RECORD $7.8 BILLION BUDGET INVESTMENT FOR
AUSTRALIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
10 May 2005 MINBUD 19/05
Australia’s higher education sector will benefit
from a record $7.8 billion investment from the Howard Government in
this year’s 2005-2006 Budget.
The Government’s continuing commitment to the
university sector will provide students with better facilities and
more course options across a range of campuses.
As part of a range of new initiatives and to reflect
Australia’s global expertise in many academic fields – such as
tropical sciences – additional funding will be provided to ensure
that our universities remain at the forefront of new skills
developments.
Over the next four years, $13.9 million will be
provided to establish two new undergraduate courses in veterinary
science and tropical agriculture at James Cook University.
By 2009, the University will have received 274 new
places, with the first tranche of 50 new undergraduate places for
the veterinary science course and 50 new places for the tropical
agriculture course to be delivered in 2006.
This initiative will produce veterinarians
specialising in tropical animal diseases and the prevention of
livestock diseases. It will also produce skilled tropical plant
experts able to develop and stimulate world-class research in sugar
production.
As part of the Howard Government’s commitment to
improving infrastructure in Australia’s higher education sector, the
University of Western Sydney will receive $25 million over three
years to boost teaching infrastructure for students at their
campuses.
This initiative will provide funding for a new
library at the university’s Penrith campus, upgraded research and
teaching infrastructure at Hawkesbury, a medical training facility
at Campbelltown and a new teaching building at Parramatta.
Recent new investments by the Australian Government
include:
- additional funding of $16.5 million for the Institute of
Advanced studies at the Australian National University;
- $10 million towards the capital cost of a new medical school
at the University of Wollongong;
- $12 million towards the infrastructure costs of a new
veterinary science school (to house the new veterinary science
students) at James Cook University;
- $2 million for an upgrade of communications and information
technology systems at Charles Darwin University;
- $5.9 million for 100 new undergraduate places in radiation
therapy by 2009;
- $15.5 million for infrastructure and new places in teaching,
nursing and medicine over four years at the University of Notre
Dame Australia’s new Sydney campus; and
- $3.3 million over four years for 40 new aged care nursing
places, bringing the total number of commencing aged care nursing
places this year to 440.
As part of the Howard Government’s higher education
reforms, an additional $11 billion will be invested over the next
ten years for higher education in Australia.
Funding will be provided for almost 39,000 new
Commonwealth supported student places over the next five years from
2004-05 to 2008-09. This brings the total number of fully-funded
Commonwealth supported places to over 409,000 in 2005 - an increase
of around 12,000
fully-funded places compared to last year.
The Australian Government will also provide more
than $2 billion each year in discounts and loans to assist
Australian students to access a university education.
Approximately $427 million will be committed over
five years through the Commonwealth Learning Scholarships programme
to assist disadvantaged students meet the costs associated with
university study, including textbooks, computers and accommodation.
Between 2005 and 2009, around 43,000 scholarships will be allocated
to students in need.
These reforms are aimed at enhancing the quality of
our higher education system and the choices available to students.
They reflect the Howard Government’s strong commitment to ensuring
that Australia’s higher education sector continues to play a vital
role in our economic, cultural and social development.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323
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