News Archive

Twenty-five high schools from WA's Mid-West, Gascoyne and Kimberley will join a program run by The University of Western Australia to give students the opportunity and incentive to attend university.

Federal Education Minister, Senator Chris Evans today announced that the UWA Aspire program would get an additional $5.9 million, just days after 59 Pilbara Year Nine students came to camp at UWA under the same program.

UWA Associate Director of Student Services and Equity and Diversity Adviser, Dr Judy Skene, said the grant will double the University's capacity to engage with thousands of high school students from remote and low socio-economic backgrounds.

Dr Skene said the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program had already provided a unique taste of UWA life for than 4000 metropolitan and Pilbara high school students this year.

The University's Aspire UWA program aimed to attract high school students who were "most able but least likely" to access the benefits of higher education.

Dr Skene said Aspire UWA began in 2007 with a $2.45 million federal grant that enabled the University to form partnerships with 19 metropolitan and six Pilbara high schools.

A subsequent study of the 25 Aspire UWA schools showed a 16 per cent increase in university enrolments last year compared with 12.5 per cent for other similar schools.

"Indigenous high school students, supported by UWA's School of Indigenous Studies, are a particular focus," Dr Skene said. "Other focus areas include health and medicine for students in regional and remote areas."

Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, Professor Alan Robson, said the increased funding would allow UWA to greatly expand its ability to attract students who might otherwise lack opportunity or incentive to attend university.

"Equity and diversity in access to higher education are key elements of our commitment to community engagement," Professor Robson said.

Media references

Dr Judy Skene (Associate Director of Student Services and Equity and Diversity Adviser)  (+61 4) 50 613 620
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783