NCSEHE 2017 Fellows Forum #NEFF17
Event Details
Brisbane, Australia
20 November 2017
The NCSEHE and Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia (EPHEA) will showcase the outcomes of the 2017 Equity Fellows at the Fellows Forum, presented at the 2017 EPHEA Conference in November 2017.
Presentations from Associate Professor James Smith from Charles Darwin University, Ms Louise Pollard from The University of Western Australia and Mr Matt Brett from La Trobe University will outline their strategic, high-impact, high‐profile leadership projects conducted through the NCSEHE Fellows Programme.
The NCSEHE’s Equity Fellows, who are funded via a grant provided by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, have direct influence and impact on equity in the higher education sector. The Fellows identify equity issues that affect the Australian higher education system, provide leadership in promoting, enhancing and developing good practice in improving access, participation and success in higher education, and participate in a collaborative arrangement for the ongoing exchange of knowledge between the sector and government.
The 2017 Fellows have spent time working in Canberra within the Australian Government Department of Education and Training as part of their Fellowship, as well as collaborating both nationally and internationally to further explore their particular areas. Each individual project has been undertaken to better understand, and provide an evidence-base to assist in, improving outcomes for disadvantaged groups.
Associate Professor James Smith’s Fellowship aimed to investigate ways of strengthening the evaluation of Indigenous higher education programs and policies in Australia that have been designed to enhance Indigenous pathways and transitions into higher education. Prior to his Fellowship position, Associate Professor Smith was Program Manager of the HEPPP-funded, Whole of Community Engagement initiative, which won an Australian Rural Education Award.
Ms Louise Pollard‘s Fellowship has explored the ways through which students from remote locations are supported by policy and practice, to overcome barriers impeding their success at university. Since 2009, Ms Pollard has worked closely with schools and students in regional and remote areas to widen higher education participation in her role as Manager of the multi award-winning Aspire UWA program.
Mr Matt Brett’s Fellowship has focused on generating an Equity Performance and Accountability Framework based on research into the prominence of equity within performance and accountability systems in higher education. The Framework will enable policy makers and higher education leaders to better integrate equity within higher education performance and accountability systems. Prior to his Fellowship, Mr Brett was the Senior Manager of Higher Education Policy at La Trobe University. The position provided him with a comprehensive knowledge of higher education policy, strategy and management, and a wide professional network that has helped him achieve his Fellowship’s objectives.
Read a Forum wrap-up and access the synthesis of group discussion.