The Federal Government has released figures that show university enrolments by regional and indigenous students have ‘increased to record levels.’

 

Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, said the some of the greatest increases in enrolments were among those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

 

"We are increasingly tapping into the potential of all Australians, not just the privileged, and developing the talent that will drive high skilled and productive industry in Australia," Senator Evans said.

 

Commencements for students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds increased by 3.3 per cent to 56,710, while total enrolments of low SES increased by 26,456 since 2007, or 23.9 per cent.

 

In 2011, a total of 5,381 Indigenous students commenced a university course, an increase of 6.1 per cent from 2010. Since 2007 the number of Indigenous students studying at university has increased by 2,437, or 26 per cent.