By Belinda Hudak, President of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals (VASSP)
For many Victorian students, the transition from secondary school to university is an exciting milestone. However, for students and families in regional and rural Victoria, this transition often brings additional challenges that extend well beyond academic readiness.As President of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals (VASSP), I have recently been advocating for greater recognition of the barriers regional students face when pursuing higher education. This advocacy has focused on ensuring the experiences of students, families and school leaders contribute to ongoing conversations about improving equity of access to university.
Unlike many metropolitan students who can continue living at home while studying, regional students frequently need to relocate to attend university. This brings significant additional costs, including accommodation, relocation, transport and ongoing living expenses. Indicative costs for a regional student relocating to Melbourne can range upwards from $25,000 per year, placing considerable financial pressure on many families at a time when they are supporting their child through an important life transition.
For many parents, one of the least understood aspects of this transition is the way student financial support is assessed. Students under the age of 22 are generally considered financially dependent on their parents, even when they are required to relocate hundreds of kilometres from home to attend university. While a range of Australian Government supports are available, current arrangements can leave many regional families facing significant out-of-pocket costs despite the necessity of living away from home.
Beyond the financial considerations, regional families often face the challenge of making important decisions within a relatively short timeframe following university offers. Securing accommodation, organising relocation and understanding available financial supports can all add to what is already a significant life transition.
School leaders across regional Victoria are increasingly observing that these factors can influence student aspirations and pathway decisions while students are still in secondary school. Some students reconsider university pathways because of the anticipated financial burden, while others modify their study plans or choose alternatives that allow them to remain closer to home. These decisions are often shaped by practical circumstances rather than academic ability or ambition.
The educational attainment data reinforces this picture. Around one in three adults in Melbourne hold a bachelor degree or higher, compared with around one in four in Geelong, around one in five in Bendigo and Ballarat, and around one in six or fewer in centres such as Wodonga, Shepparton and Mildura. While many factors contribute to these differences, the financial and logistical barriers associated with accessing university are an important part of the conversation.
This is not simply a higher education issue. Decisions about university pathways are being made while students are still in Years 10, 11 and 12, making this an important consideration for schools, families and education systems alike. Supporting equitable access to post-school opportunities helps ensure that students’ aspirations are determined by their interests and capabilities, rather than by where they live.
There is also a broader regional benefit. Many regional students aspire to return to their communities following their studies. Improving access to higher education not only benefits individual students and families, but also contributes to building the skilled workforce needed to support the long-term sustainability of regional Victoria.
VASSP appreciates the willingness of Government to engage with school leaders on these issues. We have recently shared a briefing paper with the Victorian Minister for Education and look forward to continuing constructive conversations across government about opportunities to strengthen support for regional students and their families.
Parents play a vital role in helping young people navigate the transition from school to further education and employment. Looking ahead, there is an opportunity to continue the conversation about how Victoria can better support regional students as they transition to higher education. The choices students make in Years 10, 11 and 12 are often shaped by the opportunities they believe are available to them. By listening to the experiences of students, families and school leaders, and by considering practical improvements to existing supports, we can help ensure those choices are driven by aspiration, ability and ambition, while minimising the influence of the financial and logistical challenges associated with living in a regional community. Through ongoing collaboration between governments, schools, universities and families, we can strengthen equitable access to higher education so that every young person has the opportunity to pursue the pathway that is right for them, regardless of where they live.