Poor uni students going without food, new survey finds

One in seven university students say they regularly go without food because of difficulties in making ends meet.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said students studying full-time were living on only $18,000 a year, well below the poverty line.

One in seven university students say they regularly go without food or other necessities because of difficulty in making ends meet.

According to a new survey of more than 11,000 domestic university students by Universities Australia, 14 per cent say they regularly go without necessities (including food) and 58 per cent say their financial situation is often a cause of worry.

National Students Union president Mark Pace said his group was “concerned but not surprised” by the survey results.

“There is a serious issue with student poverty here in Australia and we’re glad there’s evidence to back it up,” he said.

“The government needs to take action to support students while they study.”

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said students studying full-time were living on only $18,000 a year, well below the poverty line.

“Many students are trying to get rent and bills paid, and some are trying to keep food on the table for their own children while juggling paid jobs and their ­studies,” she said.

The survey also showed that most students support themselves through paid work, with 82 per cent of domestic undergraduates in paid employment.

Full-time undergraduate students do a median of 12 hours paid work a week. Almost a third (30 per cent) do more than 20 hours a week and one in 10 works more than 30 hours a week.

Forty-one per cent of full-time undergraduates say their work has a negative impact on studies and more than a quarter miss classes because of work. Only 35 per cent feel that their work-study balance is satisfactory.