The Group of Eight and the Australian Council of Social Service have formed a ginger group to  act on the core university access equity issue –  enough to eat and somewhere to sleep. This can especially impact rural and regional students who have the marks but not the money to live in commuting distance from Go8 campuses.

“While advocating for inclusive admission mechanisms are important, it is equally important to ensure we have support mechanisms within our campuses in areas such as student support, living allowances, and housing that are sympathetic to student’s requirements. We must also work to ensure government policy  provides the support students need,” the Eight states.

“This is very much about establishing a coalition of the determined to address the issues that can act as barriers to entry for students,” a Go8 observer says.

The two peak bodies have signed a three agreement to build policy resources and advocate for the basic needs of disadvantaged students. The Go8 is convening an expert roundtable to put bedrock equity in education on the agenda. “We must remain vigilant to changing government policies that may affect the vulnerable in the community,” the invitation to participate states.