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University study and seniors
10 January 2009
The Sunshine Coast is well represented by senior citizens. At the 2006 census the region had the highest median age (41 years) in Queensland. The population modellers predict that with the ageing of the Australian population, a median age of 44 years is expected for the Coast by around 2030. Importantly, the absolute numbers of people in our region aged 45 or over will nearly double to 250,000. The 65+ component of this will be around 120,000.
USC has an active interest in the population structure of the region and the impact of this on the types and numbers of graduates we will need to produce to meet the community’s future needs. The changes occurring in society indicate that the role of seniors demands closer attention. One way we have addressed this is through a long association with U3A (The University of the Third Age) and National Seniors Australia, particularly its research and education arm, the Productive Ageing Centre. The Centre ran a productive ageing forum on campus in September last year to explore the topic Learning for Living: the health and wellbeing benefits from learning.
One presentation in particular, by Professor Brian Findsen from Waikato University, caught my attention. It touched on the level of participation by seniors in university level study in other countries and how, for example, scholarships were available in the UK for seniors wishing to complete university qualifications. This got me thinking about the situation in Australia and how as a nation we had perhaps dropped the ball with regard to this aspect of lifelong learning.
The commonwealth does not allocate fee-waivers or specific scholarships for seniors wishing to complete university study, however, seniors are entitled to the same HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) entitlements as younger Australians. Most seniors will qualify for a learning entitlement and could defer payment of fees in the same way as younger people just commencing a career. Repayments do not commence unless/until an income threshold has been reached (currently $41,595). For retirees, depending on income, this may well offer some attractive opportunities for completing university study. Most retirees, of course, will not be interested in the rigor of university study or becoming part of a university student community. However, I doubt that most retirees give the idea any thought at all or realise there are pathways available to enter university for the first time or re-enter formal study again. There are some outstanding success stories from local senior citizens who have fulfilled this wish at USC.
The University has a close relationship with the U3A, which offers less formal pathways to learning. They organise their own courses that are delivered at various locations within the region as well as on campus at Sippy Downs. University staff and adjuncts often provide guest lectures. These courses serve a particular purpose. As stated in a recent community newspaper, “There are no tests or exams and no awards are given. U3A members learn for the joy of learning.” At USC, U3A members are also able to attend standard university courses in all faculties. However, this doesn’t include completing assessment and/or crediting the work completed towards a qualification.
The benefits to health and wellbeing available through active learning are well established and the Sunshine Coast is well placed to provide such opportunities to local seniors. In a different dimension, however, the economy faces looming skills shortages, the likelihood that people will stay in employment till later in life, and a trend to seniors re-entering the workforce on a part time basis. The education and training sectors will need to support any such trends.
Professor Greg Hill is Acting Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of the Sunshine Coast.