Ameliorating disadvantage: Creating accessible, effective, and equitable careers and study information for low socioeconomic students (NCSEHE)
This study examined the access to information about higher education study options, pathways, and careers for low socioeconomic status (SES) students, and the efficacy of that information. In response to the Commonwealth Grant Scheme review, the Australian Government has implemented initiatives to focus policy attention on employment outcomes for graduates, including low SES graduates. This includes the Job-Ready Graduates legislation, the National Careers Institute, and the Indigenous, Regional and Low SES Attainment Fund (IRLSAF). Additionally, separate initiatives have been implemented in response to two regional student reviews, advocating a focus on employment outcomes as part of addressing regional disadvantage in education. These initiatives recognise the need to refocus equity policy such that it considers the impacts of compounding disadvantage and both measures and reports student participation, completion rates, and graduate (employment) outcomes. Authors: Dawn Bennett, Bond University; Jane Coffey, Curtin University; Sherry Bawa, Curtin University; David Carney, Career Industry Council of Australia; Alfred M. Dockery, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University; Kathleen Franklyn, Curtin University; Paul Koshy, National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education; Ian W. Li, The University of Western Australia; Subhadarsini Parida, Curtin University; and,Siobhan Unwin, Curtin University.
(December 2022)