The Australian Higher Education Scheme (HECS) was a landmark piece of public policy. It offers students the chance to undertake higher education and repay the cost only once they reach an earnings threshold. But HECS - these days called the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) - has become an election issue following the release of a recent report showing sharp increases in HECS costs over the next decade. In this Policy Forum Pod, Professor Bruce Chapman - the architect of Australia's HECS program, and Associate Professor Tim Higgins of the ANU College of Business and Economics, discuss HECS and answer the question of whether it needs help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.