Hunter Students Slapped with Higher HECS

BY OLIVIA DILLON

There's concern for University of Newcastle students with a HECS debt, after the federal government today announced a major indexation rise. 

Student debt has been hit with a 7% hike across the board, which will take effect from the 1st of June. 

It's the highest rate seen in 32 years. 

The change means total repayment amounts will stay the same, but the repayment time will lengthen. 

As a result, average HECS debt will increase by about $1500 this year and next year.

National Union of Students member Grace Francco, said it means many people won't be able to reduce their balance. 

"Anyone who is earning less than $62,000, which is between the minimum and median wage, will see their debt increase. So the minimum repayments that they make won't actually decrease their HECS debt."

Students Rally Behind Maitland Teacher Charged with Assault

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Students rallied in support of a Maitland Grossman High School teacher as he arrived at court today. 

62-year-old Michael Kable is charged with common assault, after police were called to the school on the 21st of March, on reports a student had allegedly been struck by a male teacher.

Supporters say Mr Kable was pushed to his limit and was regularly subject to taunting and abuse from students. 

His matter has been adjourned to the 27th of April while he seeks further legal advice. 

Image: Newcastle Herald

Domestic Violence Survivors offered Scholarship through the University of Newcastle

BY HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

The University of Newcastle is offering a scholarship to survivors of Domestic and Family Violence to encourage and support their receiving of higher education.

This year thirty-four applications were received by the university for The Helen Maslen Scholarship with individuals describing past and ongoing instances of physical assault, intimidation, and harassment in the home.

The applicants disclosed the impacts of these experiences on their mental health and self-esteem, as well as the resulting homelessness and financial strain that came from leaving their situations.

Professor Penny-Jane Burke, the Director of the Centre for Equity in Higher Education stresses the importance of this scholarship in increasing the visibility of Domestic and Family Violence in the university environment.

"It is important because it raises the issue of domestic and family violence explicitly and how important it is to support women and families who have been victims of domestic and family violence to participate in higher education," says Burke, "...so it's a very important initiative that raises the profile and makes a specific agenda around this really important issue."

A survivor of domestic violence herself, Burke hopes the number, size, and longevity of the scholarship will continue to grow as the improved opportunity to receive higher education, "It is an incredible and important support mechanism for those women who want to access higher education but don't necessarily have the means to do so..."

One scholarship will be available each year for the next five years to anyone that has been a victim of Domestic and Family Violence regardless of age, gender or other factors.

Photo by The University of Newcastle Website

Newcastle University Hurt By Massive Government Cuts

BY: ALEX MURRAY

As semester commences for another year at the University of Newcastle, Labor says the Turnbull government's proposed $69 million cuts are threatening to tear a massive hole in their budget.

The federal opposition the overall funding loss across NSW amounts to $736 million.

The department of education data show the cuts will make it even harder for students to function in their institution and afford an education.

Students paying their HECS/HELP debt will also have a double whammy, with the salary threshold at which they have to start repaying their debt lowered by $10,000, making the prospect of affording their degree that much harder.

At a time where education-based skills and new age employment opportunities are on the rise, university education for young Australians is now more important than ever.

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon says, "Although great community campaigns have stopped these cuts in the Senate in the past, regrettably the government has decided to ignore these calls and sneak in $2.2 billion dollars worth of cuts."

"The University of Newcastle's losses are nothing to be sneezed at, while they (the government) are cutting higher education to profit millionaires and multi-national companies."

"There is no way that you can chop out $69 million from the University of Newcastle without it being felt on the ground and hurting students with a number of detrimental effects."

"This university over decades has built a range of good support programs for people in lower socio-economic backgrounds to come into tertiary education and finish the degree with higher prospects."

"All students should be getting onto their local members of parliament and making their voice very loud and clear that these cuts hurt students and families,." Sharon Claydon said.