University of Tasmania looks to stem tide of young school leavers moving to study interstate

They are young, bright and ambitious ... but a large number of young Tasmanians is migrating from the state to pursue higher education dreams elsewhere. UTAS is looking for answers.

Kate Andrewartha, 24, of Taroona, outside the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, had to move to Melbourne to study physiotherapy. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

A GROWING number of young Tasmanians are leaving the state for their higher education – a migration which is being exacerbated by Victorian universities targeting the state’s school leavers.

The challenge of how to retain young Tasmanians has been outlined in a new strategic plan released by the University of Tasmania.

It says one in five young Tasmanians are heading interstate to travel, and the rate is increasing.

The 2019-2024 Strategic Plan says a sustainable future for the university requires a large enough student population.

“Part of our challenge is that the population of Tasmania is too small to sustain a university of the breadth and excellence that the State needs,” it says.

It says a force challenging growth in student numbers is “the 20 per cent and growing of young Tasmanians who go off-island for their higher education”.

“The vast majority are leaving as a rite of passage. Departures are being compounded by the increasing off-island targeting of Tasmanian students by Victorian universities especially.

“We get few students coming from the mainland where, somewhat to our surprise, we find we are known to very few”.

To address the issue, the university plans to: attract more interstate students to compensate for the loss of young Tasmanians, strengthen the quality of course offerings and student experiences and develop facilities.

Former UTAS student Kate Andrewartha said she moved to Melbourne to study physiotherapy because the course option was not available in Tasmania.

The 24-year-old, who graduates this year from Melbourne University with a Masters of Physiotherapy, said many peers also left to seek similar degrees in Victoria.

“I know a lot of people who are interested in allied health and the fact it’s not offered at home is a shame,” she said.

Tasmanian demographer Amina Keygan said the state had long suffered a net loss in the young adult age bracket.

“In terms of demographic change, that cohort has always been the cohort that has both numerically and proportionately accounted for the largest absolute numbers of Tasmanians who leave the state,” Dr Keygan said.

She said the cohort also accounted for the largest group that come to the state, but the greater numbers left than those who arrived.

“The net loss has been challenging for Tasmania”.

But she said studying offshore was not entirely negative.

“I’m always hesitant to make arguments about keeping our young people here in Tasmania,” she said.

Dr Keygan said the educational attainment of Tasmanians increased when young people left the state to study elsewhere.

“The real challenge is for the Government to have policies of economic development, meaningful employment opportunities and competitive wages to attract people back to the state.”