The government could be adding insult to injury on the University of Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

New figures have revealed the University of Newcastle could be set to lose $79 million if the Turnbull Government's higher education reforms get through Parliament.

The loss would come as a result of particular reforms for enabling programs like New Step and Open Foundation, which would be opened up to the private sector and an addition of fees in excess of $3,000.

Newcastle Mp Sharon Claydon along with her Labor team is fighting against the reforms and she believes it would really add insult to injury for the university.

"That's a lot of money and it's coming on top of additional $100 million that the university is set to lose through the so called efficiency dividend over the next ten years if this government's higher education package gets through the parliament."

Tens of thousands of students get into degrees through the enabling programs and Newcastle is the biggest provider of the programs in Australia.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek hosted a roundtable at the University of Newcastle with Sharon Claydon and Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Daryl Evans last month to discuss the changes and the effect they'll have on students wanting to undertake study.

The government's views haven't budged since and the Newcastle MP says the reforms will put students off the idea of high education rather than encouraging them to better their learning.

"It's my firm view if the government is looking for savings they'd better look away from education because that's an area we should always be investing - Australia's greatest asset is our people and investing in our people is a long term investment for our future."

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon and Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Tanya Plibersek at the roundtable last month.

2017 Premier's ANZAC Ambassadors Program

BY LAURISE DICKSON and JESSICA ROUSE

Hunter students are being given the opportunity to travel to historic Anzac battlefields as part of the 2017 Premier's ANZAC Ambassadors Program.

Six successful applicants across NSW will have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to historical battlefields in Greece and Israel to retrace the steps of the ANZAC's over a two week tour.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald is encouraging local high school students to take part in the essay competition in a bid to deepen their understanding of the events and contributions made by service men and women from the Hunter.

"It did have a big impact and it did shake the Hunter there's no question about it. A lot of people did serve and did go overseas and of course there were a lot of people supporting them back home,"

"I'd just urge any student who is interested to have a go, you know you could be one of the six on the tour and I just think it would be wonderful if someone from the Hunter made that cut," said Scot MacDonald.

The competition closes on 31st July with the tour taking place between 24th October and 5th November. For more information visit www.clubnsw.com.au/anzacambassadors 

Hunter Students get a Taste of Space

Regional Development Australia's ME Program has partnered with West Wallsend High School to increase children's excitement and involvement in STEM.

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, July 21, 1969

The Quberider Workshop teaches teachers electronic and programming skills, which give students a taste of what astronauts do.

Students are encouraged to learn skills such as coding and electronic design, to physics and maths, while simulating experiments also conducted on real space missions

"This program is very much about being real world and actually being involved in programs that NASA would be involved in" said RDA Hunter's ME Program Director, Dr. Scott Sleap.

The program is said to give students the tools they need to launch into a STEM career and be competitive in the global market.

"What we have is a workforce that is going to require STEM skills in the future, and actually, in the now" said Dr. Sleap.

"If students don't develop the type of skills we're talking about in STEM, then they're going to be locked out of the workforce."

The program has seen considerable success in the Hunter, with over 30 schools now signed up to and actively involved in STEM, with up to 70 across NSW.

"The Hunter regions actually becoming one of the leaders in STEM education in NSW and even possibly Australia" said Dr. Sleap.