Fed: Youth work off HECS debts in new Community Corps
28 Jan 2009 1:30 AM
MELBOURNE, Jan 28 AAP - Young people would get discounts on university HECS debts if they devote time to a new community corps of volunteers devised by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Mr Rudd is seeking young people to work off part of their HECS debt by working in his new Community Corps, an idea that stemmed from last year's 2020 summit, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.
Among the tasks corps members could undertake include delivering meals on wheels, work for youth or aboriginal services, become volunteer firefighters, assist the elderly and disabled or work on Landcare and water projects, the Herald Sun said.
The average former student finishes university with a $12,000 debt and students could wipe out that debt with enough work in the Community Corps, it said.
The Community Corps plan is one of six big ideas to come from the 2020 summit and should be announced when the final report from the summit is released within days.
