Researchers from the University of Wollongong have revealed harrowing data on the impact of ‘Placement Poverty’ on tertiary students, displaying food insecurity and negative mental health as two prevalent concerns.
Placement Poverty refers to the costs incurred by students who complete mandatory professional training as part of their degree. This training can take the form of internships or placements and they are usually unpaid.
Dr Anne McMahon, a key researcher for the study, spoke with Olivia Tollardo on RadioU to unpack key issues and propose potential solutions.