Funding for the participation component of the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) has been cut by $68.2 million over four years from 1 January 2013. As a result, the average annual funding rate per student will fall from $1,800 to $1,400 in 2012.

 

The Government will also increase the funding available through the partnership component of the HEPPP by $50.0 million over four years. This measure will provide savings of $18.2 million over four years.

 

The HEPPP is comprised of participation and partnership components.

 

The participation component provides reward funding to universities based on their share of domestic students from low socio‑economic status (SES) backgrounds.

 

The partnership component provides funding to universities to develop partnerships and outreach activities with various stakeholders that build the capacity of people from low SES backgrounds participating in higher education.

 

The additional partnership funding will enable more intensive support to be provided for disadvantaged students, including Indigenous students. The reduction to the participation component is consistent with the findings of the Higher Education Base Funding Review.