ACSES Visiting Scholar Geoffrey Mitchell (QLD) presented fascinating data to the ACSES team during his visit. Below are some of the key points discussed:
Key Data Insights
- Decline in Undergraduate Applications, Offers and Enrolments: A decreasing trend in the proportion of Year 12 students receiving offers and enrolling at university affecting equity and non-equity cohorts.
- Data Mapping Challenges: An analysis of publicly available data from national, state/territory, and school levels revealed inconsistencies in reporting and measurement practices. This included inputs from educational authorities and tertiary admissions centres.
Significant Findings
- School Year 10 – 12 retention is falling and lower for First Nations students, low SES students, students in regional and remote areas, students in Government schools and for males.
- ATAR attainment is variable across states and territories but consistently lower for the above student cohorts.
- Senior subject selection and pathways are impacted by same factors.
- Queensland post-school destination survey data shows students who don’t do an ATAR are much less likely to go directly to university, but much more likely to be unemployed.
- In WA, ATAR participation is continuing to decline, but participation in in-school enabling programs is growing.
- SES has a more significant impact on academic pathways in Queensland than regional factors.
- Funding of more Uni Ready places is a good patch but does not address deeper structural issues.
Future Directions
Geoffrey emphasised the need for ongoing data mapping and cross-jurisdictional comparisons for policy and practice enhancements. Next actions include:
- Data quality control and validation.
- Strategic dissemination of findings.
- Using selected data for wider interjurisdictional comparisons.
Stay tuned for further updates and publications that will delve deeper into these insights and their policy implications.