This NAIDOC week marks a milestone of five decades of celebrating and recognising the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2026 theme "Fifty Years of Deadly" signifies the tremendous effort and devotion of those who built this movement and continue to fight for justice. "Fifty Years of Deadly" is an opportunity for us all to look back and reflect on the journey taken for us to get to this point, but most of all it is a chance to recognise the strength and courage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we celebrate these achievements, we must continue to remember our shared responsibility to create a better future. At the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, we are committed to support our First Nations colleagues and centre Indigenous voices to advance equity in education and beyond. #NAIDOC2026 #NAIDOCWeek #50YearsOfDeadly

Last week, ACSES hosted an Equity Fellowship Webinar featuring 2025 ACSES Equity Fellow Associate Professor Kelly Linden. Kelly presented her findings from her Fellowship "Is the problem us? Helping part-time students to succeed in a full-time world" which highlighted the extent to which part-time students, who make up 35% of all domestic Australian university students, are juggling competing responsibilities, such as caring and work commitments. The webinar provoked many insightful and productive discussions amongst audience members, and the Question and Answers portion welcomed further conversation on the part-time student experience such as Regional University Study Hubs, Equivalent Full-Time Student Load, and encouraging constructive behaviour post-failure. 🎥 You can now view a recording of the webinar here: youtu.be/rQQ-sx8hXhw 🔗 For more information on Kelly and her Equity Fellowship, visit here: acses.edu.au/event/acses-equ…

🔦 Report highlights emerging opportunities in student equity data governance. New ACSES research report highlights emerging opportunities for universities, as demands for sensitive student equity data intensify across the sector. The study by ACSES Equity Fellow Dr Bret Stephenson examined how Australian universities are managing challenges around the governance of equity data, which tracks how students from underrepresented backgrounds enrol, study, and succeed in higher education. This question was explored in the context of the rapid digital transformation of the sector, alongside major reforms to privacy laws driven by the Australian Universities Accord’s call for expanded equity data collection. Dr Stephenson conducted the research while at La Trobe University, drawing on interviews with equity practitioners and senior leaders at institutions across Australia. Funded via ACSES’s Equity Fellowship program, the report also provides practical recommendations for governments, universities, and practitioners to improve the collection and reporting of student equity data. You can now read Dr Stephenson’s Equity Fellowship report in full on the ACSES website: acses.edu.au/publication/cen…

⭐ ACSES Equity Hub: 2026 Community of Practice #3 ACSES will be hosting its third CoP event for 2026, bringing student equity colleagues together to provide an opportunity for practitioners to share their lessons learned and best practices in student equity and program evaluation. This event, to be held online, will include presentations from Griffith University and Waipapa Taumata Rau/University of Auckland, with Griffith discussing their recent work to understand the cumulative impact of multiple initiatives/programs, and Auckland their growing University Entrance (UE) Success secondary schools partnership focusing on Māori and Pacific University Entrance attainment and how they are measuring the impact. For further information on each presentation, visit here: acses.edu.au/event/acses-equ… 📅 Tuesday, 28 July 2026 ⏰ 11:00am–12:30pm AWST | 1:00pm–2:30pm AEST 📍 Online via Zoom 🧷 Visit here to register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi…

🌟 Enabling programs pave way to university success 🌟 New ACSES research report reveals compelling evidence that in-school enabling programs (ISEPs) are delivering strong and effective direct pathways to university. The report presents the findings of the first national study to compare ISEPs across institutions, examining how they work and the outcomes they achieve—particularly for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Led by Dr Angela Jones of Edith Cowan University, and funded through ACSES’s Large Grants Research Program, the study also involved researchers from Murdoch University, Southern Cross University, and the University of Southern Queensland. You can now read the report in full on the ACSES website: acses.edu.au/publication/nes…

🎉The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026–27 round of the HDR Stipend Scheme: Suvasish Das Shuvo (University of Wollongong) and his project Generating policy-ready evidence on food insecurity among Australian students Christine Gallagher (The University of Sydney) and her project First generation scholars in higher education in Australia Rovini Rathnayake (Queensland University of Technology) and her project Equity and mathematics preparedness: Impacts on first-year engineering student success in Australia Musha Shi (Curtin University) and her project “From utility to affective inclusion”: Leveraging generative AI to support the emotional well-being of low SES students The 2026–27 Round of the scheme invited Higher Degree by Research post-graduate students with an interest in student equity in higher education to apply. Recipients will each receive funding to undertake their research project along with the opportunity for research outputs. 👏 ACSES would like to commend all applicants on the high standard of research proposals submitted whilst also extending congratulations to its recipients.

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. This year's theme, All In, acts as a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. All In highlights that all of us must take action to make meaningful change in the fight for reconciliation. The theme also reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining, and acting for far too long. At the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, we are committed to support our First Nations colleagues and centre Indigenous voices to advance equity in education and beyond. Artwork by Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man Otis Hope Carey #NRW2026 #reconciliationweek #nationalreconciliation

Today, on National Sorry Day, we pause to remember the grief, trauma, and loss experienced by the Stolen Generations and their families. ACSES acknowledges the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, and we stand alongside them on the journey toward truth, justice, and healing. This years theme, From Sorry to Action, recognises the leadership, accountability, and urgency required to deliver real change within survivors’ lifetimes. National Sorry Day is an opportunity for all Australians to learn more about this history and its ongoing, intergenerational impacts. As we move into National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on our past and our shared responsibility to create a better future.

💻 Research Webinar #3: ACSES HDR Stipends Scheme Join us for a Research Webinar featuring a project presentation from Tim McLennan, recipient of the 2025–26 Round of the ACSES HDR Stipends Scheme, on his project "Understanding 'success' and the evaluation of equity initiatives from the perspectives of students from refugee backgrounds and other stakeholders in refugee education." This presentation will report on the findings of a participatory co-design project focused on how students from refugee backgrounds (SfRB) and other stakeholders in refugee education define success and how it can be evaluated in higher education. 🗓 Tuesday, 23 June 2026 🕙 11:00–11:40am AWST | 1:00–1:40pm AEST 📍 Online via Zoom 🧷 For more details, visit here: acses.edu.au/event/research-… 🧷 To register, visit here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

📣New report highlights trends in enabling program participation rates📣 A new report by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) highlights—for the first time—national, institution‑level analysis of university enabling program participation rates stratified by equity group. The report, the latest in ACSES’s Data Insights Series, found the share of equity students enrolling in enabling programs climbed to about 60%—a more than 10% increase—in the decade to 2023. Drawing on recently released data, the report also focuses on first-year university retention rates from 2021 and 2022, and first-year success rates from 2021 to 2023. While retention rates for equity students who entered university via enabling programs dropped between 2021 and 2022, success rates showed a distinct upward trend in 2023. The report also presents comparable evidence on retention and success outcomes for students entering university via enabling programs, benchmarked against ATAR pathways. You can now read the report in full on the ACSES website: acses.edu.au/publication/ena…

⭐ Join us next month for a Fellowship Webinar where 2025 Equity Fellow, Kelly Linden, will present her project “Is the problem us? Helping part-time students to succeed in a full-time world”. 📅 Wednesday, 17 June 📍Online via Zoom ⏰12:00pm–1:00pm AEST | 10:00am–11:00am AWST 🧷 Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi… Read more about her fellowship here: acses.edu.au/event/acses-equ…

📣 New report identifies barriers that prevents students from accessing essential assistance and provides practical plan to combat student financial hardship. A new Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) research report examines the prevalence and impact of financial hardship on university students and evaluates the effectiveness of existing financial support services. The report outlines barriers that prevent students from accessing essential financial assistance and offers a comprehensive set of recommendations for various stakeholders including government, universities, student support offices and industry partners, which range from expanding financial aid programs and improving student housing affordability to enhancing financial literacy support and simplifying aid application processes. Led by Anne McMahon, the report was developed as part of the ACSES Small Grants Program, and was co-authored by Karen Charlton, Kelly Lambert, Yasmine Probst, Katherine Kent, Karen Walton, Joanne Russell, Kylie Austin, and Gabrielle O'Flynn. You can now read the full report on the ACSES website: acses.edu.au/publication/tow…

👏 ACSES is excited to welcome youth advocate in higher education expert @StorerDylan as the newest member of its Advisory Board. Dylan is President of the Curtin Student Guild and a journalism student at Curtin University, his appointment to the ACSES Advisory Board as student representative will bring a strong student voice to the table and help push for a higher education system that genuinely opens doors for students from every background. As Guild President, he has focused on practical reforms to reduce barriers to studying, including cost-of-living initiatives such as the Guild Food Pantry and $5 Student Saver Meals, stronger support services, and advocacy for fairer housing and academic flexibility. Read more 👉 acses.edu.au/guild-president…

📣 New reports shine spotlight on student retention and mode of attendance at Australian universities The latest national trends in first-year university student retention and mode of attendance are explored in two new research reports by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES). Part of ACSES’s Data Insights Series, the reports draw on the latest 2024 data to provide a timely snapshot of the student experience in Australian higher education. The first report examines how equity group intersectionality affects whether students stay enrolled after their first year of studies, and how retention varies across institutions. It found the retention rate increased among all key equity groups but varied widely, ranging from 75% for First Nations Australian students to 84% for students with disability. The second report examines whether students are studying internally, externally, or through a mix of both, and how mode of attendance varies across equity groups. It confirmed online study is widening access to higher education among equity groups, with students from low socio-economic status areas, regional and remote areas, and First Nations Australian students significantly more likely to study externally than their peers. You can now read both reports in full on the ACSES website: acses.edu.au/data/data-resou…

⭐ ACSES Equity Hub: 2026 Community of Practice #2 ACSES will be hosting its second CoP event for 2026 this month, bringing student equity colleagues together to provide an opportunity for practitioners to share their lessons learned and best practices in student equity and program evaluation. This event, to be held online, will include presentations from Southern Cross University who will discuss recent innovations in learning support models at the university and how impact has been measured and assessed. For further information on each presentation, visit here: acses.edu.au/event/acses-equ… 📅 Tuesday, 28 April 2026 ⏰ 1:00pm–2:30pm AWST | 3:00pm–4:30pm AEST 📍 Online via Zoom 🧷 Visit here to register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi…

🧏 Happy Auslan Day Today, we celebrate and recognise the rich history, culture, and community that Australian Sign Language (Auslan) holds. Did you know...Auslan Day takes place on the date of the first publication of the Auslan dictionary, 13th of April, 1989. Let today be a reminder of the importance of accessibility for all. #AUSLANDAY

📣 New report reveals the effectiveness of First Nations Centres in providing the necessary culturally sensitive support to First Nations students and their success at university. A new Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) research report explores the diverse university pathways taken by First Nations students and how targeted support services are crucial elements of support to ensure their success at university. The report outlines how First Nations Centres can elevate support services and provide an even stronger impact to help students overcome barriers, build confidence, and find a space where they feel comfortable. Authored by James Beaufils (Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at University of Technology Sydney), Rebecca Taylor (Australian Council for Educational Research), and Daniel Edwards (Australian Council for Educational Research), the report was developed as part of the ACSES Small Grants Program. You can now read the full report on the ACSES website: acses.edu.au/publication/fir… Credit for artwork used on cover: Tau Talifolau’s Passing on knowledge was created for this research project and is used with permission from the artist. Description: “The symbols of passing on knowledge with the emu footprints signify progression. The Emu is known for never taking a step back so I thought this would be a deadly theme to include.” – Talifolau, T.

"Appreciating pathways to success: Strengthening student wellbeing and university access through intentional school design" Watch Christopher Slee from Flinders University, a recipient of funding from the 2025–26 Round of the ACSES HDR Stipends Scheme, present on his topic exploring alternate admission pathways into university and the wellbeing support that school students receive during their final year of studies. Findings of his project can be used by schools and the Australian tertiary education sector to consider how university admissions pathways and the school experience can be intentionally designed to enhance student wellbeing and university access. For more details on Christopher and his project visit: acses.edu.au/event/research-… Register to the event, here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi… 📅 Tuesday, 24 March 2026 ⏰ 10:00am–11:30am AWST | 1:00pm–2:30pm AEDT 📍 Online via Zoom