Aspire UWA...together to inspire and motivate high school students to aim high and accept the...

UWA and partner schools working together to raise aspirations for higher education

Aspire UWAAnnuAl RepoRt 2011

aspire.uwa.edu.au

Executive Summary

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Aspire UWA is an innovative and evolving partnership between the University and selected schools in Perth and the Pilbara.

The program raises awareness of tertiary education options and encourages students with academic potential to aspire to university, regardless of their circumstances. Partner schools have traditionally had low transfer rates to higher education but principals and teachers, families and communities, university staff and student ambassadors are working together to inspire and motivate high school students to aim high and accept the challenge of aspiring to study at university.

Aspire UWA has grown incrementally since 2009, with a new cohort added each year: 2009 – Year 9s; 2010 – Year 9 and 10s; 2011 – Year 9, 10 and 11s. The program has also expanded to include events for the whole school community, such as the highly successful Aspire to Astronomy roadshow in Pilbara communities in 2011. This event

captured the imagination of a broad section of each Pilbara community by introducing them to the night sky, courtesy of staff and telescopes from the International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). The excitement and interest generated enabled the Aspire team to raise awareness of astronomy and physics as just some of the many interesting study options available at university.

Partner schools have been swift to endorse the rich and vibrant program of activities, which is responsive to individual schools’ needs. Evaluation of Aspire UWA has provided very positive feedback from students and school staff associated with program activities. These endorsements were integral to a submission to the federal government for funding to continue and expand Aspire UWA in 2012 – 2014. News of the success of the submission in December 2011

ensured that a busy and productive year ended with the vision for the future of Aspire UWA secure, with plans to expand to the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Kimberley regions of Western Australia in 2012. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partner schools for their support, encouragement and guidance and look forward to continued collaborations.

This report details Aspire UWA’s comprehensive core program of activities as well as the specialist components tailored specifically to Indigenous students and students interested in studying medicine or dentistry. 2011 has seen a considerable expansion of Aspire UWA, with increased participation by school students in program activities, and parents and community members in community events.

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ÌÌ Aspire UWA activities broadened to include Year 8 students for the first time;

ÌÌ There was a greater focus on offering events for families;

ÌÌ Aspire to Astronomy community events held in the Pilbara were a huge success, engaging more than 1600 people in Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Roebourne and Tom Price;

ÌÌ Belmont City College joined Aspire UWA as a partner school;

ÌÌ Greater focus was placed on providing professional development opportunities for staff from partner schools;

ÌÌ The number of Student Ambassadors increased;

ÌÌ Student organisations, including Engineers Without Borders, Students in Free Enterprise, and the Blackstone Society, volunteered to help Aspire UWA develop and facilitate activities;

ÌÌ Aspire UWA collaborated with Curtin, Edith Cowan, Murdoch and Notre Dame to give students attending Year 11 camp the chance to explore different institutions;

ÌÌ Sarah Kingston, a student ambassador studying Medicine, accompanied the Aspire UWA and Rural Medicine and Dentistry Program teams on visits to Tom Price SHS and Newman SHS; and

ÌÌ Aspire UWA received $5.9 million from the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education for 2012-2014 to continue the program and expand to partner with schools in the Kimberley, midwest and Gascoyne regions.

In total, 2574 students from our partner schools participated in Aspire UWA activities in 2011, which included residential camps, incursions and excursions, as well as a range of other activities. We also held events for parents and the wider community, with nearly 1000 parents and community members taking part. The expansion of the program’s impact in 2011 is recorded in Table 1, below.

2011 Highlights2011 has seen a considerable expansion of Aspire UWA, with increased participation by school students in program activities, and parents and community members in community events.

Table 1: Aspire UWA’s year in numbers

2009 2010 2011Year 8 - - 370Year 9 427 842 668Year 10 1474 1102Year 11

182 453271

Year 12 163

Total student engagement 609 2769 2574Teachers and school support staff 234Parents and the Community 298 975TOTAL 609 3067 3783

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Aspire UWA works in partnership with schools that have traditionally had a low rate of student transfer to university. By providing unique opportunities for students to experience a university environment, and sustained engagement with school communities over a number of years, the program aims to develop a culture of academic achievement and aspiration in the communities in which it is active.

A single visit to a university campus or exposure to a school talk from university staff is unlikely to change attitudes in communities where higher education is generally not perceived to be a realistic pathway after graduating from high school. The barriers to participation are complex and often entrenched: program activities must be varied, culturally respectful and age-appropriate, engaging and challenging if they are going to motivate and inspire students to overcome the financial and other barriers that they face in accessing higher education.

Aspire UWA has tackled this challenge on many levels. At the heart of our approach is a partnership model that is responsive to the schools and communities where we work. A philosophy of continual improvement and adjustment of strategies, through seeking feedback and evaluation, underpins our actions and forward planning.

The involvement of current university students who attended Aspire UWA’s partner schools, as ambassadors for the program, is one of our greatest assets. By acting as leaders and role models at Aspire UWA events, they demonstrate to their younger peers that people from similar backgrounds can and do succeed at university.

Aspire UWA’s structure reflects its intention of working with cohorts and with individuals through a multi-faceted approach that accommodates breadth and depth in its delivery of program outcomes. The program is jointly coordinated by the University’s Student Support Services, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and School of Indigenous Studies. Aspire UWA’s core program is complemented by the School of Indigenous Studies’ long-established outreach program specifically for Indigenous high school students. Discipline-specific support and entry pathways are also provided to students interested in studying medicine and dentistry, to assist them through the process of application and entry into what are traditionally highly competitive courses.

The Aspire UWA approach

Aspire UWA aims to raise aspirations for tertiary education among disadvantaged West Australian high school students who, despite having academic potential, might not consider education beyond high school.

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Activities such as campus excursions, camps, and school visits from university students and staff are designed to provide students with first-hand experiences of a university environment and spark their interest in the wide range of disciplines offered.

As students at regional and metropolitan schools have different needs and face different challenges, activities are tailored to best meet the needs and requirements of students and schools. The program has been developed to engage students in different year groups with themes that are relevant to specific cohorts embedded into activities.

Experience: In Year 9, the focus of Aspire UWA activities is on introducing students to the university campus in a fun and interactive manner. They are immersed in a real-life university experience with the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities across a range of disciplines.

Choice: Year 10 activities continue to have an immersion strategy whilst recognising that Year 10 is often the point at which choices are made regarding life after high school. This theme of choice is embedded

into activities, as students make decisions about which workshops they will attend, determined by their strengths and interests. The support strategy is also embedded through career reflection activities which support students to make considered decisions about their senior school subject selection.

Focus: The program was extended to Year 11s for the first time in 2011, and new activities were developed for students, in consultation with members of the Perth and Pilbara teacher reference groups. Year 11 activities encouraged students to focus on their own interests and goals, and supported them to develop effective study techniques.

Students achieved these outcomes through on-campus discipline-focused activities, observing current students and their successes, and being part of an ongoing peer support network that includes Aspire UWA contacts.

The principal activities conducted for partner schools in 2011 are outlined in the following sections. In addition

to these, Aspire UWA responded to a number of requests from partner schools to facilitate or assist with additional activities for specific groups of students.

Program with partner schools

‘The program has been developed to engage students in different year groups with themes that are relevant to specific cohorts embedded into activities.’

Aspire UWA offers a range of activities and support to our 25 partner schools across Perth and regional Western Australia. Through participation in Aspire UWA events, students develop their awareness of the opportunities provided by a university education, and their confidence and motivation to pursue a university pathway.


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Pilbara schools

A. St Luke’s CollegeB. Karratha Senior High SchoolC. Roebourne District High SchoolD. Hedland Senior High SchoolE. Tom Price Senior High SchoolF. Newman Senior High School

TOM PRICE

NEWMAN

SOUTH HEDLAND

KARRATHA

ROEBOURNE

D

C

F

E

BA

PORTHEDLAND

Approximate distance from Perth

Karratha 1545kms

Roebourne 1567kms

South Hedland 1634kms

Tom Price 1469kms

Newman 1194kms

Western Australia

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The program included school-based activities at each of the partner schools in the Pilbara, as well as community events in each town.

The Aspire to Astronomy team ran a variety of astronomy-themed activities with students in different year groups throughout the day during their visit to each school. Activities were tailored to different year groups and included exploring the sun with specially equipped telescopes and sun-spotters, using mathematics to weigh a galaxy, experimenting with water rockets and how to achieve the optimal height, and learning about the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, the universe and careers in astronomy.

Jenny Gull, Curriculum Consultant with SPICE, the secondary teachers’ enrichment program, ran workshops for teachers about the SPIRIT Internet Telescope during the school visits. The SPIRIT Telescope provides WA high school students with access to a state‐of‐the-art robotic telescope that they can operate via the Internet.

After a day of astronomy activities in each school, an evening event was held in each town for families and the wider school community. These included stargazing through telescopes, launching glow-in-the-dark water rockets, presentations about the SKA radio telescope and, for the younger children, astro-art and an astronaut-mascot.

In total 1649 people participated in the Aspire to Astronomy events; 355 in Hedland, 527 in Karratha, 242 in Roebourne, 333 in Tom Price and 192 in Newman. Feedback from senior staff at the schools indicated that they felt the program was “a wonderful opportunity for families to share a learning experience”, and that it “enthused the younger kids, and informed the older kids with relevant information, that they don’t have great exposure to”.

We greatly appreciated the support provided by The Smith Family, BHP Billiton and the Karratha Education Initiative.

Aspire to AstronomyAspire to Astronomy was a community outreach initiative run over a fortnight in May, in partnership with the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, SPICE and Scitech


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Year 9 Immersion CampPurpose: ÌÌ To give the students a taste

of all that uni can offerÌÌ To give students a taste of life

in PerthSummary:Through this program, students engaged in aspects of science and the arts. They were also able to explore the University’s facilities, such as its libraries, and they took part in sessions in which they learned study skills to assist them in achieving their goals. Activities conducted off campus gave students the opportunity to learn more about things on offer in Perth.Highlights:ÌÌ The trip to Perth Zoo;ÌÌ Staying at Currie Hall, a residential

college;ÌÌ Team-building activities with

Mike Borland.Number of Schools: 5Number of students: 55

Year 10 Decisions CampPurpose: ÌÌ To provide students with an

opportunity to consider their university options and career goals

ÌÌ To assist students with selecting their Year 11 and 12 subjects

Summary:During the three-day camp, students participated in a diverse range of activities: study skills sessions, problem-solving and business activities, and exploring the University campus. The focus was on investigating pathways beyond high school, so students were also able to choose a more extensive workshop in one of four disciplines: science, law, engineering or design.Highlights:ÌÌ Visiting the Lawrence Wilson Art

Gallery;ÌÌ A workshop at the Spare Parts

Puppet Theatre;ÌÌ The opportunity to discuss

career pathways with student ambassadors.

Number of Schools: 6Number of students: 57

Year 11 Options CampPurpose: ÌÌ To help students explore different

options for university studySummary:ÌÌ Over the three days of camp,

students participated in various activities around campus, including study skills and stress management workshops. They were also able to visit their choice of two of Perth’s four other universities.

Highlights: ÌÌ The chance to visit Perth’s other

universities;ÌÌ Study skills and stress

management workshops;ÌÌ Going to the movies.


School visitsPurpose: ÌÌ To engage as many students

as possible to raise aspirations across the broader cohort.

ÌÌ To provide a snapshot of the subjects available at university.

Summary:Aspire UWA project team members visited Pilbara schools to conduct activities with students. This allowed the team to reach more students than can be funded to attend camps in Perth and thus increased the program’s outreach capabilities. The trip to Tom Price and Newman was run in conjunction with the Rural Medicine and Dentistry Program, and the trip to Karratha in conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. These collaborations meant that students could experience specialist activities in these areas.Highlights: ÌÌ Providing the opportunity for

students to meet current medical student, Sarah Kingston and hear about her experiences of university.


Campus visitsPurpose: To add a university experience to a school campSummary:Year 12 students from St Luke’s College in Karratha visited UWA to supplement their trip to Perth for a school camp. During their visit to campus, the students participated in an engineering activity, visited a residential college for lunch, and attended an information session run by the Prospective Students’ Office.Highlights:ÌÌ Meeting student ambassadors

who attended St Luke’s and hearing about their experiences at university.


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Liz Davenport. The Aspire students’ participation in this event generated positive feedback from partner schools and the students themselves

Profile:Daniel Baguley

ÌÌ UWA Science Experience 2011 scholarship recipient;

ÌÌ Karratha Senior High School student

The UWA science experience was a great experience that brought students from around Western Australia to the University of Western Australia to explore the many aspects of science. It gave many students the opportunity to see what branches of science are available. Living in the country students like myself rarely get an opportunity like this so we were very privileged. The three day course consisted of various science-related workshops that were educational and enjoyable at the same time.

The students were put into groups which was a great way to meet new friends. Optional workshops were set up giving the students a chance to choose a branch of science they were interested in. I chose the workshop related to astronomy which was very interesting. The workshop showed us telescopes that the university had. There were several which had special lenses on them that allowed us to look at the sun. Overall the camp was a great experience taking away knowledge about science at university.

ALVA Summer Studio ScholarshipsThe Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts and Aspire UWA offered scholarships to attend the Summer Studio to students from Aspire UWA. The Summer Studio is a four day series of activities held in January for students about to enter Year 12 who are interested in studying architecture, landscape architecture, visual arts or design. Ten students from partner schools received full scholarships to attend the studio.

International Women’s Day event: Worldly Women 2011The University of Western Australia donated 70 tickets to Worldly Women’s Day 2011 to Aspire UWA partner schools. The event, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Perth, and was attended by over 950 young women, featured inspirational presentations from four women about their education and career pathways and an expo featuring universities and TAFE colleges. Students attending enjoyed lunch whilst listening to the presentations and had the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters in a special session just for high school students.

National Young Leaders Day 2011Aspire UWA sponsored 56 Year 10 and 11 students and 14 teachers from 14 partner schools to attend the National Young Leaders Day event. The National Young Leaders Day is an annual event, founded in 1997 by the Halogen Foundation, to develop strong leadership values amongst young Australians. As part of this event, students participated in leadership activities, attended a Leadership Opportunity Market and heard from keynote speakers such as Dr Fiona Wood AM, Mark Knowles, Dr Gary Hewett OAMC and

Students from Aspire UWA partner schools often do not have the resources required to access extra-curricular activities that extend their skills, confidence and experience. To this end, Aspire UWA has established a number of scholarships to enable students from our partner schools to attend a variety of extension and enrichment programs offered by the university and external organisations.

Science Experience AwardsThe UWA Science Experience and Aspire UWA provided scholarships for students from partner schools to attend the UWA Science Experience, a three day program of science activities held in January for students entering Years 10 and 11. Two awards were offered to each Aspire UWA school, which enabled 28 students to participate in the Science Experience with a scholarship to cover the registration fee.

Scholarships

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10

MEDINA

ROCKINGHAM

KELMSCOTT

GOSNELLS

KEWDALE

BELMONTSUBIACO

OSBOURNE PARK

BALCATTA

BALLAJURA

WANGARA

BEECHBORO

MIDLANDSWAN VIEW

MT HELENA

LANSDALE

PERTH

SOUTH PERTH

WELSHPOOL

YANGEBUP

ARMADALE

COMOCOTTESLOE

MORLEY

MUNDARING

HAMILTON HILLO’CONNOR

FREMANTLE MURDOCH

WARWICK

Metropolitan schools

A. Aranmore Catholic CollegeB. Balga Senior High SchoolC. Ballajura Community CollegeD. Belmont City CollegeE. Eastern Hills Senior High SchoolF. Governor Stirling Senior High SchoolG. Girrawheen Senior High School

A

H. Gilmore CollegeI. Hamilton Senior High SchoolJ. John Wollaston Anglican Community SchoolK. Kingsway Christian CollegeL. Kolbe Catholic CollegeM. La Salle College

N. Lockridge Senior High School0. Lumen Christi CollegeP. Mercy CollegeQ. Mirrabooka Senior High SchoolR. Morley Senior High SchoolS. Swan View Senior High School

B

C

D

EF

G

H

I

J

K

L

MN

O

P

Q R

S

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Race around Campus (Year 9 students)Purpose: To introduce students to aspects of university education and lifeSummary:These on-campus, all-day events involved students rotating, with their school groups and student ambassador leaders, through different hands-on activities. These activities exposed students to a variety of disciplines and gave them the opportunity to find out about different careers that interested them.Highlights:ÌÌ Constructing their own water filters ÌÌ Plaster-casting each other’s

fingers or armsÌÌ Amassing fortunes and tackling

ethical dilemmas in an online financial game


Incursions and excursions (for Year 10 students)Purpose: ÌÌ To provide students with the

opportunity to participate in an activity in an area of their interest

ÌÌ To assist students with subject selection for Year 11 and 12

Summary:The Aspire UWA team visited individual schools, accompanied by university staff and students from various faculties who ran hands-on activities, and Aspire UWA student ambassadors. Students usually had a choice of three different activities to participate in during the visits, such as science, medicine and arts.

In addition, eight partner schools, which together form the New North Education Initiative (5) and the Swan Education Alliance (3), opted to bring Year 10 students on to campus for the day. In both cases, the day’s

activities followed the same theme as the Year 10 school visits, and had the added outcome of introducing the students to other Year 10 students from schools in the NNEI and/or SEA.Number of Schools: 18Number of students: 635

Three Minute Thesis Competition (for Year 11 students)Purpose: To expose students to a snapshot of the high-quality research carried out by postgraduate students at universities.Number of Schools: 4Number of students: 86

Aspire UWA brought 86 Year 11 students from four partner schools onto campus to watch the finals of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. The 3MT is an academic competition that challenges research students (PhD and MPhil) to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. UWA hosted the Trans-Tasman finals in 2011, involving 42 students from across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. The top 11 students competed in the grand final, attended by Aspire UWA students – the quality of presentations was so high that the judges, including Professor Fiona Wood, were unable to narrow it down to the top 10!

The 3MT competition was an excellent opportunity for students from partner schools to learn about examples

of research being conducted at universities. Research topics included increasing omega-3 levels in lamb, measuring the nutrition levels of ICU patients to improve recovery, and investigating the accuracy of fingerprint experts. Watching these excellent communicators presenting the research they are so passionate about was an incredible experience. In many cases, the competitors were not much older than the Aspire students themselves, so it was very inspiring to see how research conducted by young people has real-life applications. For example, the research of winner Matthew Thompson, from the University of Queensland, has been used by the Supreme Court of Australia to inform discussion on how fingerprint evidence should be judged in Australian courts. For the Aspire students, such an event was an excellent and inspiring example

Three Minute Thesis Competitionfor Year 11 students

of the opportunities provided by university study.

Students judged the finalists and presented the “Aspire Students’ Choice Award” to their favorite presenter at the end of the event. The winner of the Students’ Choice Award was Toni Aburime from Deakin University, with his presentation on limiting the tenure of bank CEO’s in Nigeria and the impact of this on financial performance. Toni later contacted UWA to offer his thanks for the opportunity to meet the Aspire UWA students and express how much the award meant to him.


Student ambassadors

Having attended Aspire UWA partner schools themselves or representing one of our target groups, ambassadors clearly demonstrate to current school students that people from similar backgrounds can and do succeed at university.

All Aspire UWA ambassadors undergo a series of training workshops designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge required for working with high school students. Several new ambassadors were recruited to Aspire UWA in 2011. Ambassadors who had been involved previously shared their experiences with the new ambassadors during the training sessions that were facilitated by the project team. Initial training took the form of two lunchtime workshops, which were offered at a variety of times to accommodate student timetables and covered a range of topics including an overview of the University’s outreach activities, and strategies and tips for communicating with teenagers.

Aspire UWA provided sponsorship for student ambassadors to attend the Rebuilding Harmony: 9/11 Ten Years On conference, and hosted an end of year lunch for student ambassadors to acknowledge their valuable contribution to the program throughout the year.

Name School attendedMadeleine Gordon Aranmore Catholic CollegeMegan Flower Ballajura Community CollegeMonique Dixon Ballajura Community CollegeMarie Dade Eastern Hills Senior High SchoolSelena Clohessy Eastern Hills Senior High SchoolJun Hua Guo Girrawheen Senior High SchoolErosha Fernando Governor Stirling Senior High SchoolJacqueline Boaks Governor Stirling Senior High SchoolNathanael Yates Governor Stirling Senior High SchoolLydia Prempeh John Paul CollegeRachel Conroy John Wollaston Community CollegeRussell Bennett Karratha Senior High SchoolSam Shepherd Karratha Senior High SchoolJordan Ah Chee Kelmscott Senior High SchoolJosh Hollick Kingsway Christian CollegeSarah Kingston Kingsway Christian CollegeVinka Cummins-Barunga Kolbe Catholic CollegeJennifer Phan Lumen Christi CollegeNatasha Augustin Mercy CollegeWiktor Bilinski Mercy CollegeAlyce Haast Mirrabooka Senior High SchoolDwayne Smith Newman Senior High SchoolSara Percy Penrhos CollegeEmma Smith St Luke’s CollegeJessica Smith St Luke’s CollegeKay Yee Hon Taylors College PerthLuan Nguyen Shenton CollegeRyan Whiddett Gilmore CollegeCasey Kickett Lockridge Senior High SchoolPaul Otto Kingsway Christian CollegeAnita Kousari Mahdavi HighschoolOrnella Mbiya Morley Senior High SchoolNela Kosec Iona Presentation CollegeEmma Kitching St Luke’s CollegeLewis Teixeria Hamilton Senior High SchoolRachel Webb Governor Stirling Senior High SchoolRachael Coffey Ballajura Community College

Student ambassadors play a pivotal role in Aspire UWA events and activities, by acting as leaders and role-models for their younger peers.

They are involved in all activities on campus, in Perth partner schools and, where feasible, the Pilbara.

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“...here I am, waking up each morning thankful that I have

the opportunity to attend university and that I feel

exactly where I should be – 4th year medicine at UWA.”

Sarah Kingston, Aspire UWA student ambassador

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It was a really cool experience, and made me want to become an Aspire ambassador all the more. Aspire also introduced me to a great group of people, so I knew other people when I started uni.

Being an ambassador is definitely great fun and is a rewarding experience. I feel I am able to connect with high school students at Aspire events, possibly influencing their decision on choosing to undertake tertiary studies, when they otherwise wouldn’t have considered it.

“Knowing that you are helping to potentially increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds aspiring to study at university is definitely one of the best aspects of being an ambassador”.

Profile:Lewis Teixeira ÌÌ Bachelor of ScienceÌÌ Graduated from Hamilton Senior

High SchoolI chose to become an Aspire ambassador because of the work they did with my school and the unique opportunities they presented to us. In Year 12, I was lucky enough to be one of a select few high school students chosen to speak directly to the International Space Station during a presentation by Andy Thomas – a former Australian astronaut.

Student ambassadors

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Fast forward a few years and here I am, waking up each morning thankful that I have the opportunity to attend university and that I feel exactly where I should be – 4th year medicine at UWA.

My high school, Kingsway, became a part of the Aspire UWA program. This was a great opportunity for me to give back to younger students and I started volunteering at the end of first year.

In mid-2011, I helped at the Aspire camp for year 10 students from the Pilbara. Here I built a strong attachment to the Tom Price students over the few days together. When Sue saw the interest of students from Newman and Tom Price in medicine and decided a visit to these schools would be a great investment, I cheekily asked if they needed a medical student to come along.

Opportunities do happen at University...I had never heard of Paraburdoo before. I had never been on a plane

Profile:Sarah KingstonÌÌ Bachelor of Medicine and

Bachelor of Surgery, ÌÌ Diploma in ArtsÌÌ Graduated from Kingsway

Christian College

I never came from a medical family – my Mum had quite a weak stomach for everything from needles to any TV show that depicted blood. And, my Year 9 history teacher decided to horrify his students with the medical thriller ‘Outbreak’. I would consider any profession except becoming a doctor. I thought doctors were the pinnacle of responsibility – and I just didn’t want to deal with a pandemic from an infected monkey.

That was until a visit from Sue Pougnault from the Outer Metropolitan Program for medicine and dentistry entry persuaded me otherwise. I had had my heart set on becoming a vet, but I decided to investigate the program, participate in the workshops and shadow a medical student at the university.

before. Paraburdoo isn’t exactly a tourist destination so I appeared rather out of place taking touristy happy snaps on a plane filled with mining employees.

It was a whirlwind adventure – we left Perth early in the morning, and returned the following afternoon. We travelled to both Tom Price and Newman high schools talking about the medicine and dentistry courses, running suturing and plastering workshops and experimenting with stethoscopes and tendon hammers. It was great being able to reconnect with the students and encourage them.

The Pilbara trip was a huge experience and one of many firsts for me. Besides the school visits, we also had time to visit Karijini National Park, bush walk to the waterfalls and take an unplanned swim. I fell in love with the red dirt roads and the landscape of the Pilbara. This trip sparked interest for me to hopefully one day experience remote medicine in WA’s north. Undoubtedly, it was a trip I will always remember.

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Outer Metropolitan Medicine and Dentistry ProgramEighteen schools participated in the Choose Medicine, Choose Dentistry (Metro) program for 2011. There were 15 workshops facilitated and a total of 108 students participated in these from Years 10, 11 and 12. A personal development workshop to help students identify their strengths and goals was offered for the Year 12 students and 35 attended.

Fifty three students sat the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT) exam and fifty applied for entry into the Bachelor of Medicine, the Bachelor of Surgery or the Bachelor of Dental Science.

A further workshop was also offered to those students successful in gaining an interview that assisted with information and tips regarding interview technique. Sixteen students took advantage of this opportunity to hone their skills.

A total of 18 students were offered an interview and from this quota, fourteen students were offered a place in the 2012 Metropolitan (school leaver) pathway for graduate medicine. This was an outstanding outcome as many of these students had attended secondary schools that rarely or never had students achieve an offer of a place in medicine previously.

Rural Medicine and Dentistry ProgramAspire UWA collaborates with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences to deliver its Choose Medicine, Choose Dentistry program in the Pilbara. There were five rural high school workshops conducted in 2011: two in Karratha and one each in Port Hedland, Tom Price and Newman, with a total of twenty eight students participating in the sessions. Four Pilbara students flew to Perth and attended the UMAT dinner and presentation evening prior to sitting the UMAT exam. They then submitted an application for admission to the WA Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC). The students experienced an afternoon in Perth with other rural school students prior to the dinner and enjoyed a presentation by current

Choose Medicine, Choose Dentistry

Medical and Dental students who shared their own experiences of University life and studies.

Next morning, the students were transported to Winthrop Hall where they sat the UMAT exam, followed by a de-briefing before returning home. Two of the Pilbara students interviewed in December were successful in gaining a place into the Rural (school leaver) Pathway for graduate medicine in 2012.

Feedback has been extremely supportive of the assistance the students received which made what could have been a rather daunting experience a stress-free and enjoyable occasion.

These programs were developed by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences to increase diversity in the student cohorts and to promote equity in the selection of students with respect to different geographical, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

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The School of Indigenous Studies Outreach Program provides many opportunities for Indigenous students in high schools across the state, targeting specific year groups.

In 2011 the School coordinated the Year 8 Discovery Days, the Year 9 to 11 Science, Engineering and Health Camp, the Year 12 Seminar and the WACE Revision program for students in Year 11 and 12. With the exceptions of the Year 8 Discovery Days, these activities were residential camps during the school holidays and provided students with the experience of being on the campus and immersed in the university environment. A focus of the camps was introducing high schools students to current UWA Indigenous students as guides, speakers and supervisors throughout the week.

In addition to these activities the School also hosted many school groups on campus and visited schools to provide information about university, entry to UWA courses, transition and support. During visits to the Pilbara, made in conjunction with Aspire to Astronomy community events, the SIS staff met approximately 75 Indigenous students at Follow The Dream centres, where they presented information about the Outreach program to students, tutors and coordinators. In addition staff met with many Indigenous students and

families during the community events. As a consequence of these visits and events, 21 students from the Pilbara attended the Year 9 to 11 Science, Engineering and Health camp, around 45% of the total that attended the camp. With another 4 students coming from Aspire schools in the metropolitan area, more than 50% of students represented Aspire schools.

The School sponsored and participated in the Midland Indigenous Futures Forum where 60 students from Governor Stirling SHS, Lockridge SHS and Swan View SHS (all Aspire partner schools) participated in a careers day. Current UWA medical students from these schools attended the event as guest speakers.

Complementary programsThe School of Indigenous Studies works closely with Follow The Dream and Future Footprints programs. The Follow the Dream (FTD) program

was initially set up in the Pilbara and is now a well-established program across the state. The School works closely with all the FTD’s based in the Pilbara and had a terrific response with students coming on camps throughout the year.

The Future Footprints program is based in Perth and is coordinated by the Association of Independent Schools WA. It provides opportunities for Indigenous students boarding at schools in Perth. Many of these students commence their schooling at their home location, such as the Pilbara region, before continuing their education in Perth. The School of Indigenous Studies provides opportunities for these students whilst staying in Perth. The main event the School supported in 2011 is the Future Footprints Careers Expo, held at the UWA Business School with over 200 students attending.

School of Indigenous Studies: High School Outreach Program

Activity Aspire Total Overall Numbers

Year 8 Discovery Days (Metro) 25 101Year 9–11 SHE Camp 25 46Year 12 Seminar 8 34WACE Revision Year 11 and 12 3 31UWA visit to school/FTD 120 127

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TransitionEach year, the University of Western Australia bestows one UWA Excellence Award to a student at each of the state’s high schools.

In addition to a cash award of $500, recipients are guaranteed an offer of a place at UWA in the first round of offers, independent of the ATAR cut-off for that course, as long as they meet the University’s minimum entry requirements and have a UWA first preference for the first round of offers.

Whereas most schools receive a single award, Aspire UWA partner schools are offered three awards. Excellence Award recipients are acknowledged formally by the Vice Chancellor at a presentation early in the academic year. In 2011, there were 41 students from Aspire UWA schools who received an Excellence Award for entry to UWA in 2012. The Excellence Awards allowed these students to study courses such as Biomedical Science, Engineering and Arts.

Students entering UWA in 2011, who came from partner schools, were invited to a welcome lunch in the Sunken Garden, early in first semester during a common lunch hour. Student ambassadors were there to meet and welcome the new students, and to answer questions and share advice. The lunch provided an opportunity for students coming from partner schools to meet other new students and expand their networks at university.

Support for teachers from partner schoolsAspire UWA expanded its engagement with staff from partner schools in 2011. Teachers and support staff play a pivotal role in fostering students’ aspirations, providing them with guidance and encouragement, and developing their awareness of the value and opportunities offered by tertiary education. To support them in this vital capacity, Aspire UWA provided sponsorship for staff from partner schools to participate in professional development programs, and provided opportunities for networking and sharing ideas about supporting students and raising aspirations in schools.

Other areas of the University offering professional development for teachers extended opportunities to staff from Aspire UWA partner schools. Teachers from partner schools were involved in professional development activities offered by SPICE, the secondary teachers’ enrichment program, and the Faculty of Education.

Positive Schools 2011 Mental Health and Wellbeing ConferenceThe Positive Schools Conference focused on youth mental health issues and the development of

sustainable school-based endeavours to address these issues. Keynote speakers included Steve Biddulph and Michael Carr-Gregg. Aspire UWA sponsored 18 teachers from partner schools to attend the conference, with all of the teachers who attended reporting that they planned to implement some of the strategies discussed at the conference in their schools. Feedback received from one of the teachers stated:

“The conference was EXCELLENT and I am so grateful for the Aspire scholarship.”

Rebuilding Harmony: 9/11 Ten Years On The nature of cooperation and interaction in the post 9/11 era, and the ways in which the tragic events of 9/11 have provided an impetus for greater understanding, cooperation and interaction between Muslims and others, were explored in a one-day conference organised by UWA’s Centre for Muslim States and Societies. Keynote speakers included Aleisha Woodward, the US Consul General in Perth, and Malalai Joya, an Afghani female parliamentarian and member of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people list.

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Parents who have not attended university themselves can find it difficult to advise their children on university study and how to choose courses. Consequently, Aspire UWA has increased efforts to engage these students and their parents to provide a point of contact with the university and an opportunity to ask questions and seek guidance.

Students from Aspire UWA partner schools were invited to attend the University’s Open Day, the largest single community event in the UWA calendar. Aspire UWA hosted free morning and afternoon teas for students from our partner schools and their family members. Students attended with their families and participated in a number of activities around the University. Staff from Aspire UWA also attended a number of school Parent Information Evenings at the request of partner schools.

This provided additional opportunities to engage with students and their parents.

Regional students and their parents face particular difficulties in obtaininginformation about university as distance often constrains their ability to attend events on campus. To this end, community events like Aspire to Astronomy were developed to highlight the benefits of higher education and create a university presence in these communities.

To supplement such events, an information booklet was produced with information for students and parents considering university. The booklet addresses issues that were commonly identified by the students as barriers that may prevent them from going to university in the future, and provides more information about aspects of university that they had asked about in the student questionnaires.

Aspire UWA offered sponsorship to staff from partner schools, many of which have significant numbers of students from refugee backgrounds, and have student populations from very diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Seven teachers from partner schools attended. One of the teachers who attended wrote:

“Thanks to the Aspire Team for giving me the wonderful opportunity to attend the Rebuilding Harmony conference on the weekend. The program and the speakers were excellent and inspirational.”

Career Advisors DayThe University’s Career Advisors Day provided an opportunity for career advisors and other teachers to extend their knowledge of pathways and support for students transitioning to university. Attendees were able to choose from a range of workshops and seminars covering opportunities in various disciplines and industries, alternative pathways into university, and support available for both prospective and current university students to help make tertiary education more accessible.

Aspire UWA sponsored career advisors and teachers from partner schools in the Pilbara to travel to Perth for this event, and hosted a networking breakfast on the day that was attended by fifteen staff members from Aspire UWA partner schools in the metropolitan area and the Pilbara.

Brainstorm over Breakfast for ChaplainsAspire UWA hosted a breakfast for chaplains from our partners schools. The event offered a chance for attendees to network with other school chaplains, and to discuss ways in which Aspire UWA can engage with school chaplains to further the program’s goals.

Parents and the CommunityIn 2011 more than one-third of students reported that they will be the first in their family to attend university.

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SummaryThe Aspire UWA Evaluation strategy consists of a multi-layered approach, aiming to capture feedback from students, school staff, university students and staff who contribute to the objectives of the program. The evaluation strategy seeks feedback on the impact and success of all activities, so that improvements and adjustments can be made immediately to ensure that the program is responsive to schools’ and students’ input.

The overall program delivery has also been reviewed by an external evaluator from another university, who has experience in delivery of similar outreach programs, and whose recommendations have helped strengthen aspects of program delivery.

Another strand of the strategy aims to explore attitudes towards higher education and perceptions of barriers that students at Aspire schools face. For example, in 2010, the evaluation focused on school staff associated with Aspire UWA: principals, deputies, teachers and specialist support staff were surveyed to gauge their response to the program via an online survey and qualitative interviews conducted during campus activities. The response showed educators were very positively disposed towards Aspire UWA. A summary of these findings was published in the 2010 Annual Report.

In 2011 the evaluation focused on the students involved in the program. Online surveys of students proved difficult to administer for a variety of reasons, therefore the current report focuses on group interviews conducted towards the end of 2011 and early 2012 in a cross section of Aspire

schools (regional and metropolitan). The interviews gauged levels of student satisfaction with Aspire UWA, seeking insight into ways of improving outcomes and the services delivered.

MethodOf the seven Aspire UWA schools selected, five were government schools, one from Catholic Education sector and one from the Independent Schools Association. Five were located in outer-metropolitan Perth and two were in the Pilbara. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed, with each of the interviews recorded and transcribed.

While the evaluation paid particular attention to student viewpoints, teachers were also interviewed in most of the schools. Interviews were generally conducted in groups of 4-6 students and one on one with staff. Eleven focus group interviews were conducted with the students.

Summary of Findings:Teachers“Once they’ve been to a Race Around Campus they then tend to take themselves the next year, and in year 11 they’ll take themselves to university open days, whereas without that first little touch I’m not sure that they would. They also start sort of thinking, there’s no reason why I perhaps couldn’t work a little bit harder and perhaps aim towards university” (Teacher interview 2011)

Consistent with the findings of 2010, the majority of teachers interviewed reported Aspire UWA in very positive terms.

StudentsStudent responses fell into three broad categories that demonstrate the need for Aspire to be responsive in fine-tuning program delivery to align with the needs of each of these cohorts.

Keen on Going to UniA striking element of the interviews was the number of students who were considering going to university before their involvement in the program. Given that most of these students do not come from families with a higher education family tradition, it is more than appropriate that Aspire UWA supports these students. This group had more definite questions before attending the program. For instance one student commented, “I attended Aspire just to get opinions on how to go into the future”, while another said “I wanted to see the courses they had and the different pathways in, how to get in and just what subjects lead off the courses you could do”.

Many reported uncertainty about what it really takes to get into university in terms of finances and courses. Aspire UWA offers this group a much clearer understanding of tertiary education. One student commented, “Aspire has given me a better understanding of university life”, while another commented “Now I really know that I want to go to university”. Aspire UWA clearly supports and influences this group’s decision making regarding university.

Measuring our impact External Evaluation Report

“Aspire has given me a better understanding of university life”

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Not Sure About UniStudents tend to show variable levels of commitment to continuing their education beyond Year 12, so it is not surprising that Aspire UWA has not won over all students. While we can draw no definite conclusions from the sampling we have been able to do for this project, student commitment to tertiary education appears to be linked to family background and exposure to role models who are positive about university and the opportunities it brings.

Some of the students expressing uncertainty about proceeding to university expressed awareness of the expanded opportunities offered through university study. This group seems to have been more engaged in the Aspire UWA activities and to have started considering university more seriously as a consequence of their involvement in the program. For instance, some students were actively evaluating the different sorts of opportunities offered through TAFE courses compared with universities. Aspire UWA has expanded the options according to some; as one

student who is now thinking very seriously about whether to go to university or not commented,

“I really never knew much about uni before going on Aspire, I just wanted to know what it was about and what I could do and where I could go”.

Not Considering UniA number of students interviewed expressed a lack of interest in university. Their objections were usually raised in terms of cost, inconvenience, lack of interest in yet more education and failure to see how it would help them get a good job. They tended not to have had extended contact with the Aspire UWA program (being mainly Year 9 students) and were vague about their level of engagement.

An interesting challenge arising from this particular group is the degree to which all involved in the project, at UWA and in the schools, can productively focus on raising their awareness of the importance of universities for building viable futures and helping them to see beyond the barriers they either sense or build.

Concluding CommentsThere is a great deal of goodwill towards Aspire UWA from students and teachers alike. Many students show intrinsic motivation to go to university and Aspire UWA is assisting them reach this goal. A majority of students agreed that Aspire UWA increased their awareness of higher education and enhanced their motivation for tertiary education. An underlying theme was the confidence Aspire UWA gave them that they could reach their goals.

Assisting students who are less certain of their future direction is an important target for future programs. The different motivational levels shown by students are attributable to an array of factors including family environment, school experience, finances, knowledge of and exposure to university education and its benefits, and a solid understanding of the pathways and assistance available to them in electing to undertake a university education. Assessing the impact of strategies and continuing to refine approaches, working together with partner schools, will be the focus of evaluation in the year ahead.

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In December 2011, The University of Western Australia was delighted to learn that the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education’s Higher Education, Participation and Partnership Program Competitive Grants Scheme will fund Aspire UWA for a further triennium until 2014. The grant of $5 974 427 was the largest grant that a single university received in this round of funding. Aspire UWA will sustain its current partnerships, expand to the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Kimberley regions and extend the program back to Year 8, in both metropolitan and regional partner schools. This reflects current research into the need to engage students from an early age in a conversation about the benefits of higher education. Homework Clubs will also be established in two Perth schools, in partnership with The Smith Family.

This significant expansion to regions other than the Pilbara will mean that the team will need to tailor the engagement strategy to reflect the unique circumstances of each region. As a result, visits to each region including schools, local government, other education providers and potential stakeholders/partners will be conducted early in 2012.

2012 and beyond

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In 2011, stronger links were forged with other areas of the University, and with external stakeholders, to further the program’s aims of raising aspirations and academic attainment.

Aspire UWA has been enthusiastically supported by academic and professional staff from across the University, who have volunteered to assist with activities and/or offered other support to the program. Aspire UWA greatly appreciates support provided by staff from the following areas:ÌÌ Faculty of Architecture,

Landscape and Visual Arts ÌÌ Faculty of ArtsÌÌ Faculty of Education ÌÌ Faculty of Engineering, Computer

Science and MathematicsÌÌ Faculty of LawÌÌ Faculty of Life and Physical

SciencesÌÌ Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and

Health ScienceÌÌ Faculty of Natural and Agricultural

SciencesÌÌ UWA Business SchoolÌÌ ARC Centre of Excellence for the

History of EmotionsÌÌ Centre for Muslim States and

Societies ÌÌ Edward de Courcy Clarke Earth

Science Museum

ÌÌ Primary Industry Centre for Science Education

ÌÌ SPICEÌÌ Women and Infants Research

Foundation ÌÌ UWA Science ExperienceÌÌ The ALVA Summer StudioÌÌ Admissions Centre and

Prospective Students Office ÌÌ Currie Hall ÌÌ Information Services ÌÌ Student Support Services

including StudySmarter, UniDiscovery and UniSkills

ÌÌ UWA Visitors Centre

Aspire UWA also greatly appreciates the support of volunteers from the following UWA student organisations, who developed and facilitated activities for Aspire UWA events.ÌÌ Students in Free EnterpriseÌÌ Engineers without BordersÌÌ The Blackstone Society

The value of the program in 2011 was enhanced through collaborations with the following organisations.ÌÌ International Centre for Radio

Astronomy Research (ICRAR) ÌÌ Scitech ÌÌ The Smith Family ÌÌ Perth Zoo ÌÌ Karratha Education Initiative ÌÌ BHP Billiton

Our thanks

Aspire UWA is overseen by a committee structure that includes representatives of the University’s executive, academic and professional staff; students; partner schools and external supporters. Aspire UWA is grateful for the contributions of all involved in relevant committees and reference groups in 2011.

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Aspire UWA received enthusiastic support from UWA staff and students who volunteered their time and effort to help further the program’s objectives. A growing number of external partners also offered their assistance.

The positive impact of Aspire UWA was very evident in evaluation of the program and the strong endorsement received from schools. Students, teachers and parents appreciate the dedication of the Aspire UWA team and their commitment to equity and access. Likewise, the Aspire UWA team are very grateful for the cooperation and support that they receive from all those who have had a role in making the program the success that it is. While recognising excellent progress to date, the team also acknowledge that there are many challenges ahead, as evaluation also highlights the work necessary to engage those students who are quite disengaged but have the potential to achieve and succeed in higher education.

Aspire UWA’s scope will expand considerably in 2012. A significant grant from DIISRTE will allow Aspire UWA to expand its activities to the Kimberley, Mid-West and Gascoyne regions, with 24 schools from these regions being invited to join the program. This very exciting development will be undertaken in consultation with Aspire UWA’s committees and teacher reference groups. All those involved are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Conclusion

2011 was another exciting year of achievement for Aspire UWA. More than 3700 students, parents and teachers took part in Aspire UWA activities, including students from Year 11 and Year 8, both cohorts new to the program in 2011.

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“I loved Aspire Camp. It was so much fun”student, Year 9 Camp

“Thank you for having us in this camp. It totally helped me to know what to do in the future. ”student, Year 9 Camp

“Everything was informative and enjoyable. ”student, Year 9 Camp

“The NNEI Year 10 campus visit was a great day. All my students found it to be a really motivating, fun and positive experience”.teacher, NNEI visit

“This trip was very insightful and has inspired me to want to come here in my future”.teacher, NNEI visit

“Offer a Year 12 camp please”student, Year 11 Camp

“Thank you for this opportunity of a life time”student, Year 11 Camp

“It was an awesome trip”.student, Year 10 Camp


CRICOS Provider Code: 00126G UniPrint 99097

Aspire UWAGeneral EnquiriesM302, 35 Stirling HighwayCrawley WA 6009Tel: +61 8 6488 1538Fax: +61 8 6488 1119Email: [email protected]

School of Indigenous StudiesRay GarrettM303, 35 Stirling HighwayCrawley WA 6009Tel: +61 8 6488 4603Fax: +61 8 6488 1100Email: [email protected]

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health SciencesSue Pougnault/Wendy WilliamsM501, 35 Stirling HighwayCrawley WA 6009Tel: +61 8 6488 8500Fax: +61 8 6488 4848Email: [email protected]

Funded by the Australian Government, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and The University of Western Australia.

Photography by Sarah Evamy, Matt Galligan and Aspire UWA

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