More than 22,000 Indigenous Students have made it through the university year, with support from the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP).
Minister Burney, Assistant Minister McCarthy and Luke Gosling met with some of those students at the Charles Darwin University in Darwin today.
The Albanese Government provided $75.5 million to 40 universities across the country this year to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in tertiary studies through scholarships, tutorial assistance and mentoring.
The Indigenous Student Success Program assists universities to provide support to First Nations students, prioritising those from remote and regional areas and students facing financial difficulties.
The support services are practical and range from help with living expenses and purchasing of text books, laptops and other essential items needed for studying to engaging with students early to support their aspirations going from high school into university.
Some of the universities provided funding include:
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT provides a range of supports to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stdents in achieving their tertiary educational goals. This includes 'Away From Base' support which supports students who travel away from home and 'Tutorial Support' which is an Indigenous Tutorial Support Program providing free individual and group tutoring to students. The First Nations Academic Support team provides high-level support and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
- The Wollotuka Institute at the University of Newcastle, NSW – The Institute was established 40 years ago. The Wollotuka Wellbeing Service supports Indigenous university students with all of their academic, cultural and emotional well-being needs to ensure success during their time at the University of Newcastle. Supports are also provided to First Nations high school students transitioning to university.
- Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria – The National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation (NIKERI) Institute has a proud 35-year history of supporting over 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through community-based education programs. It provides an experience with education that is culturally sensitive.
- James Cook University, Queensland offers summer camps to year 10, 11 and 12 high school students during the school holidays, providing them opportunities to take part in lectures, tutorials, presentations, study sessions and team building activities to give them a taste of university life.
Based on data from the 2021 Census, 47% of First Nations Australians aged 25–34 had completed a tertiary qualification as their highest educational attainment (Certificate III and above). This was 76% for non-Indigenous Australians aged 25–34.
Target 6 of Closing the Gap aims to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70 per cent by 2031.
More information on the program is available at www.niaa.gov.au/ISSP
Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:
"The Albanese Government is committed to Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
"The Indigenous Student Success Program is one of the practical steps we're taking to grow the number of First Nations students attending and graduating at university.
"Studying at university can be a life changing experience which opens the door to wonderful career opportunities.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, particularly for those who've moved from remote and regional areas, really benefit from supports that can help students reach their full potential.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy:
"The meaningful assistance provided to thousands of students across Australia will go a long way in supporting their academic journey and helping them achieving their full potential in life."
"University can be a challenging experience for students from remote and regional areas as well as those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"The practical support with textbooks and essential resources will help remove barriers for students to get ahead both in their studies and their career."
Quotes attributable to the Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling OAM:
"We've provided higher education institutions like Charles Darwin University with the resources to support First Nations students to successfully complete their tertiary studies.
"The flexibility of the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP) enables universities to tailor their services to match student needs - and no one understand these needs (or barriers) better than the students themselves."