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Student Equity

University of Western Sydney Student Support Services provides Equity programs and services for UWS students from equity target groups who are interested in studying at UWS.

The unit also provides information and advice to staff to assist them in their responsibilities in relation to student equity issues.

The University of Western Sydney also has an Equity and Diversity Unit which facilitates an environment for the UWS community which encourages fairness and respect and social and cultural diversity.

Student Equity Programs
Student Equity Forum

Please direct any questions to:

Trevor Allan
Head of Student Equity
t.allan@uws.edu.au

Student Equity Groups

The 1990 Federal Government paper "A Fair Chance for All" identified six equity groups requiring assistance in order to achieve equitable participation in higher education. The equity target groups identified are:

Student from Low Socio-Economic Status (LSES) Backgrounds
This group is identified by the postcode of the student’s residence. The postcodes in the lowest quartile of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Index of Education and Occupation are used. Only students from urban postcodes are included in this group.

Students with a Disability
Students self-identify as students with a disability when answering the following DEST question at enrolment "Do you have a disability, impairment or long term medical condition which may affect your studies?".

Students from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB)
This group is identified as students who were born in any country overseas; AND who speak a language other than English at home; AND who have been in Australia for less than 10 years. Students born in countries where English is the official primary language but who meet the other two parts of the definition are counted as students from a non- English speaking background.

Students from Rural or Isolated Areas
This group is identified by residential postcode. The Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas Classification (RRMAC) of the Department of Primary Industry and Energy and Department of Human Services and Health, or the RRMAC of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is used.

Women in Non-Traditional Areas of Study
Non-traditional areas of study are identified as fields of study where less than 40% of the enrolments were female. This includes the following broad fields of education:

Women in higher degrees by research and coursework are also included.

Indigenous Students
The Indigenous student equity group is funded separately by DEST.  Further information about Aboriginal & Torrest Strait Islander students can be found at the website of the Aboriginal Education Centre

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Student Equity Programs

Related Documents

 

Student Equity Funding

From 2005 Student equity funding under  the Higher Education Equity Support Program (HEESP) has been performance-based. In order to be considered for funds Universities need to meet the following specific criteria covering:

a) equity group outreach programs;
b) support for equity group students;
c) management of the Commonwealth Scholarship programs;
d) institutional equity scholarship programs.

Funds is then be allocated based on performance in regards to designated equity groups. Performance in the following areas is considered:

Commonwealth Educations Costs Scholarships (CECS)
The CECS programme was introduced in 2004.  It assists students of low socio-economic status to meet the costs of higher education.

The scholarships are merit based and non-repayable.  Scholarships are distributed to institutions who will be responsible for the allocation of scholarships to individual students. The programme is managed by institutions in line with programme guidelines developed by the Commonwealth.

CECS will provide eligible students with a scholarship of $2000 a year for up to four years to assist with general costs associated with higher education.

In 2004, 2,500 new CEC Scholarships were provided.
By 2007, 5,075 new scholarships will be awarded each year and approximately 17,630 students will be in receipt of a CEC Scholarship.

Further information on the UWS CECS can be found at
http://www.uws.edu.au/students/stuadmin/admissions/scholarships/available/cecs

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UWS Equity Plan

Related Documents

Equity Scholarships

Useful Information - within UWS

Useful Information - outside UWS