On 5 February 2026, the Senate referred the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025 for inquiry and report. DASSH welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Bill and to be involved in future collaboration with the government to reform the Job-Ready Graduates Package (JRG).
DASSH welcomes the intent to reduce Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities fees from the highest-charging band. The current funding settings under JRG are not achieving their intended objectives and are contributing to inequitable outcomes, increased student debt and misalignment with workforce needs.
At the same time, reform must be carefully designed. Reducing student contributions without maintaining overall funding to the sector risks undermining universities’ capacity to deliver high-quality education and further limiting access for students.
Our submission highlights the need for a balanced approach to reform.
Key priorities include:
- Rebalancing student contributions
Reduce student contributions in the highest charging band, including for Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, informed by evidence on graduate outcomes and earnings. - Maintaining overall funding to the sector
Ensure that any reduction in student contributions is matched by public investment to protect system sustainability and quality. - Improving equity and participation
Address the disproportionate impact of JRG on under-represented cohorts and ensure funding settings expand, rather than constrain access. - Aligning with the Universities Accord
Ensure reform supports the goals of equity, participation, lifelong learning and national capability. - Strengthening evidence-based policy
Move away from price signalling and ensure funding settings are informed by data on student behaviour, outcomes and workforce needs.
Together, these priorities support a more equitable, sustainable and future-focused tertiary education system.
DASSH looks forward to continued engagement with government and the Committee to support reform of JRG and ensure funding settings deliver for students, universities and the broader Australian community.