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In-School Enabling Programs: A Practical Guide for Implementation for High Schools and Universities
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In-School Enabling Programs: A Practical Guide for Implementation for High Schools and Universities

Angela Jones Dr, Selena Dhondea-Tenakov, Fabiane Ramos Dr, Johanna Nieuwoudt Dr, Anita Maclaurin, Joanne Lisciandro Dr, Shaz Attree, Mike Howie and Fiona Navin Dr
ACSES
22/06/2026
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Abstract

The Australian education system should enable all students to thrive, yet persistent inequities remain, starting in the early years and continuing through to tertiary education outcomes (Department of Education, 2024). The Australian Universities Accord sets an ambitious goal: by 2050, 55% of Australians will hold a bachelor’s degree (Department of Education, 2024). Achieving this requires new approaches to support students who do not flourish in traditional senior high schooling. In-School Enabling Programs (ISEPs) are one way to address this challenge. These programs provide opportunities for students who have experienced educational disadvantage or disruption, or who have not thrived in traditional senior school pathways. They are particularly important for students from equity groups, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, first-in-family learners, students from low-socio-economic status backgrounds, students with disabilities, and those in regional or remote areas (Olds et al., 2022; Pilcher & Torii, 2018). Despite their potential, ISEPs are a relatively new approach, and there is limited understanding of their structure and impact. To address this, four universities and their partner high schools collaborated through a project partially funded by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES). The research spanned 94 high schools across Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales, and included an advisory group of one to two high school representatives per university. Together, they explored different program models, how they operate in diverse contexts, and the experiences of teachers and students. One product of the collaboration is this In-School Enabling Programs: A Practical Guide for Implementation. This guide gives an overview of good practice based on the project and should be developed further according to individual university and community contexts.

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