News
Landmark Reforms for Postgraduates in 2009
Federal Budget
Research Postgraduates win long awaited stipend rate increase
“The increase in the stipend rate for Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) recipients is an important step toward ensuring the sustainability of Australia’s capacity for innovation, and for Australia’s universities” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.
“The aims of the APA scheme are to attract talented graduates to pursue research, offer them adequate living support during their studies, and enable them to seek out further opportunities as researchers on completion of their degree.
“The APA has had very poor fitness for purpose. CAPA’s submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities clearly showed that the APA has failed to keep pace with average weekly earnings, offers living support below the Henderson Poverty Line, and runs out well short of the time it takes to complete a quality research degree.
“In supporting postgraduates, research stipends not only help sustain close to 60% of Australia’s current R&D output, they also provide for Australia’s future innovation capacity, with the aim of supporting tomorrow’s world class teachers and researchers in the successful completion of a research higher degree.
“The importance of better support for the next generation of teachers and researchers was clearly highlighted in the House of Representatives Inquiry Report. In the context of an economic downturn, reforms like this certainly help make Australia “recovery ready”. We applaud the Federal Government, and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr in particular, for standing by a commitment to building Australia’s capacity for innovation, and for supporting the future of quality teaching and research in Australia’s universities.”
Coursework Postgraduates secure win in important student income support reforms
An estimated 40,000 coursework masters students will now be able to apply for Youth Allowance or Austudy thanks to important reforms to student income support announced in the 2009 Federal Budget.
“The Federal Government’s commitment to participation and equity in higher education is clear, based on today’s announcements” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.
The 2006 Australian University Student Finances Report found that full time postgraduate coursework students were among those enduring the most difficult financial circumstances. As the “Bradley” Review of Australian Higher Education made clear, student income support reform is a key priority in efforts to improve participation and equity in higher education. The logical starting point is with those who are currently the most disadvantaged.
“These measures also see an end to the awkward arrangements inherited from the previous Federal Government, where only masters students in courses meeting special criteria were able to apply for Youth Allowance or Austudy.
“Today the Federal Government has stood by a commitment to improving equity and participation in higher education. We commend the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in particular, in championing a student centred approach to higher education” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer concluded.
Monday 27th April
Clarification on postgrad bonus welcome
The Council of Australian
Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has today welcomed clarification of
postgraduate eligibility for the Training and Learning Bonus, as part of
the Federal Government’s Household Stimulus Package.
The announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Julia
Gillard confirms eligibility for $950 bonus payments for full-time recipients
of the following:
· Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA’s)
· Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry)
(APA(I)’s)
· Other awards of “equivalent nature and value”
including NHMRC awards, and, importantly, university funded equivalents.
“We have been in contact with
Government since details of the Household Stimulus Package were first
announced. This latest announcement represents a significant improvement
on the original eligibility conditions. We certainly welcome the Deputy
Prime Minister adopting an enlightened approach to bonus eligibility through
the administrative scheme approved as part of the package” CAPA President,
Nigel Palmer said.
“Originally, eligibility for the Training
and Learning Bonus was based solely on access to Youth Allowance and
Austudy. Due to the vast majority of postgraduates being unable to even
apply for these forms of income support, they also found themselves ineligible
for stimulus package bonus payments.
“Thanks to the Government and The
Greens, amendments to the final version of the package included a 'mechanism to
ensure all unemployed and students have access to the bonus payment'. It
looked at the time like research students in receipt of an Australian
Postgraduate Award (APA) may be eligible, but details of administrative
measures associated with the package were still unclear.
“This latest announcement
confirms eligibility for roughly 6,500 APA recipients, and also for the
estimated 8,500 postgraduates in receipt of equivalent awards. Training
and Learning Bonus eligibility is important for these groups as, unlike
other forms of income, these awards are tax exempt, and recipients are
therefore likely to miss out on Tax Bonus payments.
“Many postgraduates will still
miss out on the Training and Learning Bonus, largely due to their
lack of access to student income support. A large proportion of those
however should still be eligible for stimulus payments as part of the Tax
Bonus. For research students in receipt of a tax exempt award, this
latest announcement certainly represents good news” CAPA President, Nigel
Palmer, concluded.
Full details and further
information available at www.capa.edu.au/mediarelease/2009/clarification-postgrad-bonus-welcome
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Media contact: CAPA President Nigel Palmer
- 0425 823 144
CAPA is
the national peak body representing Australia's 270,000+ postgraduate students.
Authorised by Nigel Palmer, CAPA; Printed by CAPA.
Level 3, Trades Hall, 2 Lygon St, Carlton South, VIC, 3053
MUPSA Morning Tea for 2009
It’s a brand new year and now that we’ve welcomed our newest postgrads, it’s time to get started with our monthly morning teas. This is a great time for ongoing post grads to talk other postgrads about their progress, problems and bumps in the road. It’s also an opportunity for new postgrads to ask all those questions they were unable to, or too scared to ask in the orientation information sessions. All postgrads are welcome to join us as Club M for some yummy cakes and a free coffee or tea.
When: 10:30am-11:30am, Thursday, March 5th
Where: Club M
What: Relaxed coffee break, free coffee, tea or hot chocolate for postgrads
These coffee mornings are a regular event and are held on the first Thursday of every month. As we know, postgrad students can get bogged down in paperwork and confined to their desks for days at time. To ensure that you don’t lose touch with the real world we’ve decided to give you all the coffee morning dates for 2009, so that you can make a note in your diary or on your Outlook calendar and don’t miss out this valuable human contact!
Below are the MUPSA morning tea dates for this year (this list should
also be attached to this email). Remember all morning teas are held on the
first Thursday of the month at Club M. Free coffee, teas and hot chocolate are
available from 10:30-11:30am.
Thursday March 5th
Thursday April 2nd
Thursday May 7th
Thursday June 4th (assessment week)
Thursday July 2nd (semester break, no coffee morning this month, but stay tuned for another event)
Thursday August 6th
Thursday September 3rd (non-teaching week)
Thursday October 1st (non-teaching week)
Thursday November 5th
Hope to see you all there.
Regards,
MUPSA Committee
WELCOME SUNDOWNER!
Hi All Post Grads,
MUPSA is holding a Sundowner to welcome all the new post grads and to celebrate the start of another Uni year.
All post grad students are invited to the Welcome Sundowner, and the details are as follows:
WHEN: Thursday 26th February 5pm-7pm
WHERE: Murdoch University Tavern
WHAT: A relaxed social event, including a variety of finger food,
free soft drink, and discounted beer ($10 a jug!) and wine ($4 a glass!).
You do not need to RSVP to this event, simply show up and have a good time,
Welcome the new post grads and catch up with others.
MUPSA hopes to see you there
MUPSA Executive Committee Positions for 2009
MUPSA needs individuals to help assist in the running of the organisation. We will be holding our elections for the 2009 committe prior to our Christmas Party. We require a President and several committee members to ensure that MUPSA remains successful. The demands placed upon committee members are relatviely small, as the bulk of the administrative work is completed by the Research Officer. Participation in the executive committee is also recognised by the University and listed on your developmental transcript. The other bonus is that you get to hang out with a bunch of great people and decide what flavour Tim Tams we should have at the next event!
Postgraduate Representatives for 2009
Representatives on the various academic and governing boards are required for 2007. These positions normally require election at the Guild elections held in early October, with nomination required earlier. If you are interested in any of the following positions, please ensure that you nominate or contact MUPSA for further details.
- Postgraduate Representative on the Guild Secretariat
- Postgraduate Representative on Academic Council
- Student Representative on the Senate
- Postgraduate Representatives on the Research and Development Board (2 Research students)
- Postgraduate Representative on the Research and Development Scholarships Committe
- Postgraduate Representative on the Division of Arts Board
- Postgraduate Representative on the Divsion of Arts Research and Development Board
- Postgraduate Representative on the Division of Health Sciences Board
- Postgraduate Representative on the Division of Sciences and Engineering Board
Please note that whilst most of these positions are elected at the Guild student elections, some committees may undertake a separate process. If you are interested please contact MUPSA postgrad@murdoch.edu.au for further details.
Adequte representation on theses boards is essential to ensure that postgraduate student rights are protected and not lost to Undergraduate students and the University.