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Fifty-nine Year 11 students from five Pilbara high schools will get a taste of what university can offer at a three-day Aspire UWA camp at The University of Western Australian from April 30 to May 2

The visiting students will take part in a range of activities across subject areas at UWA and Perth's four other universities, including training in study skills and stress management to help them succeed in their final years at high school.

They will also participate in leadership and team-building activities designed to provide students with the skills and confidence to thrive in the 21 ^st century.

The Aspire UWA program is funded by Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, and UWA.  It encourages students who would not normally consider university as an option to see the benefits and opportunities that university study can offer.

The camp is an important part of a comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy developed in partnership with Pilbara high schools to engage students from a region that has a historically low transfer rate to university.

This year's students are from Hedland Senior High School, Karratha SHS, St Luke's College, Karratha, Newman SHS and Tom Price SHS, and were selected by their schools to be involved in the camp based on their desire and potential to go to university.

A similar camp last April generated very positive student feedback, including ‘‘ Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime ". By the end of the camp, 85% of students indicated they felt more confident about attending university after high school.

In between academic endeavours, students will also experience Perth's fun side with adventure activities at the Point Walter Recreation and Conference Centre, shopping at Garden City and a trip to the movies.

Media references

Louise Pollard (Manager, Aspire UWA)  (+61 8)  6488 3646  /  (+61 4) 12 267 148
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783