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Have you visited Viva Engage yet?
News 11 JuneViva Engage is here. Access it easily via Microsoft Teams.
Curious about how ACU is turning its equity commitments into real-world impact? Explore how teams across the university are creating meaningful change through widening participation projects.
Across the university, teams are working on innovative projects that are making higher education more inclusive and accessible for students from underrepresented backgrounds. These initiatives are part of our university-wide effort to embed equity into our everyday work through the ACU Widening Participation Plan 2023–2033.
As a university guided by the principles of human dignity, the common good, and human flourishing, ACU is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to access, participate in, and succeed in higher education. To support this, and in line with ACU’s Vision 2033 and ACU’s Widening Participation Plan 2023–2033, every faculty, portfolio, and work area is contributing to a whole-of-university effort to create equitable access and support student success for those from underrepresented backgrounds, including students from low socioeconomic, regional and remote, and First Nations communities.
In 2025, ACU will implement a range of innovative projects supported by the Australian Government’s HEPPP and Regional Loading funding. These initiatives use transformative practices to engage students early, create pathways into higher education, support transitions, and foster belonging and success. From early outreach and pathway programs, to delivering undergraduate courses in regional Australia, embedding inclusive curriculum design, and providing tailored academic and wellbeing support, each project reflects our shared commitment to educational equity and meaningful impact in communities.
| Project title | Faculty/Directorate |
|---|---|
| Regional and Rural Experience (RARE) | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Pathways to Possibilities through Empowering Under-Represented Students with Interactive Gamified Robotics | Faculty of Law and Business |
| University Preparation Program (Non-School Leaver) | Student Experience |
| Uni Step Up - Allied Health Pilot Program | Equity & Inclusion/ Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Targeted Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander pathways program for Allied Health degrees | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| The VOYSE of Blacktown: The Voice of Young Social Entrepreneurs of Blacktown | Campus Dean |
| BIG SING for a BIG CAUSE 2025 - Co-curricular inclusion engagement | Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Indigenous Laws Program | Faculty of Law and Business |
| Supporting Educational Aspiration through Mentoring in High School Environments for Young People from Emerging communities in Blacktown LGA | Blacktown Campus |
| Step Up into Teaching | Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Student Accommodation WP Plan Scholarship Programs | Student Accommodation |
| Learning on Campus and learning in the Community (LOCAL): A LOCAL approach to HE for allied health professionals |
Faculty of Health Sciences |
| An Indigenous Pre-Law Program for ACU | Faculty of Law and Business |
| Accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students | First Peoples |
| Project title | Work area |
|---|---|
| Connecting with BESS: Optimising the Ballarat Education Student Hub - Catherine of Siena Centre | Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Bursary for clinical placements in Regional Victoria in 2025 | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Bursary to support allied health students from Ballarat to attend professional practice placement | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Promoting allied health professions in Regional Victoria | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Innovation of clinical placements in Regional Victoria | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Professional Experience Hub – Ballarat Campus | Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Ballarat Student Accommodation - Managed residence wi-fi provision - Food and feminine hygiene products - Transport options for students - Resident tutoring - Linen packs provision - Placement uniform cupboard |
Ballarat Campus Operations |
| Student Food Preparation and Storage Enhancement | Ballarat Campus Engagement |
In June and July, keep an eye on Viva Engage as we release short videos highlighting each of the 2025 HEPPP and Regional funded projects. These spotlights will introduce the project leads, the students they support, and the impact these initiatives are making—both on campus and in our communities. We invite you to explore how this work is helping to build a more inclusive and equitable ACU.
Through these initiatives, we are putting our Catholic mission into action and reinforcing our shared responsibility to transform lives through education. We thank all staff involved in developing and delivering these projects and invite the wider ACU community to engage with, celebrate, and support this work as it continues to unfold in 2025.
Ms. Marta Skrbis Director Education Pathways
Ms. Jane Ceolin Director First Peoples
Associate Professor Jodi Sita, Academic Lead, Learning and Teaching, FHS
Professor Bridget Aitchison, Campus Dean Ballarat
Ms. Sue Bolt Director, Strategy & Operations PSH - DVCE
Mr. Martin Taylor Director, Strategy & Operations PSH – Provost Portfolio
Professor Jan Seruga, Deputy Dean of Education & Arts
Dr. Nicola Cull, Associate Director, Equity and Inclusion
Viva Engage is here. Access it easily via Microsoft Teams.
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