JRG Reform
The Job-Ready Graduates (JRG) policy is a package of reforms to higher education established by the Morrison Government, which commenced on 1 January 2021.
Under the JRG, students are paying more while government is contributing less, leading to an overall reduction in base funding for universities to teach and support students. Fewer students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are enrolling in university and this decline is much worse in the courses with the highest fees under the JRG policy.
This is undermining the goals of the Universities Accord for increased participation and equity. It is increasing segregation across fields of study, creating a two-track education system and society.
Our group has led the debate about the impacts of the JRG policy on students and universities.
We have costed options for reform in line with the recommendations of the Universities Accord.
We support the principles and three-step process for reform outlined in the final Accord report, to unwind the JRG, restore public funding and leave no student worse off:
- Restore the three band student contribution system by reclassifying fields currently in the top-charging band to the second highest band.
- Restore the humanities and related fields to pre-JRG rates.
- Restore STEM to pre-JRG funding rates.
