Guild President and youth advocate in higher education joins ACSES Advisory Board

Dear colleagues,

The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) is pleased to welcome youth advocate in higher education Mr Dylan Storer as the newest member of its Advisory Board.

Studying journalism at Curtin University and President of the Curtin Student Guild, Mr Storer will bring an invaluable perspective to the ACSES Advisory Board as its newest student representative. 

As a first-in-family student originally from Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley, Mr Storer is passionate about improving equity in higher education and ensuring universities work for students from all backgrounds.

Mr Storer is dedicated to strengthening the student voice in university decision-making and works closely with students, staff, and community organisations to advance a more equitable and supportive university system.

During his time as Guild President, he has focused on practical reforms to reduce barriers to studying, including cost-of-living initiatives such as the Guild Food Pantry and $5 Student Saver Meals, stronger support services, and advocacy for fairer housing and academic flexibility. 

His appointment to the ACSES Advisory Board will bring a strong student voice to the table and help push for a higher education system that genuinely opens doors for students from every background.

ACSES looks forward to having the President of the Curtin Student Guild join its Advisory Board as we continue to work towards an equitable future for all students in higher education.

Kind regards,

Professor Shamit Saggar CBE FAcSS
Executive Director
Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success

"I'm really proud to be joining the ACSES Advisory Board. As someone who grew up in remote WA and was the first in my family to attend university, I know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't." – Mr Dylan Storer

ACSES Equity Hub: 2026 Community of Practice #2

The ACSES Trials and Evaluations program invites you to the second Equity Hub Community of Practice (CoP) event for 2026. Our CoP brings 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 guests from Southern Cross University (SCU) who will discuss recent innovations in learning support models at the university and how impact has been measured and assessed.

Presentation 1 | From Referral to Results: A Tiered Referral Model Case Study presented by Dr Nicole Schutte (SCU)

Presentation 2 | From Pilot to Practice: Lessons from Evaluating First Year Advising at SCU presented by Alice De Innocentiis (SCU)

Presentation 3 | HEPPP 2024 Reporting Data presented by Patrick Broman (ACSES)

For further information on each presentation, visit here.

📅 Tuesday, 28 April 2026
⏰ 1:00pm–2:30pm AWST | 3:00pm–4:30pm AEST
📍 Online via Zoom

Nominations for the ACSES Awards 2026 now open

Nominations are now open for the ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice 2026.

These Awards will recognise teams or individuals who have made significant contributions in shaping policy and/or transforming practices in ways that drive positive outcomes in student equity in Australian higher education.

This year's Awards will honour up to five (5) recipients who will be recognised for demonstrating excellence in one of the following criteria:

• innovation and originality
• impact and effectiveness
• collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• advocacy and leadership
• evidence and research-based approach.

These Awards celebrate those teams or individuals whose work has not only influenced decision-makers, but has also led to tangible improvements in higher education outcomes for students from equity backgrounds. This work may span any stage of the student lifecycle, from pre-access and participation to university completion and post-graduation pathways.

Award recipients (or a nominated team member for team awards) will be supported by ACSES for their attendance at the 2026 Australian Student Equity Symposium in Brisbane (more details to be announced soon), where they will be formally recognised for their contributions and presented with their awards.

Please note that applications close before 4pm (AWST) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.

You can find more information and an application pack to download on the ACSES website.

JANZSSA PD opportunities coming up in May

The Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA) team are excited to share the first sessions in the 2026 professional development calendar, shaped by your feedback and tailored to support your writing goals.

Telling impactful stories with data: Practical guidance for using data in your writing | Friday 8 May, 1:00 pm–2:00 pm AEST 

Professional staff and less-experienced authors will learn how to present data clearly and effectively in this practical webinar with Dr Christine Devine and Dr Dana Burfeind.

Writing workshop — Shut Up and Write with Megan Pozzi | Tuesday 12 May, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm AEST

In the first of the 2026 workshop series, Megan Pozzi will provide expert guidance and practical strategies for authors of all levels of experience and at all stages of the writing process.

Register for these free online sessions via JANZSSA’s PD and Resources page.