Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 8:10:11 to 8:15:52
Officials provide an update on the 18% increase in First Nations students starting higher education degrees over the last four years. The discussion includes success rates, employment outcomes, and the expansion of demand-driven places for medical students.
Topics: First Nations, Education, Closing the Gap
Speakers: Dr Fleur Champion De Crespigny, Speaker 14, Speaker 33, Senator Marielle Smith, Mr. Tony Cook, Ms. Jasmina Joldic, Senator Matt O'Sullivan, Senator Paul Scarr
>> Yep. All right. Thank you. Um All right. Um thanks for coming back to the uh this afternoon. Um, at the previous estimates, we talked about some of the changes that the Albanesei Labor government has made to ensure that all First Nations students are provided with a Commonwealth support place at university where they meet the entry requirements. Last time, um, you mentioned that there'd been a 5% increase in First Nations students starting their degree each year over the last couple of years. Um, and I think it was for 2024, you provided some preliminary data for 2025. Um, so I'm wondering if you have any updated information that you could share with the committee on the number of First Nations students starting a degree in the last 12 months and uh the trend that uh you may find over the last couple of years.
>> Chair, before we do that, Miss Moore's at the table. It's her birthday today. So I'm
>> happy birthday.
>> So I would just like to share that M she's thrilled to be here for her
birthday. >> That's so good that you're starting with a government senator and I'll go very
easy on you. So, we're not going to ask
>> Sorry, I've destroyed the committee over over to my team.
>> On behalf of the committee, happy birthday. Um, oh, sorry,
>> more me.
>> On behalf of the committee, happy birthday. Um, your gift will be that we won't sing to you. >> Thank you. Thank you every for being here on this special. Thank
you for coming. Back to the question. Over to you. Thank you, Senator Yasminaldich, deputy secretary, higher education research and international. I'm actually going to go straight to Dr. Drepne to give you an update. I'll be
and Dr. Drene will talk you through those details.
>> Fantastic. Thank you.
>> Uh thank you very much for the for the question. Um Dr. Fletney, assistant secretary of the market analysis and data branch. Um as uh Miss Yaldic said, there are very positive uh indications that efforts to increase participation of and improve outcomes for First N excuse me, First Nations students are paying off in the last four years. So between 2022 and 2025, number of First Nations students starting higher education has increased by over 18%. >> Fantastic. So that's an increase from 9,668 to 11,431. And we have preliminary uh semester 1 2026 data which indicate a further 8% growth in commencing indigenous students um compared to the same time last year. So, um, based on historical trends, it's estimated that this is going to translate to between, uh, 12,000 and 12,400, uh, commencing First Nation students in 2026, representing an estimated growth of around 24% over the past 5 years. Um and I'd also like to add that in the past 5 years success or pass rate so that's the proportion of students who are passing their their subjects um for undergraduate first nations students have been increasing reaching a record high in 2024. Uh so uh and I think it's also important to note that the gap between first nation students and non-indigenous students is narrowing in this respect. And we also know that uh uh from our graduate outcome surveys that uh first nations undergraduates have higher full-time employment rates and higher median salaries in both the short term and the median term compared to their non-indigenous counterparts. That is um
fantastic to see. Congratulations um to you for the work that you've been doing on this um on this really important measure. And I do know that from from January this year that the government did extend um the demand driven places for First Nations students who want to study in medicine. Um can you provide any update on how that sector has responded to the change and any early numbers that you may have as a result of those um those extended
places? Um, I'm afraid I don't have uh data on First Nations medical students, I don't think, uh, with me, so I might have to take that on notice. secretary, policy data and strategy.
>> We won't just call you birthday girl,
>> please. Thank you. Um, yeah, as Dr. Courtney said um I don't believe we've got preliminary data on that with us but I will say that um obviously as a result of that reform once fully implemented we are expected to see uh an increase uh we are expected to see um around 30 more first nations students studying medicine each year and that will be an increase
of around 7%. So um that will be a fantastic outcome when achieve
>> and the response from the sector has they been positive
welcomed by the sector including the um medical deans who we have had a number of conversations about this with.
>> Thank you and look uh thank you very much for the the work that you continue doing. I really do uh genuinely en enjoy hearing uh from this department the work that you're doing on First Nation staff through Senate estimates. It's something we um that we uh that we very much care about. So, thanks for for coming with the update and have a lovely birthday.
>> Thanks, James. >> Thank you, Senator Leger. Okay, I'm I'm handing the call to the opposition, Senator Sullivan. Um, at this stage, I don't believe I have another senator seeking the call, so I won't interrupt you. >> Yeah, >> Yeah. So, you might just want to organize that amongst yourselves. Um, but I'll let you know if I have another senator.