FOR PRESSP. M. 59L19
FORESTRY EDUCATION PT THE AUSTRALIAkN NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzies
The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, announced
today that the Government, following agreement with the
Australian National University, has approved that the functions
of the Australian Forestry School will be carried out by the
Australian National University.
The Australian National University will establish a
Department of Forestry in the Faculty of Science of the School
of General Studies. The Department will teach all years of a
four-year forestry degree course for its own students and will,
by arrangement with State universities accept students for the
final two years of the course who havecompleted the first two
years of an approved course in any Qf those universities. It
will also engage in research and post-graduate training. The
Australian National University will establish a body to advise
the Faculty of Science on the professional aspects of forestry
education which will include in its membership the heads of
forest services of the participating States and other persons
knowledgeable of forestry education and the forestry profession.
The Univerwity has advertised for a professor who will
be head of a department of forestry. It is hoped that an appointment
can be made before the beginning of the 1965 University
session. Arrangements for the University to take over the
functions cf the School will be put in hand immediately, but
the University does not wish to make firm decisions en the
development ef forestry education before a prrfessor of forestry
has been appointed. The existing teaching and supporting technioal nad
clerical staff cf the Australian Forestry School will be offered
appointments at the appropriate level in the School of General
Studies at the University. The physical plant and equipment of
the Forestry School will be transferred to the University, and
for the period of three years at least the Univereity will use
the teaching and residential buildings at present used by the
Fcrestry School at Yarralumla, Canberra.
CANBERRA, 2nd August, 1964.
BACKGROUND The Australian Forestry Sohool is a branch of the
Forestry and Timber Burea, which is now a Division of the
Department of National Development. It was founded by the
Commonwealth Government in 1925 at the request of the Premiers
of the States to provide a National centre for higher forestry
education. It replaced the Forestry Sehool at the University of
Adelaide, which University provided the only Australian degree
course in forestry from 1911 to 1925. The University 4f Adelaide
generously consented to transfer this function to the Commonwealth
Government. / 2
2-
The Forestry School gives the third and fourth years
of a four-year course in forestry. Students accepted at the
School must have completed at least two years of basic science
training at one of the State universities, or have an equivalent
background. Each of the older State Universities makes use of
the School to give the third and fourth years of their fouryear
degree course in forestry. Students who complete the
course are awarded a degree in forestry from their home university
and also a Diploma in Forestry by the Commonwealth
Government. Since the establishment of the School of General
Studies within the Australian National University, Commonwealth
and State Governments have thought it appropriate that the
functions cf School should be associated with the University.
The Australian Forestry bohool has gained a signifioant
reputation throughout the world and forestry is widely accepted
as a suitable academic subject in many of the world universities.
Discussions with the State Governments have shown that all of
them except Victoria are prepared to make use of the Department
of Forestry in the Australian National University to meet their
needs for a basic degree in forestry for their Forest Service
officers at least until 1969. It is understood that in Victoria
the practice will continue that some officers & f the State Forest
Service will crmplete a forestry degree by a course at the
University of M: 1elbourne after completing their course at the
Victoriam School of Forestry, Creswick.