of the sector as articulated in the ...¦ Read More
  • Scholarships Universities Australia supports scholarships for both outbound Australian students wishing to broaden their expereince and knowledge through exchange, and international students wanting to call Australia their temporary home as they travel for a world class education in one of the most desirable ...¦ Read More
  • Student Engagement Student Safety Universities Australia understands that safety is of upmost importance for international students and is comitted to ensuring that their experience studying abroad is not diminished because of such concerns.¦ Read More
  • Enhancing the Student Experience Awardees Universities Australia was commissioned by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to "provide selected organisations with small grants to undertake innovative projects on international students' experience".¦ Read More

Submissions & reports

  • Regional Loading March 2010 Executive Summary Universities Australia strongly supports a policy framework that facilitates student choice of study location and ensures that sustainable, high quality regional university provision is a key part of the choices available.¦ Read More
  • Performance funding February 2010 General comments The discussion paper specifically, and the entire Performance Funding program more generally, needs to be more clearly connected to university Compacts.¦ Read More
  • HEPPP February 2010 Universities Australia welcomes the development of the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) and strongly supports the intention behind the allocation of funding to support low Socio-Economic Status (SES) participation and educational partnerships.¦ Read More
  • Measuring SES February 2010 Universities Australia is the peak body representing the university sector. Universities Australia represents Australia's thirty nine universities in the public interest, both nationally and internationally.¦ Read More
  • Rural & regional access October 2009 Universities Australia made a submission to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee's inquiry into Rural and Regional access to Secondary and Tertiary Education Opportunities.¦ Read More
  • Response to the Bradley Review February 2009 Universities Australia remains strongly supportive of the Review and the overall direction of its recommendations.¦ Read More
  • Bradley Review submission July 2008 Australia's universities contribute substantially to Australia's national goals. They are central to each of economic progress, social development and ecological sustainability: the nation's triple bottom line.¦ Read More
  • VSU impact February 2008 Universities Australia provided a submission to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations discussion paper The Impact of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) on Services, Amenities and Representation for Australian University Students.¦ Read More
  • Participation and equity Universities Australia commissioned the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at The University of Melbourne to review available literature and data relating to the participation and success of people from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds and Indigenous people in Australian higher ...¦ Read More
  • Student finances survey The Australian University Student Finances Survey has been undertaken since the mid-1970s on approximately a five yearly basis.¦ Read More
  • Student services & amenities February 2009 Universities Australia wishes to thank the Committee for the invitation to make a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009.¦ Read More
  • Bradley preliminary statement April 2008 Introduction Universities Australia welcomes the Review of Australian Higher Education and will be pleased to help the Committee in any way that it can. We consider the future of our universities to be critical for the future of Australia.¦ Read More

Media centre

  • Taste of harmony Universities Australia is a proud supporter of A Taste of Harmony, which encourages all workplaces to celebrate cultural diversity.¦ Read More
  • Implementing Bradley Review Universities Australia expressed strong support for the announcements made today by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP as she opened the inaugural Universities Australia Higher Education Conference in Canberra.¦ Read More
  • Federal Budget Universities Australia applauds the Government for delivering real outcomes for Australia through the university sector, announced as part of the 2009-2010 Budget.¦ Read More
  • Student equity measures The Federal Parliament will resume debate over important changes to student income support and student services and amenities next week.¦ Read More
  • Higher Education Review Universities Australia Chair, Professor Richard Larkins and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Glenn Withers welcome today's announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon.¦ Read More
  • Equity and participation in higher education Universities Australia today released its action plan to address participation and equity levels in higher education of people from low socio-economic backgrounds and Indigenous people.¦ Read More
  • Higher education discussion paper Joint media release by Universities Australia and the University Chancellors Council (UCC): Review of Higher Education Discussion Paper welcomed Universities Australia and the University Chancellors' Council welcomed the release of the much anticipated Review of Higher Education Review ...¦ Read More
  • Government's plan to re-build student services Universities Australia today expressed strong support for Minister for Youth, the Hon. Kate Ellis' announcement to re-build much needed student support services in Australia's universities.¦ Read More
  • Bradley Review of Higher Education Universities Australia is impressed by the bold vision for the sector evident in the Review of Australian Higher Education jointly released today by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP and the Chair of the Review Panel, Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC.¦ Read More
  • Low completion rates for indigenous students The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) has today welcomed the report Completing University: Characteristics and Outcomes of Completing and Non-Completing Students by The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).¦ Read More
  • Equity and access to universities Universities Australia will commission a study into equity and access to universities for low socio-economic status students, as agreed at its Board meeting today in Canberra.¦ Read More
  • Universities call for two practical changes to student income support Universities Australia today releases the final report from its commissioned national survey of almost 19,000 students across all 37 public universities - Australian University Student Finances 2006.¦ Read More
  • Equity and access to university Universities Australia is delighted by the announcement today of the establishment of a National Centre for Student Equity In Higher Education by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop.¦ Read More
  • Federal election statement Australia's ability to prosper as a productive, healthy and sustainable society depends crucially on its capacity to make the most of its people's potential. The future is one of rapid change, with enormous social and environmental challenges, and economic restructuring.¦ Read More
  • Relief as scholarships for Libyan students resume Universities Australia has welcomed news that Libyan students will have access to their full monthly stipend from January 1 2012, with the Libyan Embassy today announcing they have begun to receive funds to support more than 650 students and their families currently studying in Australia.¦ Read More