Final piece on university reform: Needs based funding – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd

The third piece of the Federal Government’s structural reforms for the tertiary education system is needs based funding. This is a very significant change and is a direct response to the Accord Committee’s recommendations regarding skills and equity.

As the Australian Universities Accord – Final Report states on page 42: “The Australian Government committed to establishing an Australian Universities Accord to reform Australia’s higher education system so that it can drive nationwide skills and equity growth in particular, and economic, social and environmental prosperity more generally.”

I have already discussed the other two pieces of higher education reforms: the role of the proposed Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) (in the TDA Monday Newsletter on 1 July) and Managed Growth Funding (in the TDA Monday Newsletter on 8 July). Needs based funding, the third component, is additional funding aimed at supporting equity students.

How this will work for providers is that they will receive additional funding for under-represented students. Under-represented students include low SES students, First Nations students and students with disability. Students studying at regional campuses are also included in the needs-based funding.

The goal is to increase completion by equity groups and those studying in the regions. The funding will be able to be used for academic and student support that will enable student completion. Academic preparedness will also be considered.

The exact way in which these funding arrangements will work is yet to be determined. The Department of Education continues to seek guidance on eligibility, contribution amounts, and how to determine academic preparedness.

The consultation paper indicates providers would need to develop a plan for both direct academic support and indirect student support. Providers will be able to access a Framework of Equity Support Activities. The Framework of Equity Support Activities will provide examples of good practice equity interventions and the specific support that has accompanied that intervention. The paper states that the Framework of Equity Support Activities “would be based on research undertaken by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES)”.

You can access all three of the tertiary education reform implementation consultation papers here.

This drive to improve access to higher education for students from underrepresented groups is commendable. However, like all reforms there must be consideration as to whether this could have unintended consequences for TAFE, the natural home for many equity students. This oversight would be a role for ATEC.