Universities in WA working together to strengthen outreach

Representatives from across the WA higher education sector participated in a collaborative data review session as part of the WA Universities Cooperative Outreach Project (WACOP).

The Western Australian Universities Cooperative Outreach Project 

The Western Australian Universities Cooperative Outreach Project (WACOP) is a collaborative initiative bringing together all five Western Australian universities to better understand, map, and strengthen outreach activities that support student aspirations and pathways into higher education.

Supported by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES), the project seeks to develop a clearer picture of the outreach landscape across Western Australia, identify opportunities for collaboration, contribute to a more coordinated approach to supporting equitable participation in higher education, and explore the development of a shared evaluation framework to better understand and measure outreach impact across the sector.

WACOP is overseen by a Project Board with representation from Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, The University of Notre Dame Australia, and The University of Western Australia, reflecting a shared commitment to collaboration and supporting access for equity students across the sector.

An earlier phase of the project involved a collaborative mapping and data review session with outreach practitioners and stakeholders from across the universities. This work has helped establish a foundation for understanding the breadth, diversity, and reach of outreach initiatives operating throughout the state, while also informing discussions about consistent approaches to data collection, evaluation, and reporting.

The project is now progressing into the stakeholder consultation phase in the Great Southern region. Through conversations with schools, community organisations, Regional University Study Hubs, and other key partners, the project team is seeking insights into current outreach practices, emerging challenges, successful approaches, and opportunities for future coordination, collaboration, and evaluation.

Western Australia's unique geographic and demographic context presents both opportunities and challenges for outreach and student engagement. By bringing together diverse perspectives from across the state, WACOP aims to build a richer understanding of the outreach ecosystem, identify opportunities to strengthen collective impact, and inform the development of an evaluation framework that is meaningful, practical, and responsive to regional contexts.

The consultation findings will help inform future discussions about outreach collaboration, effective practice, evaluation approaches, and strategies to support equitable access to higher education for students across Western Australia.

Get involved in the Great Southern consultation:

Schools, community organisations, and other stakeholders across the Great Southern region are invited to contribute their perspectives and insights to the consultation.

To participate in the consultation: Nurul Huda Sanny Yap, WACOP Project Manager – nurulhuda.sannyyap@curtin.edu.au

For further information about WACOP: Associate Professor Tim Pitman, Trials and Evaluation Program Director – tim.pitman@curtin.edu.au