ACSES has released a new research report presenting the findings of the first national study comparing in-school enabling programs at universities across Australia.
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New report released | Nesting enabling programs in senior schooling
Dear colleagues,
The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) is excited to announce the release of a new research report presenting the findings of the first national study comparing in-school enabling programs (ISEPs) at universities across Australia.
Increasing access and opportunity: Nesting enabling programs in senior schooling reveals compelling evidence ISEPs are delivering strong and effective direct pathways to higher education—particularly for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Led by Dr Angela Jones of Edith Cowan University (ECU), the study focused on nearly 2,000 students who enrolled in ISEPs at 94 high schools nationwide between 2021 and 2023.
It found 79% went on to complete their pathway program and that, once at university, students from equity cohorts who entered via ISEPs were retained at near parity with their peers.
This indicates ISEPs are not just equipping students with the skills and confidence to access university—they are also helping to narrow retention gaps that remain pronounced in ATAR pathways.
Students and educators involved in the study highlighted the powerful personal impact of these programs, including greater confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of belonging, alongside the development of essential academic skills.
The report’s recommendations include securing more sustainable funding for ISEPs, establishing a nationally endorsed enabling education framework, and implementing targeted strategies to address systemic barriers impacting students from equity cohorts.
The project was funded through ACSES’s Large Grants Research Program and involved researchers from ECU, Murdoch University, Southern Cross University, and the University of Southern Queensland.
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
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.
From the sector
JANZSAA to host free webinar | Call for journal submissions
ONLINE WORKSHOP
The Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA) will host a free webinar this week with tips on preparing and submitting an abstract for the upcoming ANZSSA Conference.
Participants will receive step-by-step practical guidance on what’s required: the ideas worth sharing, the criteria you’ll be assessed against, and the standard required.
The one-hour workshop—at 11am AEST on Wednesday 24 June—will also explore pathways available for building your conference presentation into a written submission suitable for publication in JANZSSA.
For more information and to register, visit the JANZSSA website.
CALL FOR PAPERS
JANZSSA is inviting submissions of peer-reviewed and professional papers, book reviews, and interviews for JANZSSA Volume 34, Issue 3, to be published in October 2026.
Suggested topics include:
- student voice, partnership, and co-creation
- student wellbeing, belonging, and relational practice
- equity, inclusion, and social justice in higher education
- orientation, transition, and the first-year experience
- artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the future student experience
- student success across the lifecycle: access, participation, retention, and transition out
- data-informed practice and evidence-based student services
- professional identity, leadership, and capability in student services.
Peer-reviewed papers must be submitted by Tuesday 30 June 2026, with a Friday 31 July deadline for professional papers, book reviews, and interviews.
For more information and to make a submission, visit the JANSZAA website.
Call for abstracts: NAEEA Conference 2026
The National Association of Enabling Educators of Australia (NAEEA) is inviting submissions of abstracts to present at its 2026 conference, to be held in Perth from 2–4 December.
Hosted by Edith Cowan University and Murdoch University, the biennial event is the leading conference dedicated to enabling education and widening participation in the Southern Hemisphere.
It brings together experts, practitioners, scholars, and researchers from across the world to share ideas with the goal of creating more equitable and inclusive pathways into higher education.
Presentation formats include workshops, showcase presentations, and gallery presentations.
Whether you're refining an existing idea, finalising a project, or sharing your practice for the first time, don’t miss this opportunity.
Abstracts can be submitted online until 20 July 2026.
ACSES in the News
"How can we support uni students who struggle financially?", The Conversation
"HE funding shake-up targets underrepresented cohorts", University World News
