New report released | Centring equity in data and digital governance 

Dear colleagues,

The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) has today released a new research report highlighting emerging opportunities for universities, amid intensifying demands for sensitive student equity data across the sector.

Centring equity in data and digital governance: Informing policy to empower practice looks at how Australian universities are managing challenges around the governance of equity data, which tracks how students from underrepresented backgrounds enrol, study, and succeed in higher education.

This question is explored in the context of the rapid digital transformation of the sector, alongside major reforms to privacy laws driven by the Australian Universities Accord’s call for expanded equity data collection.

ACSES Equity Fellow Dr Bret Stephenson conducted the research while at La Trobe University, drawing on interviews with equity practitioners and senior leaders at institutions nationwide.

Dr Stephenson’s study, which is among the first of its kind in Australia, shines the spotlight on the perspectives of those tasked with navigating the tensions between institutional demands, professional ethics, and student trust.

Funded via ACSES’s Equity Fellowship program, the report provides practical recommendations for governments, universities, and practitioners to improve the collection and reporting of student equity data.

You can now read the full report here.

Kind regards,

Professor Ian Li SFHEA
Research and Policy Program Director
Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success

ACSES Equity Hub: 2026 Community of Practice #3

ACSES will be hosting its third Community of Practice (CoP) event for 2026, bringing student equity colleagues together to provide an opportunity for practitioners to share their lessons learned and best practices in student equity and program evaluation.

This event, to be held online, will include presentations from Griffith University and Waipapa Taumata Rau/University of Auckland, with Griffith discussing their recent work to understand the cumulative impact of multiple initiatives/programs, and Auckland their growing University Entrance (UE) Success secondary schools partnership focusing on Māori and Pacific University Entrance attainment and how they are measuring the impact.

Further information on each presentation can be found here.

📅 Tuesday, 28 July 2026
⏰ 11:00am–12:30pm AWST | 1:00pm–2:30pm AEST
📍 Online via Zoom

Don't forget to nominate for the 2026 ACSES Awards

With the deadline fast approaching, now is the time to submit your nominations for the ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice 2026.

The awards recognise individuals and teams whose work has influenced decision-makers and led to better outcomes for students from equity backgrounds.

You can nominate a colleague, team, or yourself, with up to five recipients set to be honoured in 2026.

ACSES will support winners—or a nominated team member for group awards—to attend the formal award ceremony at the ACSES Policy Symposium 2026, to be held in Brisbane from 8–9 September 2026.

Nominations close at 4pm (AWST) on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Visit the ACSES website for more information and to download an application pack.

ACSES in the News

• "Programs Pave Strong Path to University Success: Report", The Mirage

• "Enabling programs a strong path to university success: report", The National Tribune