opening page ornament

Welcome to the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success

The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success acknowledges Indigenous peoples across Australia as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which the nation’s campuses are situated. With a history spanning more than 60,000 years as the original educators, Indigenous peoples hold a unique place in our nation. We recognise the importance of their knowledge and culture, and reflect the principles of participation, equity, and cultural respect in our work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, and consider it an honour to learn from our Indigenous colleagues, partners, and friends.

Enter website
Back to Publications
You are reading: “A Stepping Stone That Just Pushed Me Further Into Wanting to Go to University”: Student Perspectives on ‘What Works’ for Effective Outreach Strategies for Indigenous Students

Katelyn Barney and Hayley Williams

Originally published in Student Success
3 August 2021

Abstract

In Australia, there are numerous outreach initiatives run by universities for Indigenous high school students that attempt to elevate aspirations of Indigenous students to go to university. The theoretical case for these initiatives is strong as much data exists surrounding the barriers Indigenous students face in entering university. However, the research and evidence base for these equity programs remains largely underdeveloped and limited (Bennett et al., 2015). Drawing on findings from interviews with Indigenous university students as part of a National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) Equity Fellowship, this paper identifies what works and what areas to strengthen in Indigenous specific outreach programs. The paper concludes by discussing the development of strategies and resources to build the evidence base of effective outreach activities for Indigenous students.

Read the full article

Content reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

General Indigenous Journal articles
“A Stepping Stone That Just Pushed Me Further Into Wanting to Go to University”: Student Perspectives on ‘What Works’ for Effective Outreach Strategies for Indigenous Students
K Barney, H Williams, 2021
Featured publications
Is the problem us? Helping part-time students succeed in a full-time world
Kelly Linden​ , 2026
An ACSES Equity Fellowship final report. The project looks at the increasingly complex challenges facing part-time university students and what interventions are needed to help them succeed.
Part-time students
Research Reports
First Nations students’ progress into and through university
J Beaufils, R Taylor, and D Edwards​ , 2026
A Small Grants Research Program final report. The study provides insight into the pathways and approaches to university by First Nations students and the role that a university centre designed specifically to support First Nations students can have on building success for students.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Indigenous
Australian Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
J M Lodge et al.​ , 2025
Published by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, in collaboration with the Australian National AI in Schools Taskforce.
Resources
Navigating the cultural interface: Indigenous PhD scholars’ experience of working toward equity in health research across Australia, Turtle Island Canada, and Aotearoa New Zealand
S Andrews, T Eastman, E Munro-Harrison, and O Mazel​ , 2025
A Small Grants Research Program final report. The study explored the ways in which Indigenous PhD scholars in Australia, Turtle Island Canada, and Aotearoa New Zealand are championing community-informed and Indigenous-led research at the cultural interface in higher education.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Indigenous
More publications
Is the problem us? Helping part-time students succeed in a full-time world
Kelly Linden​ , 2026
An ACSES Equity Fellowship final report. The project looks at the increasingly complex challenges facing part-time university students and what interventions are needed to help them succeed.
Part-time students
Research Reports
First Nations students’ progress into and through university
J Beaufils, R Taylor, and D Edwards​ , 2026
A Small Grants Research Program final report. The study provides insight into the pathways and approaches to university by First Nations students and the role that a university centre designed specifically to support First Nations students can have on building success for students.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Indigenous
Research Reports
Australian Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
J M Lodge et al.​ , 2025
Published by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, in collaboration with the Australian National AI in Schools Taskforce.
Resources
Navigating the cultural interface: Indigenous PhD scholars’ experience of working toward equity in health research across Australia, Turtle Island Canada, and Aotearoa New Zealand
S Andrews, T Eastman, E Munro-Harrison, and O Mazel​ , 2025
A Small Grants Research Program final report. The study explored the ways in which Indigenous PhD scholars in Australia, Turtle Island Canada, and Aotearoa New Zealand are championing community-informed and Indigenous-led research at the cultural interface in higher education.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Indigenous
Research Reports