We are pleased to announce the launch of two new resources providing support for staff undertaking student equity evaluation.
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NEW
ACSES Evaluation Resources Launched
Dear colleagues
The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) is pleased to announce the launch of two new resources providing support for staff undertaking student equity evaluation.
ACSES Evaluation Learning Program
The first streams of the ACSES Evaluation Learning Program, a free, fully online training initiative designed to build evaluation capability for equity practitioners and others in the higher education sector, are now available.
Delivered via Canvas, the program consists of a series of modules across five key streams. The content, grounded in real-world examples, supports participants in applying evaluative thinking to their work—enabling a deeper understanding of what works, for whom, in what circumstances, how, and why.
The launch marks a significant step toward embedding a culture of evidence-informed equity practice across Australian universities.
Streams on Introduction to Equity Evaluation and Program Logic Models for Equity Evaluation will be the first available. Digital badges are awarded upon completion of each stream.
The courses are available to enrol now, and will be live on Canvas from 24 September.
ACSES PLM Tool
The ACSES PLM Tool is an online app supporting equity program design and evaluation by building Program Logic Models (PLMs).
Program Logic Models are visual depictions of a program that help clarify the program intent, align resources and activities with intended outcomes, and assist in communicating with stakeholders. They form the core of program planning and evaluation by identifying the intended impacts this work should measure.
Built on the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework (SEHEEF), the ACSES PLM Tool is intended to help universities map, at the program level, intended relationships between resources, activities, and the intended outcomes.
The tool includes the ability to create a PLMs with individual university branding, with PLMs able to be exported in PDF version. Models can also be saved and reimported for future editing as programs change and evolve.
The tool is available on the Equity Hub website.
To mark the launch of these new tools and answer any questions you may have about them, our team will be hosting an online information session on Wednesday, 1 October 2025. You can find more information about this below.
If you can't join the session live, make sure to register and submit your questions ahead of time so that we can answer them for you and then make a recording available to you.
Chat soon,
Dr Patrick Broman
Manager, National Student Equity Evaluation
Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success
ACSES Evaluation Learning Program & PLM Tool Information Session
Interested to know more?
Tune in to the ACSES Evaluation Learning Program & PLM Tool Information Session next month.
📆 Wednesday, 1 October 2025
⏰ 10:00am-10:30am AWST | 12:00pm-12:30pm AEST
📍 Online via Zoom
Are you an impact evaluation specialist in higher education equity?
ACSES is building the first Impact Evaluation Provider Directory for the Australian higher education sector – connecting universities with experts who can assess whether equity initiatives really deliver change.
Why apply?
✔️ Raise your profile with universities seeking independent evaluation expertise.
✔️ Be recognised for meeting defined quality criteria in quantitative or theory-based impact evaluations.
✔️ Help strengthen evidence and accountability in equity policy and practice.
We’ve added a new FAQ section to make it easier to work out if you’re eligible to apply – including guidance for Centre/Unit members, requirements for publications, and eligibility for NZ practitioners.
Applications close 29 September 2025.
Successful applicants notified by 31 October 2025.
New Insights on Equity & Online Study in Australian Higher Education
Our latest ACSES Data Insights Report, Mode of attendance in Australian higher education from 2021 to 2023, explores how domestic undergraduate students are engaging with external (online) study and what this means for the student experience, especially for the main equity groups.
Some observations from this study:
- First Nations Australian students and students from regional/remote areas have the highest external enrolment
- Students with disability have the lowest external enrolment
- Participation share and external enrolment share are positively correlated for most equity groups
- External enrolment varies widely across institutions, even within the same institutional groupings
- Studying externally has varied impacts on the student experience, based on QILT SES data
This highlights both the opportunities and challenges of online study in advancing equity in higher education.
Read the full report here.
NEW Student Equity Data Guide | Equity data reporting: Key considerations
In other equity data news, we have added a new publication to our Student Equity Data Guide series: Equity data reporting: Key considerations. This latest guide supports responsible and accurate reporting of higher education equity data. It offers practical advice on presenting findings through reports, visualisations, or other published outputs. Not every consideration will apply in every context, but working through the list helps avoid common pitfalls and encourages good data practices.
You can access and download the guide here.
We're hiring!
ACSES is looking for a Project Manager and a Project Manager (Trials & Evaluation) to join the team
Are you excited about student equity and fairness in Australian universities? Are you keen to play a role in reshaping how Australian universities serve the nation and contribute to prosperity and social inclusion? ACSES is now accepting applications for the positions of Program Manager and Program Manager (Trials & Evaluation).
Project Manager
At ACSES, we believe in the power of education to change lives, and we’re committed to making higher education fairer, more inclusive, and accessible for all.
Support game-changing programs in Research & Policy, Data, and Disability Support while managing strategic initiatives that directly influence educational outcomes for students who need it most.
If you're passionate about reshaping student equity and influencing higher education outcomes across universities in Australia, this could be the role for you!
This is a full-time, fixed term role. Apply via:
Applications close: Tuesday, 30 September 2025.
Project Manager (Trials & Evaluation)
Ready to make a real impact on Australian higher education? Join our fantastic team at ACSES and help us advance student equity across the country.
As Project Manager, you’ll lead our WA Cooperative Outreach Project, which aims to explore ways for universities to better collaborate in engaging students and communities.
Be part of meaningful work that shapes policy and creates lasting change in Australian higher education. You'll collaborate with passionate professionals committed to breaking down barriers for students.
This is a full-time, fixed term role. Apply via:
Applications close: Tuesday, 30 September 2025.
Farewell and thank you, Miriam!
This month, we say farewell to our Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Miriam Fisher.
Miriam has made an enormous contribution to ACSES. She has overseen the successful rebrand of the Centre from NCSEHE to ACSES and steered major milestones including the planning and delivery of our first Student Equity Symposia and launch of our inaugural Equity Insights report.
In her role, Miriam shaped the Centre’s public profile and influence—strengthening our presence in national policy discussions, leading all communications functions at the Centre, securing high-calibre speaking engagements and media opportunities, and much more. She has been a driving force in building strong relationships with universities, government, media, and other stakeholders, amplifying the reach and impact of our work.
Miriam’s passion for student equity and her creativity, commitment, and collaborative spirit have left a lasting legacy at ACSES.
We thank Miriam for all she has brought to the Centre and wish her every success in her next chapter.
Anna Will, currently in the role of Research Communications and Events Coordinator, will be stepping into the position of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager in the interim. You can contact her directly at anna.will@curtin.edu.au.
Officially launched: Equity Insights 2025
ACSES's flagship publication Equity Insights 2025: Policy, Power, and Practice for a Fairer Australian Tertiary Education System is now live.
Featuring contributions from 22 leaders, researchers, policymakers, and students, the report explores what has changed for student equity—and what still must change.
Launched at the Welcome Reception for our Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025 Symposium, the report highlights issues including Indigenous leadership, disability inclusion, AI in higher education, student voice, and pathways across VET and universities.
Read the full report here.
ACSES in the news
- "Address to the Australian Student Equity Symposium hosted by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success", Ministers' Media Centre
- "Could a new federal education super commission be the answer to addressing public school drop out rates?", ABC
- "Education Minister Jason Clare to create teaching super group to reverse dropout rate in public schools", The Daily Telegraph
- "Department shake-up on the cards as minister pushes to create new super agency", The Canberra Times
