Despite the great digital disruption, where journalism has itself become the story as global newsrooms lay off tens of thousands of reporters and editors, James Worsfold’s resolve to pursue a career in the field didn’t waver.
In 2023, he enrolled in the Master of Journalism program at the University of Melbourne hoping to pick up skills, contacts, and some early bylines. But just a week out from commencing came a rude shock.
Van life is not what James Worsfold had in mind while studying to become a journalist. Photo: Coco Veldkamp
The course, in common with other tertiary journalism courses in Australia, is not approved by the Department of Social Services for student support payments. On top of facing $65,000 in debt for his degree, Worsfold can’t access Youth Allowance to support himself while he studies.
“A week before my degree started, I received a letter from Centrelink saying that my claim had been rejected. It was a bit of a slap in the face,” he said.
“I live in a van parked in the driveway of a friend’s place. If I wasn’t doing that, I would be in a lot of trouble trying to keep up with rent. I don’t think I would be able to study journalism.”
Universities are required to seek DSS approval for students enrolled in their programs to qualify for student payments. This financial support – called Youth Allowance – is available for students who are studying full-time and ranges from $455.20 to $639 per fortnight, depending on the applicant’s living situation.
Across the sector, Master of Journalism courses haven’t made the cut.
According to a media spokesperson at Melbourne University, back in 2013 the Master of Journalism was nominated but DSS knocked back the application. Universities are unable to resubmit unless there has been a substantial change to the course curriculum.
DSS advises that for a course to qualify for study support payments for those enrolled, it must be necessary for entry-level employment in the relevant field. To meet this criterion, a course must be either the minimum legal or professional education standard, the fastest pathway offered, or the sole pathway provided by the education institution.
What exactly qualifies? A comprehensive list of approved Masters courses is available through the Federal Register of Legislation under the Education Institutions and Courses Determination 2019.
This list presents a broad mix of courses, including the Master of Maritime Archaeology at Flinders University, the Master of Divinity at Australian College of Theology Limited, to the Master of Food and Packaging Innovation at Melbourne University.
Towering ambitions are harder for those having to support themselves while they finish their degrees. Photo: Coco Veldkamp
The variety is vast, and many degrees that appear generalist in nature – such as masters of Geography and Theology – have been approved for support, and yet journalism courses remain absent.
DSS did not reply to The Citizen’s specific questions about the rationale for the exclusion of Master of Journalism programs. Instead, a spokesperson supplied general statements about the approval process and suggested questions about specific applications should be directed to universities.
A spokesperson from the University of Melbourne’s media team declined the opportunity to comment on how the details of applications approved and knocked back varied.
“Clearly this is something we need to look into,” said Associate Professor Andrew Dodd, program director of the MoJ at Melbourne University
“The rationale for including journalism in the DSS list is strong [as the MoJ] is a proven stepping stone to employment in the industry, so it appears to meet several of the key criteria,” Dodd said.
“DSS support could make a real difference to the lives of students and encourage people from diverse backgrounds to enter and complete the course, therefore enriching the Australian media”.
Why postgrads studying some generalist degrees and not others is unclear. Photo: Coco Veldkamp
RMIT Associate Professor Alexander Wake agreed. The President of Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia said she does not understand DSS’s reasoning and is frustrated by the lack of transparency in the decision-making process.
“While you may not need a Masters degree to become a journalist, it’s clear that many of the better employers want staff to have one. Higher educated journalists can only be a good thing for society. I’m particularly distressed to hear that there is inequity between Masters degrees in other disciplines. It does not seem fair at all,” she said.
