Media Release

February 25 2009

Launching an equity agenda for future success

At the Equity Centre launch, Prof Peter Lee, Prof Peter Høj, Prof Denise Bradley AC, Prof Trevor Gale and Prof Bill Tierney (Director of the Centre for Higher Education Policy Analysis at the University of Southern California). In one of her first major addresses on equity since handing down the National Review of Higher Education, Professor Denise Bradley, AC, launched the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education in Adelaide on February 25.

UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Lee says the launch of the centre is a significant milestone for higher education in Australia.

“The development of a research hub that has a clear brief, not only to explore how to improve equality of access to higher education for all Australians, but to disseminate that knowledge to policy makers across the sector, is invaluable,” Prof Lee said.

“There is a clear link between participation in higher education and the development and prosperity of societies and the long term investment in student equity in higher education that the Centre represents will continue to bring rewards.”

Prof Lee said the Bradley Review recommendations set significant targets for higher education participation, including a target of 40 per cent of Australians aged between 25 and 34 having a higher degree by 2020.

Professor Bradley has also argued strongly for setting targets for equal participation for a range of equity groups in higher education. In her address she will discuss the issues she has raised in the National Review of Higher Education and the importance of targets in helping universities achieve equitable outcomes for their students.

“Despite numerous attempts at State and Federal level we have not succeeded in fashioning an education system which combats those failures of social and economic policy which have led to some children apparently being condemned to failure well before they begin formal education,” Prof Bradley said.

“The challenge for governments and educators is to find ways of addressing deeply entrenched disadvantage which is not countered by current education arrangements.

“To change patterns of tertiary participation we require action at every level and such action must be informed by the findings of research which is directed to identifying answers in partnership with those who are working in the field.

“That is why this centre is so important for the future. Not only for individuals in those areas of Australia where long term cumulative disadvantage blights the life of generation after generation but also for the future of Australia’s reputation as a place which gives all of its citizens an equal chance to succeed.”

In 2007 the Federal Government announced $630,000 funding to support the development of the National Centre to be based at the University of South Australia and a further $590,000 annually towards its operation.

It’s Director, Professor Trevor Gale was appointed in mid 2008 and says the Centre is already providing advice and undertaking significant collaborative research Australia-wide.

“We’re already midway through a national project researching how university engagement with schools, particularly in low income communities, can increase students’ participation in higher education.

“We have also been funded by the Thyne Reid Foundation to conduct research in relation to the rural reconnect program to find out what works in helping regional and remote students to access higher education.”

Prof Gale says the Centre has also been given a boost with further Commonwealth funding for the establishment of an online Student Equity Exchange which will provide a national repository of equity research and best practice policy and a forum for the discussion of equity research and equity issues.

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