Indigenous Student Success Program Review
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) undertook a review of the Indigenous Student Assistance Grants Guidelines 2017 (the Guidelines). Consultations for the review were facilitated by Karabena Consulting.
This review sought to:
Establish whether the Guidelines are meeting the intended outcomes of the Indigenous Student Support Program (ISSP).
Identify gaps in service and seek opportunities for improvement in the support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
First Nations stakeholders and peak bodies in the higher education sector were consulted. Their views were key in the review of the Guidelines.
The NIAA will work with various stakeholders to discuss potential amendments to the Guidelines and to develop options for amendments to the Guidelines. It is expected that any changes to the Guidelines will need to be agreed to by the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
Summary
The aim of this project was to review the Indigenous Student Assistance Grants Guidelines 2017 with a view to examine the current guidelines and to determine if they are working effectively for the benefit of First Nations students and other stakeholders.
Project Aims
To complete this project, the engagement involved:
A facilitated face-to-face/online workshop: with stakeholders from Universities Australia’s DVC/PVC Indigenous Committee and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium (NATSIHEC) in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Establishment of a Stakeholder Reference Committee: to guide the consultation process and drafting of potential amendments to the Guidelines.
Methodologies
The key output for this project was:
A written report on each issue raised by participants and organisations represented.
Project Outputs
The facilitation of the review of the ISSP Guidelines by Professor Kerry Arabena of Karabena Consulting resulted in:
Culturally safe workshops for First Nations participants.
The provision of end of workshop reports detailing outcomes from the engagement.
An increased awareness on the need to remove any ambiguity on how funding allocations are determined.
Highlighting the importance of checks and balances to ensure the integrity of the funds.
Genuine consensus on the need to update the guidelines to align with current approaches when working with vulnerable people.
Project Outcomes
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