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.

You are reading: ADCET Webinar: Enhancing Self-Disclosure of Equity Group Membership

Event information

The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) and the Australian Tertiary Education Network on Disability (ATEND)

Overview

This webinar was presented by Rita Kusevskis-Hayes, Dr. Colin Clark and Matthew Wilkinson – UNSW project team for Enhancing Self-Disclosure Project. The project is funded through a HEPPP National Priorities grant. The aim of the project is to investigate why members of equity groups choose not to self-identify to their universities, either upon enrolment or later. The project will consider three key equity/disadvantaged groups: Students with disability; Students from non-English speaking backgrounds; and, Indigenous students. Survey results from students in these equity groups will assist in the development of good practice guidelines based on the experiences of universities around Australia, and will benefit students from equity backgrounds to access educational opportunities.

This webinar discussed:

  • The purpose of the project
  • What is known so far from disclosure statistics and different disclosure practices and methods across institutions
  • What is not known.

There was discussion towards the end of the webinar where participants had the opportunity to answer the following:

  • How disclosure affects people going into internships / work?
  • Ongoing effects of disclosure processes?
  • Why don’t students disclose?
  • Should we encourage students to disclose? Why? Why not?
  • How can we construct a disclosure-friendly environment?
  • What barriers to disclosure need to be removed?

View the webinar recording on the ADCET website.

About the presenters

Rita Kusevskis-Hayes

Rita Kusevskis-Hayes is the Team Leader & Equity Senior Project Manager for Student Life and Learning (DVCE) at UNSW. Her current position presents a broad range of challenges such as managing HEPPP funded projects as well as a national grant on Disclosure across Australian universities.

Dr. Colin Clark

Dr. Colin Clark has been involved in tertiary education in academic and support roles for over 20 years, teaching business communication and English for academic purposes

Matt Wilkinson

Matt Wilkinson is a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales and a researcher in the UNSW School of Social Sciences and at UNSW Disabilities Services. Matt employs qualitative methodologies and an emancipatory position as the foundation of research, where research is focused on highlighting and resolving vulnerabilities and bringing to light personal experiences and perspectives.