“The main reason for the higher deferral rate amongst regional Victorians is due to financial barriers,” Mr Hall said.

The study, commissioned by non-metropolitan Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs), including those in Gippsland, and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, surveyed more than 900 school leavers.

“This report found that approximately four in 10 of the regional students who deferred said they did so because they could not support themselves and that the costs of study were a barrier,” Mr Hall said.

“The need to qualify for the Youth Allowance was one of the financial barriers cited.”

Mr Hall expects the high deferral rate amongst regional students will only get worse due to the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Youth Allowance which will require students to earn more to qualify for the payments.

“Here is another report clearly indicating that regional students need more financial support from the Federal Government, not less, and these proposed changes to the Youth Allowance will only make the situation worse.”

Mr Hall said the report backed Department of Education and Early Childhood Development tracking data which showed the rate of deferral amongst regional young people had grown even more rapidly than their city counterparts.

“In regional Victoria the rate of deferrals rose from 9.9 per cent in 2004 to 15.9 per cent in 2007,” Mr Hall said. “This is compared to a rise from 5.5 per cent to 6.4 per cent in metropolitan areas. This data shows country students deferring at three times the rate of their city counterparts.

“It is well documented that students from rural and remote areas who move away from home to attend university need additional support because they face higher costs overall than their city counterparts.”

Mr Hall said evidence was mounting against the Federal Government’s proposed Youth Allowance changes and it was time the Government stood up and listened.

“Economic conditions are already making it harder for young people to find jobs. High school graduates need to be encouraged to continue straight on to higher education to gain extra qualifications not discouraged due to further financial burdens.”

The University Deferment Report can be found at www.bawbawlatrobellen.com.au.

Early learning centre moves ahead

Contracts have been signed on the new Traralgon Early Learning Centre in Mapleson Drive in anticipation that the new occasional care and preschool centre will be ready to accept children by January 2010.

Latrobe City chief executive officer, Mr Paul Buckley, said that the signing ended three years of planning and community consultation for new premises to replace the current Franklin Street facility. Read more

Smart water grants available

Gippsland Water is encouraging its customers and stakeholders to apply for a Smart Water Fund grant to develop innovative water conservation, water recycling or biosolids management initiatives.

“With increasing pressure on water supplies, there is an ongoing need to find innovative ways to be smarter with our water use,” Gippsland Water managing director David Mawer said. Read more

Junior badminton success

Stephanie Treloar had extremely good results at the recent Altona Junior Tournament where she paired in an U17 girls’ doubles win and was also a semi-finalist in the singles.

At Bendigo, two weeks earlier, Stephanie played in a higher age group, U19, again with considerable success. She and her partners had comfortable wins in both the girls’ and mixed doubles events. Read more

Monash plans Gippsland expansion

Monash University has unveiled new plans to expand the size and capacity of its outer suburban campus at Berwick and its regional campus at Gippsland.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne said the campuses would have greater operational autonomy empowering campus leaders to cater even more to local student, industry and government needs, as well as meet national goals around greater access and equity in the higher education sector. Read more