What is the Job-Ready Graduates Scheme?

The Job-Ready Graduates (JRG) scheme was introduced by the Morrison Government in 2020.
It reformed funding for tertiary education so that “practical” degrees, such as STEM, nursing, and teaching, were priced lower than arts and law degrees, which were considered less “job ready”. The scheme also reduced overall government funding per student, leaving universities increasingly underfunded and unsupported.

How does it impact you?
– The students most impacted by the JRG package are those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Between 2020 and 2024, enrolments for these students dropped by 9.8%, compared with a 3.5% decline for all other domestic students.
– This decrease was concentrated in degrees with the highest fees, particularly law and commerce. Commencements in these degrees fell by 17.7% among students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, while commencements increased by 2.3% for all other domestic students.
– The result is a growing gap in access to higher education based on socioeconomic background.

Lower quality education after paying more
– While students are paying significantly higher fees for many degrees, universities are receiving less funding per student. This means larger class sizes, fewer resources, increased staff workloads, and growing pressure on the quality of education students receive.

What is ANUSA doing to help…?
Senate Inquiry: ANUSA made a submission to and Charley spoke at the Senate Inquiry into the impacts of JRG. We are advocating to ensure that tertiary education policy is designed to increase access and quality of education to every student in Australia.

– Note: a senate inquiry is a process where a committee investigates a particular issue, gathers evidence from experts and the public and makes recommendations to the government.

NUS: ANUSA is supporting national campaigning efforts alongside NUS to push for the reversal of harmful JRG policies and increased investment in higher education.
Advocating directly to politicians: ANUSA is engaging directly with federal representatives, including David Pocock and Alicia Payne, to advocate for a fairer and more accessible higher education systems