CDU welcomes Universities Accord interim report’s recommendations for more accessible education

Charles Darwin University (CDU) welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to making tertiary education more accessible for First Nations Australians, following the release of the Australian Universities Accord interim report.

The interim report, handed down today, identifies more than 70 policy ideas to improve higher education in Australia and highlights how significant and long-term change is required in the sector.

The Federal Government will immediately action five recommendations, which includes making courses more accessible to First Nations people across Australia and offering greater support to disadvantage students to complete their studies.

In April CDU made a submission to the Universities Accord panel proposing new ideas to improve higher education in Northern Australia, which included reintroducing demand-driven places, with first uncapping places for all First Nations students not just those in regional and remote areas.

CDU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Fiona Coulson said the recommendations would be crucial to advancing the tertiary education system in the Northern Territory and Australia.

“CDU’s submission focused on how the Accord could unlock the aspirations of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially First Nations students,” Professor Coulson said.

“We agree that a system-wide change is essential and must get underway as soon as possible.

“CDU is one of a few universities that already meets the aspiration of educating more students from low socio-economic backgrounds and we welcome the Federal Government’s immediate commitment to increasing access to education across the nation.”

CDU is committed to becoming globally recognised for First Nations leadership in education. First Nations students make up 25.3 per cent of CDU student diversity (3,481 students) in vocational education and seven per cent (936 students) in higher education.

The Australian Universities Accord full report will be published later this year.