
Equity Pathways - Widening Participation
Equity Pathways develops and builds partnerships in low socioeconomic areas with schools, educational providers and communities. Equity Pathways through its 'ACUgate' programs aims to create students and parent awareness of higher education, raise student aspiration to higher education and provide students with a variety of pathways to access higher education. Equity Pathways through its 'Attainment' programs aims to support students whilst at university so that they are successful and can be confident in their future careers.
Our programsThe Office expands upon the University's other equity initiatives, such as pathways programs and student support services, by offering:
Equity Pathways develops and builds partnerships in low socioeconomic areas with schools, educational providers and communities. Equity Pathways through its 'ACUgate' programs aims to create students and parent awareness of higher education, raise student aspiration to higher education and provide students with a variety of pathways to access higher education. Equity Pathways through its 'Attainment' programs aims to support students whilst at university so that they are successful and can be confident in their future careers.
Our programsThe Office expands upon the University's other equity initiatives, such as pathways programs and student support services, by offering:
- Awareness programs that demystify higher education for target groups by familiarising them with the everyday reality of university education and campus life
- Aspirations programs that encourage Year 5 to 10 students to consider higher education as a viable option
- Access programs to enable students from targeted groups to enter university
- Attainment programs that ensure students in targeted groups are supported during their studies.
IACE - Community Engagement in Context
Community engagement enhances our opportunities to honour our "commitment to serving the common good", expressed in our Mission. In partnership with other organisations, the staff and students of ACU are bringing about change, through their own research, learning, attitudes and actions, and in the lives of others.
Within the context of its mission, Australian Catholic University sees engagement as:
It is critical for Australia to seek ways to connect the disconnected and marginalised citizens among us. Universities, as public sites for education and research, have a pivotal role to play in this regard.
The opportunities afforded by community engagement for enabling the learning, teaching and research activities of universities to inform public policy need to be developed in ways which enable these institutions to be critically involved in shaping Australia's social and economic structures so as to assist people and communities in moving beyond disadvantage.
Community engagement enhances our opportunities to honour our "commitment to serving the common good", expressed in our Mission. In partnership with other organisations, the staff and students of ACU are bringing about change, through their own research, learning, attitudes and actions, and in the lives of others.
Within the context of its mission, Australian Catholic University sees engagement as:
- enhancing the dignity and wellbeing of people and communities;
- depending on trusted relationships and genuine partnerships with community organisations, institutions and corporations;
- an integral focus of the University's teaching, learning and research; and
- advancing the University's Mission in its "commitment to serving the common good".
It is critical for Australia to seek ways to connect the disconnected and marginalised citizens among us. Universities, as public sites for education and research, have a pivotal role to play in this regard.
The opportunities afforded by community engagement for enabling the learning, teaching and research activities of universities to inform public policy need to be developed in ways which enable these institutions to be critically involved in shaping Australia's social and economic structures so as to assist people and communities in moving beyond disadvantage.
Who else is involved?
ACU values partnerships and collaboration with community organisations and the community service agencies that provide support services and direct assistance to individuals who are disadvantaged and marginalised in any way.
Partnerships
ACU values partnerships and collaboration with community organisations and the community service agencies that provide support services and direct assistance to individuals who are disadvantaged and marginalised in any way.
Partnerships
- ACU staff and ACU student mentors and community mentors
- MDA Ltd (Multicultural Development Association) - In 1997 a group of concerned Queenslanders met in an unassuming Brisbane backyard, in the shadow of an Australian icon, the hill hoist, to discuss the future of Queensland’s multicultural sector after the defunding of the Brisbane Migrant Resource Centre.
Dreaming together of a Queensland where everyone felt welcome and included, they committed to start a new organisation to support new Queenslanders. The Multicultural Development Association began, to deliver essential migrant services, advocate for multiculturalism and build a strong future for all Queenslanders.