Wollongong Uni protests

WOLLONGONG -- Wollongong University students are to hold a day of action on September 7 to protest against the federal government decision that allows universities to charge full up-front fees for students undertaking professional training. The action is being organised by students from the Faculty of Law and the Wollongong University Students' Representative Council.

Professional legal training is necessary in order to practice law in NSW. Universities have previously been prohibited from charging full fees for students undertaking professional courses, but the Department of Employment, Education and Training has removed this prohibition for everything except teaching and nursing.

The University of Wollongong plans to establish a College of Law in 1995 which will charge $8000-$10,000 for a 15-week course. This will deny access to the legal profession to people from low income groups. Women, Kooris, single parents and students from non-English speaking backgrounds will be particularly affected.

In addition, students believe that denying access to the legal profession to those not of wealthy backgrounds will perpetuate the legal profession as a conservative and elitist body.

A follow-up state day of action has been organised for Thursday, September 8. For further information, contact Damien Cahill on (042) 214 201.

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