Post Grad

CAPA - Special Updates

Special Update* 18th July 2011

Dear All,

Further to my media release this morning, I have had further contact with
Minister Jenny Macklin's Office.  They have noted that APA recipients would
possibly be eligible for the following:

"People in low income households can apply for the Low Income Supplement
through Centrelink. The supplement will be paid by Centrelink on an annual
basis as a lump sum of $300 from 1 July 2012. A person can only receive one
payment in an income year"

Where those eligible fit into the following categories:

• $30,000 for singles without a dependent child;
• $45,000 for couples without a dependent child;
• $60,000 for singles with a dependent child;
• $60,000 for couples with a dependent child

(information from attached file - Household Assistance Supporting Low-Income
Households)

Whilst this won't cover all Research Postgraduate students, many will be
eligible to apply.  We recommend all postgraduates investigate this option.

I apologise for any confusion caused.

Regards,


*John Nowakowski*
*CAPA President, 2011*

Special Update* 12th July 2011

In announcing the details of its Carbon Tax, the Australian Government has forgotten to include Postgraduate students within its considerations. "While we are excited for the students on Youth Allowance and AuStudy receiving a 1.7% increase, students on an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) have been left out - and not for the first time" said John Nowakowski, National President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations.

To read on.... CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

Special Update* 29th June 2011

"What is Universities Australia afraid of?!" was the cry from National President, John Nowakowski, in response to this morning‟s Australian article on the Student Services and Amenities Fee Bill. John Nowakowski, President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, representing the 300,000+ postgraduate students nationally, was incensed to read that Universities Australia was afraid the situation would be unworkable should amendments be passed to provide student say over student affairs..."

To read on.... CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

Special Update* 28th May 2010

Funding an important win for postgraduates
*** Attention Education Journalists: Thursday May 28th 2010 ***
The Gillard government today had the first reading of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Demand Driven Funding System and Other Measures) Bill 2011, and it has a number of important wins for the sector. "With the growing number of people attending university for tertiary education, we are glad to see the bill highlights all postgraduate coursework degrees as well" said John Nowakowski, Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations National President. "The new measures will help more students access FEE-HELP and participate in education."
The important part for the government now is to balance the demand-driven funding with other critical support measurements. "The government now needs to return to the student services and amenities fee to ensure representation and engagement of the growing student loads on campuses," stated John Nowakowski. "They also need to pay attention to the Base Funding Review, which we hope will
highlight that the amount of funding per head is insufficient."

Under the current model, students enrolled in Masters by Coursework receive the same amount of funding as an equivalent undergraduate student. "Whilst more student engagement is positive, it is essential that there be the 'Masters experience' for postgraduate students - smaller class sizes balanced with the more intensive and in depth workload" continued John Nowakowski. "Gone are the days where postgraduate coursework students are the cash-cows of the university, there only to top up the coffers. With higher enrolment comes a stronger demand for the critical learning experience expected."
CAPA was also pleased to see the legislation of academic freedom. "Free intellectual inquiry is core to the functioning of a university. It will help to build towards the knowledge economy that is fundamental to Australia as we work towards supporting the research sector nationally."
Media contact - John Nowakowski, CAPA National President, president@capa.edu.au 0404 165 095

National Representation
The RPA is a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), which coordinates the representation of postgraduate students and their associations at a national level. CAPA comprises member postgraduate associations from Universities across Australia.

VSU One Year On
July 1st 2007 marks VSU "one-year-on". CAPA has completed its survey: The Impact of VSU on Postgraduate Students. The final report is now available:

Key findings:
As of July 1, 2007 at least 8 universities no longer have an independent postgraduate student organisation. Of the 20 Postgraduate students associations that responded to CAPA's 2007 questionnaire:

• 8 are receiving less than 50% of their pre-VSU funding, including 4 that are receiving less than 5%.
• While 70% have some funding support from their university, many have conditions attached including some that prevent the payment of honorariums and affiliation fees.
• Staff numbers have been halved. 7 responding PGSAs have no staff at all.
• 30% are unable to provide advocacy services.
• Three have been forced into mergers with other student organisations, while others must cope with continued pressure to merge and greater university control.

Implications:
It is difficult to know the full extent of the situation faced by the PGSAs that were unable to respond to the survey. It is clear however that in a number of cases where the CAPA VSU survey was not returned there was simply no one left who could. This reflects a situation on those campuses where the needs of postgraduates formerly catered for by postgraduate student organisations are now no longer being catered for at all. Postgraduate students are among those most disadvantaged by the impact of VSU.

For More information:http://www.nteu.org.au/