The University of Sydney sydney.edu.au sydney.edu.au/wpo Annual Report 2018 02 8627 8515 Widening Participation and Outreach sydney.edu.au WPO Annual Report 2018 The University of Sydney Page 3 “I’ll certainly be sydney.edu.au doing the best I can to ensure [WPO’s] success, because I have seen how it’s changed lives ... WPO Annual Report 2018 These programs can change lives and change futures.” The University of Sydney Chris Hayes MP Page 4 Introduction At Widening Participation and Outreach, we seek to change the future trajectory for young people from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented at university. Our program aims to create a habitus of learning as a means of inquiry, through which young people are equipped to identify and analyse their learning needs, interrogate a future at university and make informed decisions about that future. The program has evolved over is it necessary? Isn’t it too big? time to take into account the Isn’t it just marketing? Isn’t that sophisticated thinking young recruitment? Isn’t it just aspiration people have when it comes to raising? And, perhaps most self-determining and setting their frequently, what are the metrics? future direction. Our experience shows that a program seeking to When I mention that access rates simply raise aspirations for higher are one metric we measure, some education would be contrapositive point to the low enrolment rates because it fails to recognise the at the University of students from strengths and insights of the schools we work with and conclude young people we work with and our program is not working. the complex considerations they initiate about their futures. More But in response I ask, isn’t this than anything, this type of program an example of structural barriers also patronisingly assumes that aligning to administrate a narrow their aspirations require raising. definition of excellence which precludes equity from being Our programming challenge is to interspersed with our recognition balance the unknown experience, of excellence? exploring the impact of that experience and the learning and The University of Sydney’s Charter socio-cultural challenges that states: “… hold forth to all classes Introduction accompany it, and instil a sense and denominations of our faithful of rightful belonging at university. subjects, without any distinction The impact of the experience whatsoever, throughout our we provide must far outlive the dominions encouragement for experience itself if we are to pursuing a regular and liberal connect and then reconnect course of education …”. This with our schools and students, foundational statement about those affected by either or both the University of Sydney has educational disadvantage and the also informed our foundations ATAR barrier. for inquiry in 2018, to better understand the barriers that The questions I am asked about intersect with our outreach this ambitious goal include: Does outputs. it work? Is it really possible? Why Page 5 We are not dedicated to “looking To this end, we have established The year 2018 also saw renewed like we are doing something” a longitudinal program evaluation impetus for cross-institutional sydney.edu.au or simply performing “work for and research team – Theory of collaboration on student equity the sake of work”. Widening Change: Evaluating the Impact and HEPPP. As part of this, we Participation and Outreach (WPO) of Widening Participation and contributed to The National is dedicated to change that brings Outreach – led by Dr Samantha Centre for Student Equity in Higher with it a fuller recognition of the McMahon in the Sydney School Education (NCSEHE) discussion impact of educational and socio- of Education and Social Work paper, Student Equity 2030: A long economic disadvantage. We also (SSESW). You can read of the first term vision for student equity in have a vision for increasing access phase of this evaluation of our higher education, as well as to for underrepresented students Preparation for Preparation for the development of the Equity that aligns with the University’s NAPLAN Program on page 28. Practitioners in Higher Education demonstrated innovation and Australasia (EPHEA) NSW chapter vision in other areas of education The scale of our regional footprint charter. We also agreed to and research. and partnerships with Education collaborate with other universities and Training Out West and on any National Priority Pool In 2018, we renewed our focus on Country Education Foundation research submissions for 2019. access barriers, which saw us also allowed us to collaborate on examining the intersectionality new research. Reinventing the We increased our focus on the of equity cohorts and First in Gap Year: Establishing new forms partnerships with The Smith Family students’ experience of of supportive communications Family and Education and WPO Annual Report 2018 the University. As part of this, we between universities, regional Training Out West. We piloted commissioned two papers (see students and parents 2019–2021 working with the Harding Miller page 41). led by Dr Samantha McMahon, is Education Foundation and the a cross-collaboration with Country Education Foundation We put in place the planning the University of Wollongong, the and resourced new educational required to shift the imbalance University of Canberra, and opportunities for the young and focus of our Higher Education the University of Sydney. The NSW people supported through these Participation and Partnerships Department of Education identified organisations. This saw a 30% Program (HEPPP) from mostly pre- and funded the study as a strategic increase in University of Sydney tertiary access. We did this by initiative and all universities in NSW enrolments among The Smith Family extending into research and other were invited to participate in the (TSF) Learning for Life Scholarship initiatives in the areas of student first focus-group workshop. holders for the 2019 academic year. equity, HEPPP evaluation, students’ participation and success. In doing so, we aim to leverage and intersect with WPO’s practice and contribute to a community of practice, research and policy at The University of Sydney the University. Page 6 For me, a program highlight of 2018 Another highlight was the launch School, Cabramatta, who were was witnessing opening night of our of our 2019 program at Whitlam part of our program in action at Wingara Mura – Bunga Barrabugu Library in Cabramatta by Peter the launch, attending a special (WMBB) Summer Program and the McCallum, Acting Registrar and appearance from the Sydney collective responses of over 170 Academic Director, Education Writers’ Festival Russ the Story Bus. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Quality, at the young people to our documentary University, MP Chris Hayes, Dr Lisa Our work is often beleaguered by video: My Story, My Future – you O’Brien, CEO, The Smith Family, funding challenges and subject to can watch this on page 108. The and recent graduate Mitchell Ha, extended review. However, this students were tired after travelling who was profiled by The National event highlighted the need to bring for many hours but were still Centre for Student Equity in Higher together stakeholders to look more mesmerised by the panellists and Education (NCSEHE) and who broadly at the successes of the live story retelling. This confirmed we featured in last year’s annual Higher Education Participation my view that all students want report. This was an opportunity and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) to learn. They simply need the to bring together our partners, as part of a collective need for opportunity to do so in a way that equity practitioners, stakeholders, reflection and renewal. is tangible and meaningful to their teachers, University of Sydney own experiences. To articulate the academics, student leaders and You can read more about some parts of our work we can’t measure volunteers. Hearing students’ of the challenges, engagements and the depth of impact of the stories first-hand about the impact and success stories of 2018 in this WMBB program, we continued with of our program and witnessing report. our documentary film, retitled by the difference at an individual students,Yarn-Up, to be released level, was uplifting and motivating. Mary Teague in 2020. Importantly, it also introduced Head, Widening Participation and us to students in Years 3 and 5 Outreach at Cabramatta Public School and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary Introduction Page 7 Page 8 sydney.edu.au WPO Annual Report 2018 The University of Sydney Page 9 Introduction Contents 5 Introduction 43 Strategic initiatives 94 Our Student Leader and Focus area spotlight Volunteering Program Programs Dannii’s story 12 About G r e g’s s t o r y 102 Press coverage 14 What was new in 2018 51 Community Focus area spotlight 18 Programs 108 Watch us in action sydney.edu.au Widening Participation Robert’s story and Outreach engagement year-on-year 112 2018 Widening Participation 59 Enrichment and Outreach key Focus area spotlight performance indicators 22 Measuring the impact of Programs what we do Jennifer’s story (KPIs) 118 Financial report 28 WPO Longitudinal Evaluation 73 Literacy Focus area spotlight Programs 122 WPO organisational 38 Researcher biographies C a t h’s s t o r y structure Staff 41 Policy and research 85 STEM Focus area spotlight Programs 125 Partnerships Si m o n e’s s t o r y WPO Annual Report 2018 The University of Sydney Page 10 “I think since summer camp she’s had a lot more confidence. She’s a bit more assured as to who she is. This young woman is emerging. I’m a little bit stronger. This is where I want to go. I think having that vision … sounds corny, but mission, vision, and values. She’s establishing that permission statement in life I think. It’s that strong emerging young woman that’s come from summer camp … Finding who she is and I think the biggest thing is that she’s at summer camp, she’s accepted, she fits in, she’s welcomed, and she’s actually being asked her About opinion.