2023 Funding Round

NCSEHE Student Equity in Higher Education Small Grants Research Program — 2023 funding round

Between 2014-21, NCSEHE funded 79 high calibre research projects worth AUD3,020,512. These projects have resulted in impactful outcomes for Australian higher education equity, including at the national level.

This year, the Centre’s seventh grants funding round (2023-24) received 72 applications, with 69 proposals originating from Table A Providers and three from non-university organisations. Ten projects, worth a combined AUD469,227 from nine different lead organisations will be funded to research issues of national significance in higher education equity in 2024.

NCSEHE identifies key research priorities for research teams to explore in each funding round. For the 2024 Small Grants Research Program, applicants were advised NCSEHE would seek to fund proposals that address equity issues across the entire higher education student life cycle. This includes proposals addressing contemporary developments and challenges in higher education equity policy, practice, and evaluation, and including but not limited to, issues being raised and discussed as part of the Australian Universities Accord Panel’s Review of Higher Education.

The 10 Small Grants Research Program projects selected for funding in 2023/24 are as follows:

Chief InvestigatorLead InstitutionProject Title
Dr Tomasz ZajacThe University of QueenslandInvestigating relationships between first-in-family status, equity groups, and university access
Professor Bronwyn FredericksThe University of QueenslandEnabling programs and Indigenous student university completion: Building the evidence
Dr Daniel EdwardsAustralian Council for Educational ResearchBuilding understanding of First Nations students' progression through university
Dr Anne McMahonUniversity of WollongongTowards a financially inclusive higher education system
Dr Rong ZhuFlinders UniversitySocioeconomic Disadvantages, Choice of Disciplines, and Post-University Labour Market Performance
Associate Professor Shawana AndrewsThe University of MelbourneNavigating the cultural interface: Indigenous PhD scholars' experience of working toward epistemological equity in health research across Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Dr Leanne FrayThe University of Newcastle AustraliaUnderstanding school students' aspirations in uncertain times
Associate Professor Joanne DarguschCQUniversityTime for a rethink: Assessment policy to enable equity
Dr Frances FanUniversity of TasmaniaEngaging low SES, regional and remote students through online communities
Professor Alphia Possamai-InesedyWestern Sydney UniversityEnhancing the impact of Pre-Access Programs on equity: 2013-2023 Impact Analysis

You can read more about the successful projects here.