The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia made a submission to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee inquiry into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025.
The Academy welcomes the committee’s focus on the significant and unresolved issues arising from the
Job-ready Graduates (JRG) package. The evidence increasingly shows that JRG has not achieved its stated objectives and is impeding the government’s efforts to improve access and equity in higher education.
However, a simple reversal is not the ideal solution. While some students may pay less, it exacerbates underlying higher education funding problems. This will further threaten the viability of the social sciences in the higher
education system, with implications for Australia’s future skills needs.
The Academy urges the Australian Government to commit to a clear course of action, setting out a timeline and the steps being taken to reform Job Ready Graduates and restore equity and access to higher education for all Australians. Reform should be aligned with the Australian Universities Accord recommendations and informed by the Australian Tertiary Education Commission costing and pricing work.