Government announces federal education review to close gap between city and country students

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and education minister Simon Birmingham announced the review in Canberra today, saying it would examine all levels of education from school entry to employment.  

“There’s a clear disparity between education in the bush and the city,” Mr Birmingham said.

“This seeks to address the gap of achievement, aspiration and access to higher education faced by regional students,” Mr Birmingham said. 

Almost one-third of regional students do not complete Year 12 schooling, while just 19 per cent of undergraduate students in Australian universities originate from regional areas. 

Flinders University emeritus professor John Halsey will conduct the review, with a report expected by the end of the year.

Professor Halsey is a former school teacher and principal.

Today’s announcement was welcomed by La Trobe University vice-chancellor John Dewar, who said lifting higher education participation rates in regional Australia would prevent “brain drain” to capital cities.  

About 15000 students had graduated from La Trobe’s four regional Victorian campuses in the last decade, but the rate at which young people left for the city  increased by more than 75 per cent in the same time.  

"We are fully committed to our regional campuses and want to build on their important contribution, not wind it back,” Mr Dewar said. 

He also described his institution’s proposed Murray Darling Medical School as an “important element” in making regional health services self-reliant.

Public submissions to the review will open in April. 

Bendigo-based senator Bridget McKenzie was also present for today’s announcement and said someone’s postcode should not determine their educational opportunities.

“This issue has been a problem in this country for many years,” Ms McKenzie said. 

“It is time, in the 21st century, that we actually solve it.”