Should a HECS system apply to the Australian Institute of Sport?

[yo yo ma]

Interesting article - if professions like nurses, doctors, paramedics, teachers, artists have to pay HECS fees, why shouldn't attendees at the AIS? Like the other professions, they won't have to pay it back until they reach higher incomes. I can't see a reason why not?

Ben Quilty Afghanistan Portraits | Swimmers Behaving Badly

 

[casanovawa]

Not the worst idea... And might even get some of these heroes to conduct themselves more professionally than you would expect from a primary school camp...

 

[blackcat20]

I think it's a great idea. Just like everyone else, they'd only start to pay it back when they earnt over a certain amount.

 

[Fifa]

Definitely.
Some of them are earning a small fortune!
They should be treated the same as everyone else.

 

[kpc]

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!

 

[Pushka]

They don't end up with a Uni degree though. And it's called HELP now. . But I think there should be some kind of settlement.

I've always thought that Nursing and Teaching graduates should have their HELP debt 'forgiven" after three years of employment as Nurses/teachers.

 

[yo yo ma]

I've always thought that Nursing and Teaching graduates should have their HELP debt 'forgiven" after three years of employment as Nurses/teachers.

My wife and I thank you and would vote for you should you choose to run for parliament :mrgreen:

 

[puppysparkes]

Interesting article - if professions like nurses, doctors, paramedics, teachers, artists have to pay HECS fees, why shouldn't attendees at the AIS? Like the other professions, they won't have to pay it back until they reach higher incomes. I can't see a reason why not?

Ben Quilty Afghanistan Portraits | Swimmers Behaving Badly

Excellent idea. You can liken it to an employer employee situation, insofar as public money is being spent on an athlete. Throw in terms and conditions such as code of conduct and they're almost a public servant with potential celebrity status.

 

[Pushka]

My wife and I thank you and would vote for you should you choose to run for parliament :mrgreen:

It just seems like common sense to me. We need dedicated nurses and teachers. And what a better way to encourage such people by acknowledging their contribution and usually meagre pay for the work they do in the community. Their profession is quite unique.

 

[medhead]

The HECS system is pretty pointless really. Plenty of people who are never going to pay off their debts. Never get a job = never pay it back.

Plus of course, the tips ones earn significant money via endorsements. So they'd be paying the money back while swimming. Those also probably pay a fair bit already for their private coaching. They don't have to go to the AIS to make the national teams.

Now also isn't the AIS the answer to the failure at Montreal?

 

[medhead]

They don't end up with a Uni degree though. And it's called HELP now. . But I think there should be some kind of settlement.

I've always thought that Nursing and Teaching graduates should have their HELP debt 'forgiven" after three years of employment as Nurses/teachers.

Hahaha. I had a couple of people unfriend me on Facebook for disagreeing with their negative views about teachers. They view teachers as low life scum who are a complete waste of space. these are 2 people who were actually taught by my mother. I think their are probably heaps out there who share that view and that's why teachers are paid poorly.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It's a very interesting article and the writer makes many very valid points.
As a naturalized Aussie the one standout for me is what I perceive as the importance that many people place on Australian sporting (in particular Olympic) success.
Any politicians who sought to spread the financial burden of elite sport development and training with the athletes themselves would face an enormous uphill battle for public support.
I think one way forward would be to try to replicate the US Collegiate sports scholarships.
The downside of a HEC's type re-payment scheme is that it may disadvantage those athletes who are at an elite level in non-commercial, non-professional sports. The superstar junior soccer player or NRL player may remain blissfully unaffected due to commercial interests.
No easy answers
Maybe we should follow the UK and fund it all from the Lotto ?

 

[blackcat20]

They don't end up with a Uni degree though. And it's called HELP now. . But I think there should be some kind of settlement.

I've always thought that Nursing and Teaching graduates should have their HELP debt 'forgiven" after three years of employment as Nurses/teachers.

Teachers can claim a reduction of some of their HECS/HELP in their tax each year for a certain number of years. It's based on how many days/weeks of teaching you do each year.

 

[amaroo]

I've always thought that Teaching graduates should have their HELP debt 'forgiven" after three years of employment as teachers.

I've always thought the 12+ weeks annual leave that teachers receive is pretty good compensation.

Back on topic - YES!

 

[Must...Fly!]

The downside of a HEC's type re-payment scheme is that it may disadvantage those athletes who are at an elite level in non-commercial, non-professional sports. The superstar junior soccer player or NRL player may remain blissfully unaffected due to commercial interests.

You beat me to it Princess.

The non-commercial sports that often feature in the Olympic games where we measure success so closely will suffer if a system such as this is introduced.

Those sports are already experiencing significant problems gaining and retaining the best athletes as the heavily commercialised sports in Australia continue to grow so strongly.

I have no doubt that our decreased Olympic performances of late are a direct result of the AFL particularly shifting focus in recruiting to the best athletes, not footballers. They can offer a possibility 10-15 years of employment at a very high wage - you cannot blame young people for choosing these professional elite sports over national competition where income is not guaranteed.

Introducing a HECS-style system will only increase this imbalance. Then you get in to the situation of having to cost each students 'education' - programs such as some of the young football teams in the AIS are run in association with FFA and cost large amounts because of the significant international travel, do we charge them more? Or less? What about their worth to the nation's sporting progression and success?

 

[Pushka]

My partner was one of the first people in his profession employed by a sports institute back in the 80's and attended several Olympic games. The athletes he worked with ranged from elite through to good performers. Most of them don't make the cut. Even if they do, they have to win gold before anything comes back to them in the form of sponsorship dollars. But also have the charisma. They have to have a back up. I just don't see that the institutes offer them anything like to potential for work that a uni degree does. I think that the Cricket Institute might be relevant for a help scheme as most men there do go on to professional cricket and if selected in the IPL make millions.

 

[Hvr]

I've always thought the 12+ weeks annual leave that teachers receive is pretty good compensation.

Back on topic - YES!

Just shows you really don't understand what teachers actually do then. That time is spent studying, preparing for the next term, marking papers etc.


Should sports people given the benefit of AIS support have to pay it back in a HECS types payment schedule? Of course. However, they should receive recognised qualifications to support their future. Also, a little less glorification and more reality of what life is really about would be useful.

We all have several careers during our working life, their first one is sports, their next ones should utilise at least some of the previous skills they've gained.

 

[trooper]

Sure.. teachers spend SOME of the school vacation time doing such things... but if you are suggesting that most teachers (or a majority of, or even a significant minority) spend 8 hours a day for a full 8 weeks of the holidays working on such things (thus bringing them back to the "standard" 4 weeks off) .........I am simply not going to believe you.

That worries me not at all BTW.. they EARN their longer vacations IMO. What does irritate me are claims that they do not actually get more time off....

 

[amaroo]

Just shows you really don't understand what teachers actually do then. That time is spent studying, preparing for the next term, marking papers .

hahaha....lol.

 

[medhead]

hahaha....lol.

Indeed you clearly don't know what teachers really do. Having observed both my parents working as teachers when growing up you cynicism is offensive in some ways. I know a number of teachers who do all of those things during their "holidays". Like everything we do prior preparation is required by teachers and that can't be done in the classroom.