by Madeleine Collins
Russell Grinter has three years left at Moore College, and plans to work in a rural church after he graduates. Supporters back home in the Riverina are paying his tuition fees, but next year he hopes their money will go to someone else instead.
Mr Grinter has signed up for ‘Fee-help’, new HECS-style government loans that will be made available to every student from 2005. “If we use Fee-help, then the money can be used for other ministries,” he said. “I’m really pleased about it.”
College Principal John Woodhouse has great hopes for the scheme, saying it will open the floodgates for young people on low incomes who want theological training but are unable to afford it.
“It will give flexibility to students…rather than [having to] draw on personal or family assets in order to come to College,” Dr Woodhouse said.
Last month the Federal Government accepted the College as a provider of the interest free loans, which are offered up to $50,000.
The scheme is heralded as a timely solution to major financial problems facing the College, and will come as a boost to the Mission goal of training 1,000 full time and 10,000 part time ministry workers.
Initial unease has given way to an air of cautious optimism on the campus after the announcement. The scheme is a major development in the College’s history, and means students will be able to fund their way through the College without relying on upfront financial support or saving for years beforehand.
Archbishop Peter Jensen also has confidence in the scheme. “This could be an enormous help for the Mission in enabling more people to come to College for training in ministry,” Dr Jensen said.
Like HECS, repayments will be through tax when income reaches $35,000. Only Australian citizens or those on a humanitarian visa will be eligible.
Student numbers continue to rise at Moore – those applying for Anglican candidacy rose by a third this year. No cap has been put on student numbers.
Dr Woodhouse admitted the scheme also came with its disadvantages.
“Compliance costs will be high. Fees will have to be higher than they otherwise would be in order to fund the costs of making the scheme available. It will be necessary to increase the fees of all students to pay for the costs associated with the benefit of the scheme,” he said.
Those students who take out a Fee-help loan would leave the College with a debt, but the $35,000 threshold means many may never reach a salary level at which to pay the loan back.
It is proposed that bursaries for ordination candidates will be phased out for new students from 2005, with plans to offer other means of assistance. The free year of tuition given to spouses of students will also cease. In its place will be help dependant on individual financial situations.
<i>Details: www.moore.edu.au or www.dest.gov.au </i>
