2022 - CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE HDR STIPENDS
After an incredibly successful campaign and rally to convince University's senior management to raise the HDR Stipend, the scholarship rate was lifted by $3000 to $33,000.
While we are pleased with this effort and know it will make a big difference to graduate students living on the poverty line, we believe the rate needs to increase further to allow HDRs to support themselves with some dignity.
Read MGA's initial report on HDR poverty.
2022 - CAMPAIGN FOR 28-DAY PARKING PERMITS FOR HDR STUDENTS
In late 2022, the MGA lobbied the university to look into better parking options for HDR students.
What was the issue?
Parking issues mostly impacted research students who regularly work overnight at their laboratory/workspace. If they forgot to start a new parking session on their CellOPark app, or if the parking application had technical errors, they would receive a fine.
If they forgot to start a parking session on their CellOPark app, they only received one warning. In the following year, they were not given the courtesy of any warnings, which resulted in fines.
What did the MGA do?
The CellOPark app was clearly not working for a cohort of HDR students who needed flexibility in order to complete their research and work. Which is why the MGA lobbied for several changes to the CellOPark system, including the option for HDR students to buy a 28-day parking pass that was available to staff members only.
What was the result?
In a recent win, Monash University has accepted this request! Monash HDR students can now buy a 28-day parking permit to use in red or blue permit areas.
Read the letter our Research Education Officer Sahampath Hettiarachchi sent to Buildings, Property and Campus.
2022 - FREEZE STUDENT DEBT
In February 2022, the MGA submitted a report to the Senate Education and Employment Committee Inquiry outlining support for a bill proposed by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi.
The Bill is called: Education and Other Legislation Amendment (Abolishing Indexation and Raising the Minimum Repayment Income for Education and Training Loans) Bill 2022. It refers to all student debt and training loans.
During the campaign period, we encouraged students to make their own submissions to the inquiry to support a bill that would benefit them by freezing existing student debt and raising the minimum repayment income to the median wage.
Read about the full campaign here.