Student loans particularly burdensome on female graduates

Reports have revealed  disparities experienced by female university graduates, who on average receive great HECS-HELP loans whilst earning less than their male counterparts. Amongst these include research conducted by the Futurity Investment Group  with their 2023 report that looks into the Financial and Social Impact of the Cost of University Education . It found that out of 1000 students surveyed, 46% of the female university graduates finished university with a HECS-Help debt of between $20 000-50 000, compared to 43% of the male graduates. Furthermore,  70% of males earned more than $60 000 compared to just 59% of women in their professional careers. 

These figures pose questions of gender in higher education systems and the workforce more broadly.

James Murray speaks with Kate Hill, executive with the Futurity Investment Group.