A NEW report is calling for more support for rural and regional students to help them overcome significant barriers they face in accessing higher education.
The Deferring a University Offer in Victoria report recommends affordable and supportive accommodation options near Melbourne educational institutions, and more course, career, financial and social guidance, particularly in the first two years out of school.
The report synthesises the findings of a six-year research program and reveals that young people from non-metropolitan areas defer their university offer at twice the rate of their metropolitan counterparts and that nearly 40 per cent of 'deferrers' fail to take up the offer after a year.
Financial stresses and travel-related factors are the biggest barriers for rural and regional students. Many struggle to make the social transition after leaving home.
The report confirms the proportion of rural and regional students who complete Year 12 and continue to university is substantially lower than in Melbourne.
It says the challenges faced by non-metropolitan young people are significant and often prevent them from accessing or even aspiring to higher education. For many students, government financial support was essential for them to take up their university offer.
The report was presented last week to the Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Nick Wakeling. It is based on longitudinal research by Brigid Freeman, Malgorzata Klatt and John Polesel from the University of Melbourne. The research was originally funded in 2009 by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, and is supported by regional and rural Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic).
Professor Polesel said factors such as money, university location; travelling long distances to get to their course and a desire to stay at home are more likely to affect non-metropolitan students. They may also find it harder to secure part-time work after relocating.
The final phase of the research conducted in late 2013 found most non-metropolitan deferrers had decided “to take a gap year” for work, study or travel, and for financial considerations.
While most were satisfied with their choices, 25pc reported that “things had not worked out” since leaving school.
“We have a good rural university system but the course offering is limited and therefore more rural and regional students have to relocate,” Professor Polesel said.
“Rural and regional students have a double disadvantage associated with both the financial and social capacity of the young person and their family to support relocation. Young people from regional areas, while equally capable, are more likely as a result of increased deferral rates, to take a longer time to qualify.”
About two-thirds of the students in the study don’t receive Youth Allowance; however, 51.4 per cent of non-metropolitan deferrers receive the allowance.
“This is important as it is indicative of the importance of assisted independence while studying, particularly for the non-metropolitan students, who are more likely to be living away from home,” Professor Polesel said.
The findings suggest that non-metropolitan deferrers need of the greatest support in their first two years out of school, when financial pressures and travel barriers are felt most keenly.
More effective structures of initial support, including additional financial and social support and advice to young people from regional areas, is needed in preparing for relocation and in the first year of university, Professor Polesel said.
Ongoing research is needed to see how students adapt to the rapidly changing educational environment, he added. Funding for this research has ended.
YACVic Executive Officer Georgie Ferrari said there had been a numbers of policy changes during the period of the research but deferment rates remained too high.
“The research shows that we need a better policy and plan to address the needs of rural and regional students,” Ms Ferrari said.
