In 2006, the Strategic Analysis and Evaluation Group of DEST (now DEEWR) completed a review of the impact of changes made to ABSTUDY in 2000. The report Review into the impact of ABSTUDY policy changes that came into effect in 2000, together with an Overview, is now available at the bottom of this page.

The review was approved by the then Minister for Education, Science and Training,  Dr Brendan Nelson MP, on 31 March 2004, with the following terms of reference:

The Review will investigate the impact of policy changes to ABSTUDY in 2000. It will examine a broad range of factors, including contextual background factors, as well as policy and operational issues. These include:

• Factors influencing the changes in Indigenous enrolment trends in higher education and other educational sectors at the time of implementation of the policy changes.
• What impact did underlying factors such as demographics and labour market conditions have on education and training participation for Indigenous students?
• The effect of policy and delivery changes, including changes in specific types of assistance, on ABSTUDY recipients.
• Did these changes, if any, affect the social, demographic or regional distribution of ABSTUDY recipients?
   

A discussion paper titled Review into the impact of ABSTUDY policy changes that came into effect in 2000 was prepared for consultations and submissions to the review. A copy of the paper is available below. The preliminary findings deal mainly with trends in Indigenous participation in education and training and with an apparent decline in Higher Education enrolments in the year 2000.

Consultations were conducted with key stakeholders in most capital cities in Australia in November and December 2004. The department also invited written submissions. Submissions were due to be closed on 28 February 2005, but late submissions were accepted until April 2005. Submissions may be viewed below.

• Discussion paper ( PDF 295KB | RTF 1.4MB)

Submissions to the review into the impact of ABSTUDY policy changes in 2000:

• 1. South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services ( PDF 120KB)
• 2. Confidential
• 3. Australian Vice Chancellors’ Committee ( PDF 148KB | RTF 130KB)
• 4. Deakin University ( PDF 148KB | RTF 45KB)
• 5. University of New England ( PDF 15KB | RTF 20KB)
• 6. West Australian Aboriginal Council on Higher Education ( PDF 44KB | RTF 67KB)
• 7. National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation
  ( PDF 79KB | RTF 339KB)
• 8. The University of Newcastle ( PDF 56KB)
• 9. Western Australian Aboriginal Education and Training Council ( PDF 33KB | RTF 49KB)
• 10. The University of Western Australia ( PDF 293KB)
• 11. Curtin University ( PDF 19KB)
• 12. National Tertiary Education Industry Union ( PDF 79KB | RTF 429KB)
• 13. Edith Cowan University ( PDF 299KB | RTF 43KB)
• 14. Confidential
• 15. The Students’ Association of the University of Adelaide ( PDF 42KB | RTF 306KB)
• 16. Confidential

The final report Review into the impact of ABSTUDY policy changes that came into effect in 2000 is also now available.

• Report Overview ( PDF 36KB | RTF 19KB)
• Full Report ( PDF 1.5MB)