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UWA student outreach program honoured in AFR awards
UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor Alec Cameron accepts the Higher Education Equity and Opportunity Award in Sydney
supplied by UWA 30 October 2015
T
he University of Western Australia has won The Australian Financial Review’s inaugural Higher Education Equity and Opportunity Award for an innovative program that works with 52 partner schools across Western Australia. Aspire UWA is an outreach program that encourages students from low socio-economic, Indigenous and regional backgrounds to access the lifelong benefits of higher education. Manager Louise Pollard said the program has engaged more than 40,000 students, teachers and families in its activities since its inception in 2009. The UWA program has three
Year 9 students enjoying all the UWA campus has to offer during an Aspire camp. Image: James Campbell
essential components: a core learning framework for Year 7-12 students delivered by Student Services; an outreach program delivered by the School of Indigenous Studies; and a pathway program for disadvantaged students delivered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Participants are engaged in campus, school and communitybased activities to enhance their academic achievements and to provide a successful transition to university life. “It is an honour to receive this prestigious award, which recognises the hard work and dedication of the whole Aspire team,” Ms Pollard said. “It is a celebration of everyone’s contribution to the program’s
success. Together with our student ambassadors, supporters across the university and our partner schools, we are inspiring students to aim high and realise their university dreams,” she said. Aspire UWA is also grateful for the generous support received from the Australian Government, the Alcoa Foundation, Mineral Resources and individual donors. UWA Vice-Chancellor Paul Johnson described the win as a tremendous achievement. “This is very well deserved recognition for the whole team on the transformative work that Aspire UWA does right across the state,” he said. The AFR Awards were announced at a gala dinner in Sydney.
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