“A Stepping Stone That Just Pushed Me Further Into Wanting to Go to University”: Student Perspectives on ‘What Works’ for Effective Outreach Strategies for Indigenous Students
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The University of Queensland
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The University of Queensland Australia
Abstract
In Australia, there are numerous outreach initiatives run by universities for Indigenous high school students that attempt to elevate aspirations of Indigenous students to go to university. The theoretical case for these initiatives is strong as much data exists surrounding the barriers Indigenous students face in entering university. However, the research and evidence base for these equity programs remains largely underdeveloped and limited (Bennett et al., 2015). Drawing on findings from interviews with Indigenous university students as part of a National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) Equity Fellowship, this paper identifies what works and what areas to strengthen in Indigenous specific outreach programs. The paper concludes by discussing the development of strategies and resources to build the evidence base of effective outreach activities for Indigenous students.
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Author Biographies
Katelyn Barney, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit at The University of Queensland. Her research focuses on improving pathways for Indigenous students into and through higher education and advancing understanding about the role of collaborative research and music making between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. She was a 2019/2020 Equity Fellow with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) exploring what works in university outreach programs for Indigenous secondary school students. Katelyn is also Managing Editor of The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education.
Hayley Williams is an Aboriginal Research Officer in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland. Hayley is currently finalising her PhD on the social and emotional impacts of paediatric burn injuries on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families for which she was awarded an NHMRC Postgraduate scholarship and Children’s Hospital Foundation pre-clinical and clinical scholarship. Her research focuses on the social and emotional wellbeing and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents.
