National Priorities Pool 2014 - Projects

The following 42 projects were successful in receiving National Priorities Pool funding in 2014. For further information about these projects, please contact the relevant universities directly.

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National Priorities Pool 2014 - Projects
University Project Name 2014 Funding
Specified National Projects
University of Canberra The University of Canberra Aurora Project partnership project, The Aspiration Initiative.
The Aspiration Initiative supports academic aspiration and success by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The project seeks to redress the complex interplay of factors that can negatively impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across the socio-economic spectrum by funding international study tours, scholarships and an academic enrichment program. It is also developing a single scholarship form.
$2,200,000

University of Queensland

Widening Participation Longitudinal Study –Scoping Study
The University of Queensland will undertake a study to determine the scope of a national longitudinal study, its design, governance structure and detailed cost estimate. The longitudinal study will explore the success of interventions to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds access and participate at university by tracing the progress of a cohort of prospective and actual students over a period of time.
$145,000
Curtin University Fellows Programme
This project will support selected university equity practitioners over a twelve month period to undertake nationally significant, strategic, high‐profile activities in areas of importance to the sector; for example, identifying issues relating to equity in higher education and developing approaches to address these issues.
$1,540,000
Queensland University of Technology Social marketing strategy to low-SES communities
The Queensland University of Technology will research and design an appropriate cost effective national social marketing strategy for low-SES students and communities that will assist universities to increase awareness of and raise aspiration to higher education.   
$580,000
Curtin University Enabling courses for SES student groups
Curtin University will undertake a review of current enabling programmes and report on the extent to which enabling courses offered by Australian higher education providers are an effective means of increasing access to, and participation and success in, undergraduate courses for domestic students from disadvantaged groups.
$155,785
University of Newcastle Critical Interventions Framework II
The University of Newcastle will examine the Critical Interventions Framework, commissioned by the department in 2013, to identify better practice interventions at those points along the continuum identified as being of very high priority by the study.  Build an evidence base of institutional interventions, so that universities can preferentially utilise those interventions that have been found to be most effective in promoting good outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
$205,262
Software solutions for universities to identify and support low-SES students
Queensland University of Technology IT Solutions
Two IT solutions that will allow for the integration of information from multiple sources to enhance support services for disadvantaged students.
$216,000
Edith Cowen University IT Solutions
Geocoding software that will allow for a multi-index approach to identifying disadvantaged students.
$39,930
University of South Australia IT Solutions
A combination of geocoding and address cleansing software, learning analytics and business intelligence to deliver enhanced information to facilitate strategic, focused and targeted activities.
$128,000
University of Sydney IT Solutions
Software to better identify cohorts of disadvantaged students, particularly low-SES students; and expand access to an interactive online portal that provides an ongoing connection between pre-tertiary and tertiary students.
$250,000
University of Adelaide IT Solutions
Improve existing geocoding software to change SES calculation from CCS to Statistical Area 1 (SA1), validate addresses at the point of capture and record the educational background of students prior to their entry at university.
$194,800
Curtin University IT Solutions
Software to enable the precise identification of regional/remote and low-SES students on the basis of SA1; and map overall student enrolments across SA1 areas.
$23,000
Federation University IT Solutions
Geocoding software to assist in identification of students from disadvantaged backgrounds so the university can proactively target interventions and support for these students.
$95,145
University of Canberra IT Solutions
Provide reading and writing support for disadvantaged student by trialling the use of the Pearson MyWritingLab and MyReadingLab online programmes for approximately 2000 students from identified equity groups.
$80,000 
University of Canberra IT Solutions
Develop an educational disadvantage index and overlay it with socio-economic status mapping to better identify disadvantaged students.  It will be made available to all universities.
$95,000
University of Western Sydney IT Solutions
Link the UWS data warehouse with the Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) to send alerts to relevant staff about at risk disadvantaged students, assisting them to intervene early to assist at risk students.
$64,200
University of Newcastle IT Solutions
Additional IT resources and external expertise to integrate the corporate student system and Customer Relationship Management system (CRM), and delivery of enhanced functionality and access to the CRM.
$270,800
James Cook University IT Solutions
A comprehensive geocoding solution that involves software purchase, configuring the system and mapping and analysing student address data. 
$179,500
University of the Sunshine Coast IT Solutions
Streamline the identification of student location and SES status and refine outreach initiatives to better target potential students from defined equity groups; and to provide indicators of potential 'at risk' students to facilitate refinement of transition and support programmes.
$118,000
University of Wollongong IT Solutions
Develop a database and geocoding tool which will aid in collecting accurate data on prospective students and automating update of the current student address data.   
$105,000
Projects Proposed by Universities
University of South Australia A comprehensive case study of rural student financial circumstances
The University of South Australia will undertake a comprehensive institutional case study of the financial circumstances of rural students at UniSA, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data gathered through survey and interview techniques, to provide an insight to the difficulties faced by rural students nationally.
$168,422
University of Newcastle Student Aspirations - Who seeks access to what, when, and why?
This project will address low-SES student under-representation in higher education, particularly in high status degrees, by mapping the specific occupational interests and educational intentions of school students from Years 3–12 to inform targeted university outreach activities.
$275,625.
University of NSW ASPIRE Community Hub
The University of NSW will undertake a twelve month pilot of an alternative model for addressing the widening participation agenda through the establishment of an ASPIRE community hub.
$343,000
La Trobe University Globalisation opportunities for low socio-economic and regional students
This project will map the geo-demographics of outbound mobility and foreign language student cohorts; identify barriers to participation for low-SES and regional students; and identify institutional programmes that facilitate global experiences for these students. A good practice guide for government and universities will be developed.
$245,000
La Trobe University and UNE The Adaptation of Tertiary Admissions Equity Practices to Growth and Diversity
This project will examine tertiary admissions equity practices in response to changes in participation, institutional diversity and competition.
$351,804
University of NSW A Picture of Success
This project will review low-SES student 'success' and how this can inform improvements to current practice, particularly in the design and delivery of support initiatives for students from low-SES backgrounds.
$196,000
University of Newcastle Equity and Digital Footprint Project
The University of Newcastle will develop resources and strategies to help undergraduate students manage and curate their digital footprints, ensuring they develop the digital skills needed for their career development.
$107,287
University of Newcastle A Longitudinal Study of the Relations Between Students' Socioeconomic Status, Social Integration at University, and Mental Health
The University of Newcastle will investigate the relationship between university students' social class and SES, their social integration at university, and their mental health. The research results will inform potential methods of improving the mental health and well-being of low-SES university students.
$67,327
Macquarie University National Indigenous Science Education Program
Macquarie University will use science as a tool for developing student engagement to allow secondary students from low-SES regions, especially Indigenous youth, to succeed in their secondary education and to make the transition to tertiary education.
$171,000
University of Technology Sydney Equity scholarships to improve participation and success in higher education by people from low-SES backgrounds
The University of Technology, Sydney will investigate the impact of equity scholarships on students' participation, success in and experience of university study. Research findings will inform the university's future policy and decision making regarding effective targeting of resources and student support through scholarship provision, and contribute to building the national evidence base..
$170,000
University of Tasmania Informing aspirations in rural regions
The University of Tasmania will identify features of outreach programmes that are efficient and effective in increasing aspiration, access and participation for prospective students in low-SES rural regions; modify and evaluate outreach programmes to include the features of effective rural outreach programmes; and produce a web resource for use in the design of effective rural outreach programmes.
$385,276  
University of Newcastle The Literacy App
The University of Newcastle will design, test and deliver a free mobile software application designed to improve the literacy of undergraduate students, particularly those from low-SES backgrounds.  
$131,249
University of Sydney Compass Connected
This project aims to decrease the number of low-SES students that, despite having indicated at the end of year 12 an intention and preparation to go on to further study, do not realise that objective by extending current outreach activities and building on best practice widening participation programmes.
$345,220
Charles Darwin University Building evidence about Indigenous pathways and transitions into higher education
Through this project, a national evidence base will be developed about the new and emerging approaches and strategies for promoting Indigenous pathways and transitions into higher education in Australia.
$327,290
University of Wollongong Supported Pathways to Education & Employment
This project aims to improve the participation of low-SES, rural and remote and Indigenous people in higher education and employment by providing 250-350 individuals with opportunities to enhance their academic capacity and options post-schooling to access higher education and employment through a supported pathways programme.
$299,721
Griffith University Navigating Bridging Pathways to Tertiary Education
This project will assist low-income adults across Queensland access the most suitable bridging pathway to tertiary study by mapping current programme provision; establishing a portal for prospective students to access pathways information; and building a network of providers and career advisors to maximise opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
$275,000
University of Technology Sydney Collabor8 – Women in Engineering & IT Program
This project targets female students in Years 8 and 9 at a number of partnering metro and regional low-SES schools to position engineering and IT as relevant and accessible paths of study and career.
$211,820
University of Newcastle Building STEM students' numeracy for success in higher education
The University of Newcastle will design, create, evaluate and disseminate a set of digital media resources, centred on mathematical concepts known to be roadblocks for STEM students, for low-SES students.
$187,186
Victoria University Meeting Great Expectations – Understanding the needs of Equity Group students  before they commence university
Victoria University will design, test and administer a survey to equity group students well before they enrol, providing the university with important information as to students' preparedness for tertiary study and indicators of student expectations about their upcoming experience; and develop tailored support packages for disadvantaged students.
$46,400
University of Newcastle Building aspiration in the Creative and Performing Arts
This project will help low-SES students develop skills in creative thinking, project design and realisation in the areas of music, visual arts and/or performance through an innovative process that rests on three pillars of collaboration, empowerment and technology.
$63,811
University of Western Australia Influencing the key influencers: strategies and resources for engagement in regional Australia
The University of Western Australia will run a pilot programme to improve access to higher education for regional and remote students from low-SES backgrounds by designing and implementing innovative strategies and resources to engage and inform their key influencers:  parents, teachers and community leaders.
$347,650
University of Western Sydney Building on Bridges – a state-wide widening participation initiative
The University of Western Sydney will deliver an innovative and student-centred programme as a pilot in NSW/ACT in 2015 which can easily be scaled as a new collaborative way of working for universities, partners and communities that has potential for national application.
$990,000
Total projects value $12,391,510