On Widening Participation in Higher Education: A National Examination of Equity Initiatives in Australian Secondary Schools

Abstract

Despite historic efforts to improve rates of higher education participation for educationally disadvantaged students, equity students remain under-represented in Australian universities. University-run equity or ?outreach? programs which target secondary students are one way to encourage higher education access and participation of equity students. However, there have been few national assessments of these equity initiatives. Using a representative sample of Australian schools from the GENERATION survey of Australian youth, this research examined the characteristics and targeting of university-run equity initiatives in schools during 2022. Analysis showed that approximately one-quarter of secondary schools in Australia reported receiving an equity initiative. Programs mostly focused on increasing aspirations for higher education among low socioeconomic, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and rural and regional students. However, our findings indicated that these programs did not effectively target disadvantaged or regional schools. Moreover, programs may be implemented too late to impact students? career and educational aspirations.