KEVIN Rudd wants to recruit an army of young volunteers to help the elderly, feed the homeless, and clean up the environment.
In exchange for giving up their time, members of the new Community Corps would get discounts on their university HECS debts. The proposal could attract tens of thousands of volunteers from the 1.3 million Australians with a higher education debt.
The average ex-student has a $12,000 HECS debt, which typically takes more than seven years to pay off.
The scheme could wipe out students' debts as they accumulate hours of community service, the Herald Sun reports.
The plan, backed by top business minds and embraced by community and welfare groups, emerged from the Prime Minister's 2020 summit.
The Government is expected to adopt it within days when it releases its final 2020 summit report.
Mr Rudd, who has pleaded for Australians to pull together to beat the rapidly worsening economic downturn, has described the idea as "a very practical trade".
Corps members could deliver meals on wheels, youth and Aboriginal services, become volunteer firefighters, or assist the disabled and elderly. Landcare and water projects could also benefit.
It is understood the Corps would operate within Australia, unlike the US Peace Corps, which works on projects across the globe.
The plan is believed to be one of about six big ideas from the 2020 summit to get the green light.
After the summit, Mr Rudd said: "We need more volunteering in the community, and students are emerging from university with a whole lot of debt.
"The idea . . . where young people would go out and provide voluntary service in the community in exchange for reducing their HECS debt . . . is one we want to consider."
Brotherhood of St Lawrence chief executive Tony Nicholson said there would be plenty for Community Corps members to do.
"It could range from assisting with recreational programs to driving a community bus, to assisting disadvantaged people get to the doctor or do their shopping," he said.
Mr Nicholson said those with special skills, such as IT graduates, would be particularly useful.
When the idea was floated at the summit, the architect of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, Prof Bruce Chapman, said it would appeal to wealthier students. Poorer students, he said, would probably prefer to enter the paid workforce.
