5. Enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to attain the same completion rates from award courses in higher education as for other Australians.
The total number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student completions at Bachelor level and above in 2016, compared to 2015 (please provide an all student comparison).
The totals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student completions at Bachelor level and above (62 in 2014, 41 in 2015 and 42 in 2016) reflect an unacceptably low rate compared to all students. In response, UNE and the Oorala Aboriginal Centre refocussed efforts directed towards improving student retention and completion.
UNE’s strategies to increase access and support for students in Bachelor degrees and postgraduate courses including higher degrees, are expected to improve this trend over the medium term. We expect completions to increase in the coming years because the commencing numbers have increased from 286 to 364 from 2014 to 2015. The slight drop to 340 commencing students in 2016 is not seen at this stage to be part of a trend. Oorala’s student numbers in its pathways program – TRACKS – continues to increase. We are employing a consultant in 2017 to develop some statistics around why people who complete the TRACK program don’t enrol in a course and whether those who do have greater success than non-TRACKS students.
Dependent on students willing to engage.
The no. of at risk students per Student Support Officer were high and a strain on resources throughout 2016.
More academic workshops were requested, Moodle, UNE Systems and referencing.