Aboriginal students in higher studies at university

Aboriginal tertiary students are older

The total number of Aboriginal students participating in higher studies has increased by 20.8% from 2001 to 2011 [1]. But because rates for non-Aboriginal students have also increased, their proportion of total university students has remained at only about 1.3%.

A government report found in 2006 that only 4.9% of Aboriginal people aged 20-24 years attended university [1], a fifth of the rate of non-Aboriginal students (23.9%).

Course completion rates are lower

Despite increasing course enrolments and commencements Aboriginal students completed less courses, the report said. In 2009 Aboriginal students had an overall degree completion rate of less than 50% [2], while 72% of their non-Indigenous peers completed their studies.

Most Aboriginal students cite financial and academic reasons for leaving university. "Indigenous students are more likely to be female, to be of lower socio-economic status, and to be older," explains a survey [2]. Many also have children which in turn increases financial pressures.

I wasn't the brightest student, but I was determined to push through to Year 12. When I got there, there were only three of us left. —David Peachey, National Rugby League star [3]

Further findings of the government report include:

• Of the total 813,896 domestic students enrolled in 2009, 10,440 identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• Aboriginal students were more likely to be over 20 years of age than non-Aboriginal students.
• The largest single group of Aboriginal students enrolled was women aged over 25 years (39.8% of Aboriginal student enrolments).

Diverse access to higher studies

Aboriginal higher studies students enter university in a variety of ways. Some do "because they knew someone else who did it" [1]. Non-Aboriginal students, by contrast, enter university mainly based on their secondary or previous higher education attainment (82%, compared to 46% of Aboriginal students).

Aboriginal students were just as satisfied with their overall university experience as other students [2].

Universities should tap into community knowledge

Asked how to improve student enrolment numbers, Aboriginal lawyer Prof Larissa Behrendt believes that "there's a role universities could be playing in going more deeply into schools at earlier years and building up capacity around literacy, numeracy and science" [1]. Literacy rates among Aboriginal people generally are very low and lowest in remote communities.

Behrendt suggests that universities target people involved in Aboriginal community organisations. Their skills set could be complemented, or their work taken as a pathway to help Aboriginal students move to higher education.

When we have a bright kid [we see] people say "Go for a traineeship" where they could say instead "you're good at science, you could be an engineer". —Aboriginal lawyer Prof Larissa Behrendt [1]

Fact Batchelor Institute is Australia's only dedicated Aboriginal tertiary institution. It offers higher education courses to students from around Australia. www.batchelor.edu.au

Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
[1] 'Shake-up call for education', Koori Mail 510 p.6 [2] 'Report reveals drop-out levels', Koori Mail 501 p.51 [3] 'Just Peachey', Koori Mail 409 p.113 [4] 'Boarding scholarships are needed, says expert', Koori Mail 425, p.29 [5] 'New network for Indigenous researchers', Koori Mail 502 p.66 [6] 'More Indigenous students becoming doctors, lawyers', Koori Mail 452 p.58 [7] 'Uni racism findings in new report', Koori Mail 515 p.26