19July2016
HigherEducationReformOptionsPaperFeedback
HigherEducationGroup
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To WhomItMayConcern
Re:Consultation onthefuture of highereducation reform
Thankyoufor theopportunitytoprovidefeedback ontheHigherEducationreformOptionsPaper. TheAustralianCollegeofMental Health Nurses (ACMHN)is thepeakprofessional organisation
representingmental healthnursesinAustralia.A primaryobjectiveoftheACMHNistoenhancethe mentalhealthofthe community throughthepursuit of efforts ofmentalhealth nurses.TheACMHNalso sets standards ofpracticefor theprofessionandpromotesbestpracticeofmental health nursing.
OveralltheACMHNhasconcerns withtheoptionspaperbeingonprofitandcosts,andnota commensurate considerationofsocialoutcomesandbenefits fromhighereducationto the community or providingaquality educationfor people fromall backgrounds. Wearealsoconcerned with suggestionsthat affordabilityshoulddeterminewhatdegreesorcoursesa personaccesses,andthat a lowlevelor tierof degreesor courses couldbecreated.Advancementsin knowledge,research, technologyhas continued toinformandinfluencetoclinical practice.Tosupportincreasingrolesand advancingpracticeNursinghasrightlyandnecessarilyestablisheditself inthe tertiarysectorwhichwe wouldstronglyarguewhereit needs toremain.
Thereislimitedtonodetailprovided aboutmost ofthe options includedanditisdifficult toindicate supportor notsupportforthemwithoutanyindicationof howthe Governmentproposestoimplement the optionsor howtheywouldbedetermined.
Highereducation andAustralia’s economictransition
This section notesthat‘thereshouldbenoperverseincentivefor studentstochoosea VET courseover a highereducation courseorviceversa’. HowevertheOptionsPapersinclusion of costas adeciding factorin whatstudyaprospectivestudentundertakeshas theriskofcreatingaperversedisincentive andsomewhatcontradictscommentsinthe OptionsPaperthat allpeople shouldhaveaccess to excellent tertiary educationandthattertiary educationallowspeople toachievetheir potential.Also includingstatementssuchas ‘Institutionsmustbeabletoenrol studentsincoursesthatareappropriate to their aspirations andpreparedness’isa verysubjectivematter andagaincreatesa situationwhere socio-economicstatuscouldstopapersonfromstudyingto their aspiration.
Thepapertalksaboutthe coursespeopleundertakepayingdividendsnotonlytotheindividual butalso for theeconomy, and‘graduates havingacompetitiveand delivers(sic)productivitygainstofuture employers’. Thereisnodiscussionin thepaperaboutthe social return or goodthatcomesfrompeople undertakingcertainareasof studysuchasinthehealthandeducationfields.
Referencing coursesinstudy thatmakeadirecteconomicreturntotallyneglects toconsidertheindirect economic benefitsof keepingpeopleoutof hospital andbuildingthefuture ofthecountrythough education.
Opportunity andchoice
This section statesthatstudentsshouldaccess courses ‘accordingto theneedsand thenational interest’.Manysectors, such asthemental healthsector wouldarguethatthe ‘national interest’ is abouttargetingthehealthworkforceandsupportingstudentsto moveintoareasof need, toreduce social inequityandaccess tohealthservices acrossthe country.Different peoplewill havedifferent ideas aboutwhatthe‘national interest’isand itcanbe verysubjective. Thereforeusingthis asapartof
a tertiaryeducationstrategyisnotappropriateunlessit considersthatdifferentsectors andpartsofthe communitywillhavedifferent ideasabout the national interest.
Determiningwhat arewardingjoborcareeriscanalsobeverysubjective. For some,thiswillbeabout havingahighwage,forothersitwillbeaboutdeliveringservicetothe community whichmaynotresult inahighpay. Theissueiswhoorwhatdetermineswhatis ‘rewarding’, regardless ofwhethertertiaryor diplomaetc. qualificationsTheACMHNdoesn’t necessarilydisagreewith thepremisestudentswith low scores gointohighlevel degrees,wheretheymaynothavethecapacity. However this is an issue for universities toaddress asATARSaresetdifferentlyatall universitiesandin somecasestheyareset too low.
However, themainfactor shouldbeif astudenthastheabilityandcapacitystudyin a certainarea, then theyshouldbeencouraged and able todo thatandnothave costorother suchfactorsimpactthat.
This sectiononPost-graduateplaces tosupportinnovationreferstotheNationalInnovationandScience Agenda wherecollaborationisa keyfactor formoreprofitable,sustainableand export-focused industries. As perearlier comments,ifdirectprofitis theprimarymotivatorforinnovationthen areas that offerasocial return, butnotnecessarilyamonetaryone,willgetleftbehind. This wouldparticularly impacthealth andcommunityrelatedindustries.
Inthelistof reformsitsuggests anoption wouldbetotargetCommonwealth supporttopost-graduate courseswheretherewouldbemorecommunitybenefit ratherthanprivatebenefits, usingnursing coursesasanexamplewheresalaries arelower butdemandfor skillshigh. Whilethis mightbegoodin theory,weareconcerned thatthismaycreatea‘sub-standard’ or lowertiercourse. Alsoto thensuggest that ‘skillsdeepening’ qualificationssuchasengineeringor sciencehaveadditional placesisnotbased
on evidenceorweretheneed is, butbased onprofitwhichcreatesaconcerningprecedentfor courses suchasnursingwhichareseenasbeingacostrather thanabenefit andignores social benefits. Introducingatime-limited learningentitlement for subsideswouldalsodisproportionatelydisadvantage women,in particularlysingle mothersstudying, andthereforeimpactthoseareasof study, suchas nursing, with ahigherproportionofwomen studyingrelatedcourses.Andofcourseif courses ofstudy aremoreexpensive,peoplewillhavenochoicebuttokeepworking.
Fairnessandequity
Addressingtheneedsof disadvantagedandunder-representedgroups in highereducationis a complex matter,as oftenthere willbea higherlevelofmentalillnessinthesegroups whichthen impactson people’sday-to-dayabilitytostudyorwork. Itneeds tobeabout morethatifaprogramprovidesgood valueformoney,andshouldinvolveananalysisalso of thesocialoutcomesandbenefitsthat aprogram delivers. Aboriginal and TorresStraitIslanderpeoplearenotjustunderrepresented inbusiness,butalso inhealth fields andtheseareasmustalsobea focus so thatAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople are workingin and deliveringarange ofservicesintheir own communities. Again it’snotjustabout whatmakesmoney,butwhatwilldeliverthebestoutcomesforthesedisadvantaged groups andhavea range of positiveflow-oneffects.
With regardstouniversities havingaregional presence,as perother sectionin theOptionsPaperthere needs tobedetail aboutwhatwouldbeinvolved inestablishingapresenceor infrastructurein ruraland regional areasasitis presented in awaywhichdoesn’tsound practical.Thekeyissue isensuring studentsinrural,regionalandremoteareasareabletohavethesamelevelof access asother students toresources,facilities etc. to enablethemto completetheir studies,whichinmanyinstances canonly
beprovidedonthemaincampuses,forexamplewith regards tohealthcourses.
Excellenceand quality
This section raisesthe prospectof ‘flagship courses’ butas perotheroptionssuggested,thereisno criteriaor analysis provided, includingareassuchashowneedwouldbedetermined, whatwouldbe appropriateareas(consideringall factors andnotjustcostandincomegeneration),andhowitwould impactonissuesof equityandaccess.To monitor suchaproposal, if itwereto eventuate,itwouldnot beappropriatefor theAustralianConsumerandCompetitionCommission(ACCC)to monitorasnon- monetaryfactorswouldnotbegiven properconsideration. Itwouldbemoreappropriatefor independent bodytoundertakethis.
Regardingtheinformationfor students,thefocus isonincomeandwageswith nothingaboutthe quality ofcourses,whatpost-graduateopportunitiesarecreated, orwhereothergraduates work.
Affordability
This will beacontentious issue anditisimportantthatthis Options paperpresents informationand statements supported by evidence.Makinganunsupportedstatement suchas‘Sincetheintroductionof HECS in 1989, therehasbeen broadconsensusthattaxpayersandstudentsshouldshare theinvestment inhighereducation’ isonesuchstatement. Thedata providedin theOptionsPaper onthe levelsof taxpayer tostudent contributions isabout50-50, so thereforethequestioncouldbeis thereactuallyan issueandmanywouldarguea50-50split isappropriate.
Thepaperstates ‘TheGovernmentbelievesthat the balance ofcontributionsshouldbe adjusted to ensure itappropriatelyreflectstheprivate andpublic benefitsof highereducationto individuals, the community and theeconomy’–this isahighlysubjectivestatementwhichmanysectors wouldnot agree with, againgiven nowit isabout50-50. Thepaperhas alreadyraised the issue ofcoursessuchas
nursingwhichthepaperstates havelargerpublicthanprivatebenefits- althoughitcouldbearguedthat
privatesocial and well-beingbenefitswouldbejustashigh - sothereforeraisingthe issueof contributions in this lightdoesnottakeintoaccountthis issue.
Thereneeds tobedetails providedaboutwhatparameterswouldapplytoreducingGovernment contributions toloansor subsides–stating somethingwouldbereduced by20percentor byasmaller amountwithoutanypresentationofevidenceor analysismakesitverydifficult tocommentonthis
issue. If agovernment isproposingthese measures,whichwill leadtosignificantchange,thentheyneed toprovidetheinformationtheyhavegatheredandanalysedtosupportthis policy.
With regardstoloans, thepaperacknowledges that theGovernmentremains concerned aboutchanges unfairly impactingonstudents,butdoesnotprovideaclearstrategytomitigatethis, andthereisno considerationofwhat impactincreasesinloanfees wouldhaveonabilitytostudycertaincoursesor completecourses. Noneofthe optionscurrentlyprovided consider, supportor addressequityrelated issues. Theyalsodonotconsiderthe disincentivethatmaybecreated tostudycourseswith lower wages, such as nursing, throughan increaseinloansor changestorepaymentsfor loans.
Suggestingthattherecouldbea loweringofthethresholdincome tomakeloanrepaymentsor higher educationdebtssounds reasonable in practice, butaswithotheroptions,there is noanalysisof howa wage figurewasdetermined.
OveralltheACMHNwouldemphasisethattertiaryeducationisabenefitnota costtothecommunity. Therearea rangeof socialbenefits for thecommunity, both publiclyandprivately, that comefrom peoplewith tertiaryqualificationsand direct profitgenerationwillnotoccur inmanyinstances, particularlyintheareaof nursing.
Wewouldnotwant toseenursingloseits currentplaceinthetertiarysectorandbecomeasecondlevel areaof studybecausethewagesof nurses arelowerandthereforedebtsloans takelongertobepaid back. TheGovernment’s priorityofinnovation happens inmanywaysand in manysectors, notjust throughincomegeneratedor sellingideasoverseas,andthehighereducationpolicyof the Government mustrecognisethis.
Yours sincerely
KimRyan
AdjunctAssociateProfessor SydneyUniversity CEOAustralianCollegeofMental Health Nurses Ph:02 62851078/
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