SUBMISSION TO THE
REVIEW OF HIGHER EDUCATION
TRAINING AND POLICY
by
Councillor Ken Chapman
Office of the Mayor
Fairfield City
Celebrating diversity
30 April 1997
SUPPORT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY
I am pleased to endorse this short submission on behalf of the City of Fairfield which represents 1% of the Australian Population.
Council wishes to express strong support for the University of Western Sydney.
The University has established and developed an excellent educational institution providing a wide variety of innovative courses at locations around Western Sydney. The transport disadvantaged suburbs of the western region of Sydney have greatly benefited from this strategy. It has ensured that the University has been accessible and visible throughout the region.
The University has responded creatively and flexibly to change and taken time to consider and endeavour to meet the needs of its local communities. It is a supporter of the community and is supported by its community. This Council for example, gives three scholarships each year to local students. This response to local needs has raised the aspirations of local students and given a presence in the area that has increased students understanding of and access to further education opportunities. Council has been pleased to note the increase in local students attending the University from 9 in 1989 to 1277 this year.
Council also supports the need to continue to finance the University of Western Sydney above the current level to enable it to consolidate its developmental phase and to allow it to keep pace with the continued population growth of the region. Western Sydney will still experience major growth over the next two decades. This City alone expects that redevelopment and continued migration will bring a further 25,000 people to live here.
It is of vital concern to Council that the Review considers the aims and ambitions of all people aspiring to higher education, not only offering opportunities to those who can afford to pay fees. Residents in Fairfield are surrounded by unemployment ( currently 14.8% ), easy access to drugs and poor transport services. Some have come from war torn countries and had disrupted education with little or no access to English lessons. Council supports the need for all residents to have access to educational opportunities throughout their life either by correspondence, new technology, courses taken whilst working or through traditional face to face education.
I look forward with interest to the outcomes of the Review
SUMMARY
This submission is made in the context of the local government area of Fairfield NSW.
It stresses the importance of the equity and social justice issues of educational opportunity.
Council supports:
access to a free education for all who aspire to it and are prepared to work at gaining tertiary qualifications
the continued development of the delivery of tertiary education through a variety of modes
the need for course flexibility to provide support services and to include rather than exclude NESB residents the need for accountability to the users and the local/regional community of all universities
further development of the University of Western Sydney campuses in the region to consolidate the provision of accessible tertiary education at locations throughout the region
continued funding to the University of Western Sydney in light of the proposed growth of the population and the need to consolidate current site developments and continue to attract local students
the development of the University's creative and development capacity to assist in funding creative solutions to regional issues such as unemployment Council values the strong ties between the University and local communities.
INTRODUCTION
Fairfield City Council at its meeting of 1st April, 1997 agreed to prepare a short submission to the Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy.
The submission will relate to the local area and briefly address the themes set out in the guidelines.
The Council supports the continued growth and development of the University of Western Sydney to meet the needs and aspirations of this diverse and growing region of Greater Western Sydney.
The location of the University in Western Sydney has expanded the horizons and had a great effect on the life goals of an increasing number of students for whom university would never have been an option. The University's Student Statistical Profile for 1996 gives the following figures:
68% of students are new to higher education
58% are the first in their family to attend University
65% of students live in Sydney's Greater West
50% of graduates are now employed in Greater Western Sydney
25% are from NESB (Non English Speaking Backgrounds)
Council is heartened that locally Fairfield student numbers have risen from 9 to 1277 since the University opened.
This is a proud achievement and one which graphically demonstrates the effect the opening of a university in the region has had on expanding the horizons and achievements of young people in the area.
In Fairfield, constant high unemployment (currently 14.8% with youth unemployment at 20.7%), few work opportunities and poor English skills hamper those who are keen to pursue higher education and contribute to the growth of this country. Many in our City are disadvantaged by the lack of courses available locally to improve their English skills. Council is under constant pressure to open its libraries after hours and on weekends to cater largely for students. Council staff recently worked in partnership with local education providers to chart a pathway to higher education to assist NESB students to achieve tertiary education. However recent further changes to government policy have cut back the numbers of English classes and this change will impact harshly on this city's residents as they again feel the burden of the negative impacts of change. Any increase of University fees would also place added burdens on local students and adversely affect the progress already made in attaining tertiary education.
A PROFILE OF FAIRFIELD CITY
The City of Fairfield is situated 40 kilometres south west of the Sydney Central Business District and covers an area of 100.54 square kilometres. Incorporating 27 suburbs, Fairfield City is mainly residential in nature, with industrial estates at Wetherill Park, Smithfield, Yennora and Lansvale. There are two major business and retail centres at Fairfield and Cabramatta, 2 single site shopping centres at Wetherill Park and Bonnyrigg and large expanses of rural land in Horsley Park and Cecil Park.
Land releases for new residential development in the 1970's, together with substantial immigrant settlement in the 1980's and 1990's, have contributed to the City's rate of population growth. In 1996, it was estimated that 188,200 people lived in the City of Fairfield. Although population growth has slowed from 14% in 1991 to 1 % in 1996, the City remains the sixth most populated local government area in Australia.
Fairfield's population is characterised by a high degree of ethnic diversity with 51.6% of the population bom overseas in 133 different countries. Fairfield is also characterised by a large number of young families and a growing number of aged people. Unfortunately, Fairfield City has the highest rates of unemployment of any Local Government Area in Australia (14.8%). The youth (15-19yrs) unemployment is currently 20.7% (June 1996).
Fairfield's Central Business District is the business and administrative centre of the City. Cabramatta, the second largest town centre in the City has been transformed from a declining neighbourhood shopping centre into a rapidly expanding and vital specialist and entertainment tourist centre. This transformation has occurred under the influence of South East Asian immigrant resettlement in Fairfield City, particularly in the vicinity of the Cabramatta town centre.
Unfortunately, to the dismay of local residents Cabramatta has recently become known as a centre for drug trafficking presenting further difficulties which potentially could damage the chances of young people and their families living in the area.
The map (over) shows the location of the city in relation to the University of Western Sydney campuses
MAP OF FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL AREA in RELATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY
(not availably electronically)
FACTS AND FIGURES
BIRTHPLACE COUNTRIES 19 TO 25 YEAR OLDS FAIRFIELD 1991
(not available electronically)
EDUCATION PROFILE AT A GLANCE....
- % CHANGE IN HIGHEST QUALIFICATION OBTAINED FAIRFIELD, WESTERN SYDNEY AND SYDNEY 1986 TO 1991
(not available electronically)
Theme 1: the role of higher education in Australian society and economy
The social economic physical and environment of Australia has undergone many changes and nowhere are the negative effects of this evident than in the outer suburbs of its major cities.3
The City of Fairfield is some 40km from the centre of Sydney and is home to 1 % of Australia's population (188,200 p ABS 1996). With the city housing a major proportion of the country s immigrants and the housing boom created by the release of Green Belt land in the late 1970's, the city is now the 6th largest local government area in Australia.
Since the establishment of the UWS in 1989, eleven thousand, eight hundred and fifty (11,850) people have moved into the area. The fastest growth of 14% occurred between 1986 and 1991. The city will continue to grow. It is estimated* that 25,000 people will settle here in the next two decades The Department of Housing has the largest waiting list for public housing (6,000) in Australia for people wanting to live in Fairfield.
The area feels the impact of policy and economic decisions made for country wide application by Federal Governments in a most unjust way .
The number of young people aged 12 to 24 at the 91 census was 38,265, 21 % higher than the Sydney average (19.4%) and they have felt the impact of economic change most severely as 20.7% are currently unemployed. Many have had disrupted educations as their families moved to Australia and others have had to learn the language without support. It is estimated that almost 30% of primary school and 40% of high school enrolments in Fairfield are students of Indo-Chinese background
The lack of English classes is a great drawback. This issue has been a major concern for this Council over a long time. It severely disadvantages the life chances of our residents, 60.1% of whom do not have English as a first language. The University of Western Sydney has acknowledged these factors and provided support which must be continued while opportunities for reaming English are so restricted.
Council considers that whilst there are inadequate English Courses, support for students of non English speaking backgrounds at primary and tertiary institutions must be given in order to provide equality of educational opportunity.
In this rapidly changing society and growing area, it is therefore important for our city to offer:
Considering the pace of change in industry and the labour market it seems both difficult and inappropriate to tailor education to industry demands. Government policy ,such as the current changes to child care, can also affect the market for courses. The effects of increased fees are causing parents to find informal care and part time work. This in turn causes a decrease in enrolments which will in turn cause the closure of many centres and decrease the educational opportunities of both the young children and the students undertaking tertiary early education courses. The development of flexibility in students who can adopt their reaming to take change in their stride would seem a better investment.
Theme 2: factors affecting the demand for and provision of higher education over the next 10 - 20 years
Population growth
Western Sydney will continue to be a major growth centre over the next 10-20 years. It is estimated that this local government alone will house a further 25,000 residents during that time. Changes to housing density and the buildings completed on vacant land will contribute to this growth. The Department of Housing currently has 6,000 people on waiting lists wanting to be housed in Fairfield. This is an Australian record! Much of the Department's current housing stock is old and single houses are likely to be replaced with greater density housing.
Migration
Fairfield continues to take the majority of immigrants coming to NSW and despite constant pleas for extra English courses, these residents will have to struggle to gain language skills necessary to allow them to participate in the life of their chosen community and country. The federal government needs to consider the inconsistency of policy which on the one hand encourages immigration and on the other restricts those people's access to English courses and reduces their ability to fully take part in society and contribute productively to their new homeland.
Employment
Globalisation will demand more flexible skills and increase the need for higher education. As employers increasingly demand experience and higher education young people will continue to bear the brunt of the changes. University research for creative solutions is imperative if there is to be a meaningful future for our young people.
Income
An ability to pay should not be a criteria for access to education. Increased access to and participation in tertiary education in this city would be severely damaged if fees were to keep rising.
Access to educational opportunity for all is a concept that should be highly valued, and nurtured.
Theme 3: regulatory and administrative framework of higher education
Theme 4: financing higher education teaching and research training
Theme 5: funding of higher education research
Other than the comments made previously on the value of funding research on local issues for local communities, and the desirability of accountability back to local communities, Council has no comments to make on these three themes.
REFERENCES
1. Fairfield City Community Profile: 1996, Social Services Division Fairfield City Council
2. New South Wales Office of Youth Affairs, Local Area Youth Profile Fairfield Local Government Area - October 1994
3. WINTER Ian - Young People Living on the Urban Fringe Report to National Youth Affairs Research Scheme 1995
4. HALSLETON Stefanie - Issues affecting Indochinese Young People in Fairfield. October 1995
5. University of Western Sydney Profile and Promotional Package
APPENDIX 1
Educational Profile of Fairfield City
The Fairfield Local Government Area contains 36 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, one College of Technical and Further Education (TAPE), and 2 community colleges auspiced by the Macarthur Community College. Information gained from the <census indicates that about 26% of the population or 45,635 people In Fairfield were attending an educational institution
In 1993 public primary schools had 16,036 students enrolled. Of these, 179 identified as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders and 11,282 or 64.5% identified as being from a non English speaking background. The proportion of students who identified as being from a non English speaking background varied across schools from 54.5% to 93.4%.
In 1993 public high schools had a total of 11,376 students. Of these, 91 identified as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 7,785 or 68.4% from a non English speaking background. The proportions of students who identified as being from a non English speaking background varied across schools from 48.2% to 79.8% (represents Department of Education statistics 1993).
A total of 25 public schools in the area receive additional funds from the Disadvantaged Schools Component of the National Equity Program which aims to provide resources to ensure equity in educational outcomes for students of low socio economic status. There are two Intensive English Centres in the Fairfield local government area catering to the needs of approximately 223 students in 1993. These centres target school aged students who have recently arrived in Australia, have limited English language skills and are, therefore, experiencing difficulties in usual classes. In 1993 the majority of these students came from Vietnam, Turkey, Iraq, Cambodia, and the former states of Yugoslavia.
Comparative data from 1986 and 1991 suggest that there was a large increase in attendance of Fairfield residents at TAFE colleges, university and other courses such as those offered by Skillshares and the Adult Migrant Education Service. This increase could be explained by a number of factors including the growing national trend for all those wishing to enter or stay in the workforce to continue to seek further education, the increase in the early 1990's of the number of federally funded employment training centres in Fairfield, the emergence of the University of Western Sydney in the region and as a result of population Growth.
Figure 1. % CHANGE IN ATTENDANCE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FAIRFIELD, WESTERN SYDNEY AND SYDNEY 1986 TO 1991
(not available electronically)
The comparisons between Fairfield, Western Sydney and Sydney of educational qualifications in 1991 is outlined in Figure 2 below. This Figure shows that fewer Fairfield residents have tertiary educational qualifications and more Fairfield residents are not qualified at all, in comparison to other areas. However this situation is improving as outlined earlier. There has been an increase in the number of people attending various educational institutions, and access to the various educational institutions is improving.
Figure 2.EDUCATIONALQUALIFICATIONS FAIRFIELD, WESTERN SYDNEY AND SYDNEY: 1991
(not available electonically)
Whilst there has been an increase from 1986-1991 in the number of residents who have obtained tertiary and other qualifications, as shown by Figure 5.3, the numbers of residents in Fairfield who are not qualified remains high and is continuing to grow at a more rapid rate than other areas in Sydney. These figures can be partly explained by the large number of people who arrive from overseas and settle in Fairfield who may have no qualifications or have overseas qualifications that are not recognised in Australia. Both federal and state governments are aware of the need to offer support to those who need to upgrade their qualifications in order for them to become recognised, however resources have been 1iniited and have failed to adequately address the issue.
Figure 3. % CHANGE IN HIGHEST QUALIFICATION OBTAINED FAIRFIELD, WESTERN SYDNEY AND SYDNEY 1986 TO 1991
(not available electronically)
Figure 4 below shows that migrants of Non-English speaking background have lower levels of educational qualification than English speaking migrants. The exception to this is migrants from the Philippines; who have very high levels of tertiary qualifications. Migrants from the countries of Italy, Latin America, English speaking countries and the former states of Yugoslavia have higher levels of vocational education than other migrants. These educational levels are a major determinant of the employment opportunities that are available to migrants in Fairfield
Figure 4. LEVEL OF QUALIFICATIONS OF MIGRANTS
(not available electronically)
Figure 5 below shows that the highest numbers of tertiary educated migrants in Fairfield are English, Chinese and Filipino language speakers (Note: a comparison of the figures for birthplace indicate that the English and Chinese language speakers come from a variety of countries). The figures for Filipino women reflects that more women than men have immigrated from the Philippines (an unusual situation), but also indicates the contribution of these migrants to Fairfield is perhaps unacknowledged.
Figure 5. TERTIARY EDUCATION LEVELS OF MIGRANTS FAIRFIELD 1991
(not available electronically)
English language proficiency is a key factor in the settlement process and in gaining access to further education and employment, as well as understanding of social, political and legal structures of society. Language acquisition can occur at a different pace for people of varied educational backgrounds, of different and sometimes extremely traumatic life experiences, and depending on their age.
Adequate language training provision in the early years of settlement is therefore essential to facilitate full participation of migrants in Australian society as quickly as possible.
As can be seen in the Figure 6 below, Fairfield has a very large number of people (almost 30,000) who have classified themselves as not speaking English well or at all compared to other local government areas in Western Sydney. The proportion of Fairfield residents who speak English not well or not at all was 15.7% in 1991, more than five times the state average of 3% This was much higher than Western Sydney where the proportion was 5.4% and Sydney where the proportion was 4.4%. An average of 60.1% of residents in Fairfield speak a language other than English, compared to 24 4% in Sydney.
Figure 6. PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH NOT WELL OR NOT AT ALL COMPARISON OF WESTERN SYDNEY COUNCIL AREAS: 1991
(not available electronically)
English language training is provided in Fairfield by a number of agencies including the Adult Migrant Education Service, Skillshares, community colleges and community centres. However, many of the English classes supported by government are specifically for people wanting to enter the labour market and for people who have arrived in the last three years. This has meant that women who have stayed at home to raise their children and have been unable to access childcare, and people who are considered to be too old to enter the labour market have been unable to attend English classes.
Also, a significant number of newly arrived settlers are also refugees from war torn countries who have experienced torture and trauma, and for whom the settlement process and English language skills acquisition come with considerable difficulty. As a consequence, many of these people may require English tuition after the 3 year cut-off period.
A number of community centres offer classes that specifically target people in these needs categories, however funding is insufficient and unreliable and as a consequence, the number of places in English classes is extremely limited. As a consequence of the large numbers of people with low English language skill and the anomalies in service provision, the demand for English language training in Fairfield is very high.
APPENDIX 2
Extract from the Report to the National Youth Affairs. Research Scheme on Young People living on the Urban Fringe by Ian Winter, 1995
(not available electronically)
APPENDIX 3
Report by Hasleton S. and Rawsthorne M. Issues affecting Indochinese Young People in Fairfield
Summary
The aim of this report was to highlight issues affecting Indochinese young people in Fairfield by drawing together the large amount of information available from previous research. Previous research touched on the issues affecting young people within these communities. This report focuses exclusively on young people and draws together the common experiences of Indochinese youth in Fairfield. It is hoped that this information will be a valuable resource for service providers and policy makers in developing strategies to address the difficulties highlighted by this report.
The report shows:
profile
education
unemployment
contact with the juvenile justice system
Conclusion
Over the past decade government departments have embraced the principles of access and equity. Yet the issues raised in this report suggest that Indochinese young people in Fairfield do not participate equally in the education system, the labour market or the justice system. Departments have made efforts to address these issues within their range of responsibilities. However, the inter-relatedness of these issues indicates that a concerted inter-departmental response developed in consultation with Indochinese communities is urgently needed. The cost of not addressing these issues is too high to bear, both for a generation of young Australians and the community as a whole.