One size doesn’t fit all:
A wake-up call on student equity support

A landmark national trial has revealed a surprising truth — not all students at risk of dropping out of university respond the same way to support, so universities need to stop treating them like they do.

The study, led by Curtin University and supported by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES), is the first in a national series of real-world trials testing what actually works to close equity gaps in higher education.

The trial found that while personalised early intervention helped some students make better choices, such as withdrawing early to avoid unnecessary fees and stress, it had little impact on those who were most disengaged. In short: the same support didn’t work for everyone.

ACSES Executive Director Professor Shamit Saggar said this is a wake-up call for the sector.

“We can’t just rely on business-as-usual programs and expect equitable outcomes. Our Trials Registry is designed to generate the evidence universities need to design smarter, more targeted strategies,” Professor Saggar said.

The report, “The impact of academically at-risk student management practices on first year students’ engagement and success”, is now available through the ACSES Trials Registry, Australia’s first national platform dedicated to showcasing rigorous, evidence-based equity trials.

Led by Curtin’s Manager of Transition and First Year Experience, Ella Ewart, the trial used a randomised controlled design to test whether tailored support, such as proactive contact from staff and flexible advice, could improve academic outcomes for first-year students identified as at risk of failing or withdrawing.

The results were nuanced. Students in the medium-risk group (those still somewhat engaged) were more likely to withdraw after receiving support, suggesting they were empowered to make better-informed decisions. However, students in the high-risk group (those who had almost entirely disengaged) did not benefit from the intervention.

“We often assume that early support naturally leads to better outcomes for everyone, but this trial shows it’s not that simple,” Ms Ewart said.

“Some students may need different types of intervention, or even the space to step back. The real challenge is recognising the diversity of student needs and responding with flexibility and care.”

Find out more

You can now access the summarised trial details, the Trial Protocol, and the Final Report for this project on the ACSES Trials Registry.

For media queries

Please contact the ACSES or Curtin University media contacts: 

Miriam Fisher, ACSES Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Tel: (08) 9266 4327 Mobile: 0478 266 357 Email: miriam.fisher@curtin.edu.au

Simone Harris, Corporate Communications Specialist, Curtin University
Tel: (08) 9266 4528 Mobile: 0466 563 749 Email: simone.harris@curtin.edu.au
(Wed-Fri)

Lauren Glaskin, Corporate Communications Specialist, Curtin University
Tel: (08) 9266 4241 Mobile: 0401 103 373 Email: lauren.glaskin@curtin.edu.au
(Mon-Wed)

One week to go!

Nominations for the ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice 2025 close on 30 June 2025. Find more information and an application form on the ACSES website. 

The Awards recognise individuals or teams that have made significant contributions to shaping policy and transforming practices in ways that drive positive outcomes in higher education student equity.

Nominations are open to individuals or teams employed at a Table A or Table B provider or a Regional University Study Hub. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome. 

Upcoming events

ACSES Quasi-Experimental Design Program Information Session

Join Associate Professor Tim Pitman (ACSES Trials and Evaluation Program Director), Dr Patricia Vermillion Peirce (ACSES Trials Lead), and Jesse Parmar (ACSES Program Manager, Trials and Evaluation), for an information session to learn more about the Quasi-Experimental Design Program, eligibility, levels of funding available, application deadlines, how to apply, and more. There will be time to ask your questions about the program or the application process.

Date: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Time: 9.00-10.00am AWST | 11.00am - 12.00pm AEST
Location: Online via Zoom

Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025: The Australian Student Equity Symposium

Date: 9-10 September 2025
Location: University of Technology Sydney and online

Building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural symposium, ACSES will be hosting “Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025”—a crucial gathering to advance equity in higher education. With insights from international experts, government representatives, and diverse student voices, this two-day event will explore transformative practices and policies aimed at creating accessible and inclusive educational pathways. More information about registration options will be made available soon.

Watch on demand: ACSES Practitioner Resource Grants Information Session

A recording of and the slide deck from the ACSES Practitioner Resource Grants Information Session (held on 18 June 2025) are now available. 

The ACSES Practitioner Resource Grants Program provides funding for equity practitioners to design, develop, test, and deliver resources that can be utilised by practitioner teams in Australian universities.

Key details

Funding available: Up to $25,000 (excluding GST) per project.
Application deadline: 4pm (AWST) on Friday, 25 July 2025.
Project duration: Projects are expected to commence in January 2026, with projects to be finalised in January 2027 and completion and acquittal taking place thereafter.

Application process

Please see application details and forms on our website. Completed applications should be sent to acses@curtin.edu.au by the closing date, addressed to the Director – Trials and Evaluation Program.

ACSES in the news

• "What RoboDebt, Hayne and Rio Tinto tell us about ESG limits", Australian Financial Review
• "How a banker, coal owner and pokies baron passed the ESG pub test", Australian Financial Review
• "Equity Support Needs a Rethink, Landmark Curtin Trial Finds", The Koala