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HEPPP National Priorities Pool Projects Database

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) aims to ensure that Australians from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds who have the ability to study at university have the opportunity to do so. The National Priorities Pool (NPP) component provides funding for projects that support the more effective implementation of HEPPP nationally and at the institutional level.

The DESE commissioned the following projects under the NPP. For further information about these projects, please contact the relevant universities directly.

Title Details

A Comparative Study of the Equity Strategies Employed by Australian Universities

University: CQUniversity

Lead Researcher: Denise Wood

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $156,685

This project examined the strategies undertaken by six Australian universities in prioritising, managing and evaluating HEPPP funded initiatives to increase access, participation and outcomes for people from low SES backgrounds. Analysis of university documentation, stakeholder interviews and university partner case studies informed good practice guidelines and recommendations for the Australian Government to improve the impact of HEPPP funding.

University: CQUniversity

Lead Researcher: Denise Wood

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $156,685

A Longitudinal Study of the Relations Between Students’ Socioeconomic Status, Social Integration at University, and Mental Health

University: University of Newcastle

Lead Researcher: Mark Rubin

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $67,327

This project investigated the relationships between university students’ socioeconomic status, their social integration at university, and their mental health/wellbeing. Data collected through two online surveys informed policies and approaches to promote the social inclusion of low SES students and students with mental health problems and to reduce mental health problems among university students, increase their satisfaction at university, and reduce their attrition rates.

University: University of Newcastle

Lead Researcher: Mark Rubin

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $67,327

A Picture of Success

University: University of New South Wales

Lead Researcher: Meryl Stone

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $196,000

This project explored how the success of students from low SES backgrounds was impacted by their interaction with support and development initiatives offered at the University of New South Wales. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to determine the impact of interaction on several academic success indicators. Findings showed that these interactions contributed in multiple and diverse ways to low SES student success.

University: University of New South Wales

Lead Researcher: Meryl Stone

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $196,000

Adding to the Pipeline: Improving Numeracy Skills and Career Outcomes for Low Socioeconomic Status (SES) Students

University: University of Western Australia

Lead Researcher: Louise Pollard

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $184,073

The Adding to the Pipeline project addressed the gap in the awareness and aspiration of low SES students to study STEM subjects at university. Numeracy workshops for early secondary school students were conducted in metropolitan and regional areas to link numeracy skills development with enhanced career options. Accompanying activities and resources were produced, and professional development workshops facilitated with representatives from partner schools.

University: University of Western Australia

Lead Researcher: Louise Pollard

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $184,073

ASPIRE Community Hub

University: University of New South Wales

Lead Researcher: Ann Jardine

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $343,000

This project sought to form new partnerships with local schools as part of the UNSW ASPIRE program, supporting low SES students to access higher education. Two community hubs were established as the focal points for a range of academic support and enrichment activities, acting as an anchor institution between multiple education stakeholders and incorporating the resources that were currently available.

University: University of New South Wales

Lead Researcher: Ann Jardine

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $343,000

Assessment Selection Methodology – Low SES Recruitment

University: Flinders University

Lead Researcher: Peter Torjul

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $219,877

This project developed a flexible higher education admissions pathway and selection process for low SES students based on their aptitude for university study. The program was delivered to Year 11 and Year 12 students through on-campus and in-school events, including regional and remote centres. Activities were based around: problem solving; oral presentations; experimental/lab simulations; written assessment reports; multimedia activities; case studies; games; and group discussions.

University: Flinders University

Lead Researcher: Peter Torjul

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $219,877

Bite Size Maths: Building Mathematics Capability of Low SES Students in Regional/Remote Australia

University: Southern Cross University

Lead Researcher: Geoff Woolcott

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $140,000

This project built on the mathematics capability of low SES students in regional and remote universities by improving access to mathematics resources based on students’ own rates and levels of learning. The project delivered a set of interactive modules as an online learning system to be used singly or together in a MOOC. Further innovations and improvements included enabling point-of-contact feedback.

University: Southern Cross University

Lead Researcher: Geoff Woolcott

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $140,000

Building Aspiration in the Creative and Performing Arts

University: University of Newcastle

Lead Researcher: Helen English

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $63,811

This project focused on developing skills in creative thinking, project design and realisation in the areas of music, visual arts and/or performance among low SES high school students. Addressing the relatively low enrolments into Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) degrees from this cohort, a series of workshops in the creative arts-technology nexus were conducted for Years 8 and 9 students from seven high schools.

University: University of Newcastle

Lead Researcher: Helen English

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $63,811

Building Computer Literacies in Rural Schools

University: University of New South Wales

Lead Researcher: Ann Jardine

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $173,460

This project built computer literacies in teachers and upper primary school students in regional and remote areas. A course was developed for teacher skills in computer literacies; age-appropriate educational materials were developed for students; and at least one teacher at each participating school was nominated as a “champion”. Resources developed through the project were provided as open source material on the UNSW ASPIRE website.

University: University of New South Wales

Lead Researcher: Ann Jardine

Funding Round: 2015

Funding Received: $173,460

Building Evidence about Indigenous Pathways and Transitions into Higher Education

University: Charles Darwin University

Lead Researcher: James Smith

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $327,290

This project centred on a Forum incorporating keynote addresses, working groups, poster presentations, workshops and yarning circles to develop a national evidence base about new and emerging approaches and strategies for promoting Indigenous pathways and transitions into higher education in Australia. Outputs included the publication of a book of papers launched at the Forum and a special issue of Learning Communities: International Journal of Learning In Social Contexts.

University: Charles Darwin University

Lead Researcher: James Smith

Funding Round: 2014

Funding Received: $327,290