Enabling programs, as an alternative to Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)-based entry pathways to university, are a key mechanism for widening participation in Australian higher education, particularly for equity students. Drawing on recently released data, this report focuses on changes in enabling program participation rates across Australia from 2014 to 2023.

This report examines a sharp rise in international student attrition at Australian universities and what it reveals about the growing misuse of the student visa system. It shows that first-year dropout rates among international undergraduate students have risen to historically high levels. The report proposes targeted reforms to restore integrity to the student visa program.

This research explored the relationship between foundation skill learners’ characteristics and outcomes, and how foundation skills programs contribute to learners’ vocational education and training (VET) outcomes, employment and further study. It found that students enrolled in foundation skills alongside another VET program were more likely to complete their VET program.

This research amplifies the voices of First Nations and migrant learners who have disengaged from foundation skills courses. By understanding their goals, experiences, and recommendations, ways to better support their completion are identified. It explores how these learners first encountered the courses, their motivations for enrolling, the supports available, and the barriers they continue to...

Student retention rates are a key indicator of both student success and institutional performance within Australian higher education. This report presents retention rates among domestic undergraduate students over the past seven years, with a focus on the 2022/2023 period. It finds that overall retention has decreased between 2016 and 2022.