New courses, student loans see another record at Avondale
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
New courses in arts and a loan scheme for outdoor recreation students have contributed to another record enrolment at Avondale College of Higher Education.
Dean Jones has returned to Avondale to complete the new, and popular, counselling course.
Credit: Brenton Stacey.
Enrolment for semester one this year is 1394, 22 more students than the previous semester one record this past year. This equates to 590.615 when measured as equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL), an increase of 9.865 over the previous record, also set in semester one this past year. EFTSL relates directly to income.
The Bachelor of Arts course recorded one of the largest increases in EFTSL, up 8.25. Part of the appeal may be that Avondale is now the only higher education provider in the Hunter to offer a specialisation in counselling. Dean Jones enrolled in the course even though he had already graduated—from theology in 2011. “I enjoyed the one-to-one relationships the most in ministry, and I could see myself making a career out of it,” he says. The course complements the chaplaincy course, which Avondale introduced this past year, and the service ethos of the institution. “Avondale trains students to go into the world and make a difference,” says Dean. “This Christian imperative gives counselors an edge in an industry that relies heavily on empathy, understanding and communication.” Students who complete the course will graduate as registered counsellors.
Completing a Diploma of Outdoor Recreation at Avondale has been easier since the introduction of VET FEE-HELP in 2011. The loan scheme means students do not have to pay their tuition fees up front. This may help explain a significant increase in the number of students who have enrolled in the course, up from 12 this past year to 26 this year.
The Bachelor of Nursing remains Avondale’s most popular course, with a record enrolment of 336 students, up from 325 this past year.
Increases in these courses more than offset decreases in business, science and theology.
The record enrolment at Avondale again comes despite universities offering an uncapped number of Commonwealth supported places. Students in a Commonwealth supported place get help from the government and pay a lower tuition fee called the student contribution amount. The federal government’s decision this past year to uncap places allows universities to offer a place to any number of eligible students—Avondale can offer places only to eligible students in the national priority areas of education and nursing.
Avondale is maximising the support it receives from the government, with every eligible student receiving the offer of a Commonwealth supported place receiving one this year.
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Director of advancement and marketing Colin Crabtree on why Avondale continues to grow.