Aspire UWA

About UWA Aspire

Aspire UWA aims to work with schools , communities and educational organisations to raise aspirations amongst high school students in communities typically under-represented in higher education. The programme will engage with schools in the Pilbara region and Outer Metropolitan Perth that have a significant Indigenous student population and/or groups of students drawn from new and emerging communities.

The program will commence with Yr 9 students and support them through to successful transition to university, as recent research has highlighted the importance of engaging students at an early age, before they have made choices about subject selection. 

Features of the Aspire program: 

Aspire UWA is founded on a community partnership model that will:

• Develop rich, ongoing relationships between UWA staff and students and Aspire UWA school communities that will create pathways and opportunities for tertiary study
• Support UWA staff members to work extensively with families, and Indigenous families in particular, encouraging them to visit campus
• Ensure parents and families are engaged, so that they:
  • Better understand the benefits of tertiary education
  • Fully understand the process of application to and enrolment in higher education and the transition support services available
• Recruit alumni in the regions to mentor students in the program
• Partner with local churches, sporting and cultural groups and local authorities to support collaborative projects and capacity building between the school community and UWA students and staff.
• Identify industry partners who can provide sustained support through the funding of scholarships, the provision of cadetships, and work experience opportunities for students participating in the program.

Aspire UWA will offer:

• Campus visits for local and Pilbara students
• Visits from UWA's Prospective Students Office to schools providing advice on pathways and subject selection
• Visits from UWA staff to provide specialist workshops and  presentations
• UWA Student Ambassadors to act as role models and mentors
• Regular e-newsletter
• Staff development for Aspire UWA schools at UWA
• Student placements and practicums

Contact: 

Dr. Judy Skene, Student Support Services, Student Services, Mail Bag M302, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, CRAWLEY WA 6009, ph: + 61 8 6488 2424, email: judy.skene@uwa.edu.au

Louise Pollard, Senior Project Officer, Student Services, Mail Bag M302, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, CRAWLEY WA 6009, ph: + 61 8 6488 3646, email: louise.pollard@uwa.edu.au

This programme is partially funded by the Australian Government, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations