The attached files show university equity performance indicators for each Table A higher education provider from 2004 to 2008, in terms of access, participation, retention and success (rates and ratios). The indicators are for the following student groups:
1. Low socio-economic status (under 25);
2. Low socio-economic status (all ages);
3. Regional;
4. Remote.
5. Disability;
6. Non-English-Speaking Background;
The table for each Table A higher education provider also gives the equivalent state and sector figures as comparators.
To assist with the information a list of definitions and data clarifications are provided below.
Information in the below PDF documents can be accessed through CSV files in Appendix 5 – Institutional Student Equity Performance Data above.
On this page:
New South Wales
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Victoria
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Queensland
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South Australia
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Western Australia
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Tasmania
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Australian Capital Territory
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Northern Territory
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Multi-State
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National
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Data Definitions
The equity performance indicators have been calculated with respect to Domestic student data at Table A institutions only, with the following parameters:
(a) Data excludes domestic students where permanent home address is overseas; and
(b) Data from 'full year' Higher Education Student Collection.
The following definitions apply to each file:
Access: Access refers to the number of equity group students who commence study in a given year.
The access rate shows the number of commencing students in each equity group as a percentage of total commencing Domestic students.
Participation: Participation refers to the total number of equity group students enrolled.
The participation rate for a particular group of students is that group’s percentage share of all Domestic higher education enrolments.
The participation ratio compares the proportion of equity group students (for students with a disability, NESB students and students from regional and remote areas) in the student population with the proportion of each equity group’s share of the general 15-64 year old population derived from census or other survey data. The reference value for low SES students is the percentage (participation rate) of high SES students.
Success: Success is a measure of academic performance.
The success rate is the EFTSL of units passed as a percentage of all EFTSL of units attempted. Attempted EFTSL comprises units passed, failed and withdrawn.
The success ratio for an equity group is calculated by dividing the success rate for that group by the success rate of all other Domestic students.
Retention: A measure of apparent retention at a particular institution. It does not count as retained in the system those students who defer their study or transfer to another university.
The retention rate is defined as the number of students who re-enrol at an institution in a given year (x), as a proportion of students who were enrolled in the previous year (x-1), less those who completed their course.
The retention ratio is calculated by dividing an equity group students’ retention rate by the retention rate of all other Domestic students (i.e., students not in that particular equity group). A retention ratio of 1.00 indicates that the equity group is performing at the same level as the benchmark population.
Students from low socio-economic status backgrounds: The socio-economic status of the Domestic higher education student population is measured by applying the Australian Bureau of Statistics SEIFA Index of Education and Occupation to the postcodes of students’ permanent home address.Students from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds are those whose permanent home address postcode falls within the lowest 25 percent of postcodes as coded to the ABS SEIFA Index of Education and Occupation (2006 census).
Students from regional and remote areas: Domestic higher education students are defined as regional or remote according to the Ministerial Council on Employment Education Training and Youth Affairs’ (MCEETYA) Geographic classification as follows:
- Regional relates to MCEETYA categories 3-6 (also known as the Provincial Zone);
- Remote relates to MCEETYA categories 7-8 (also known is the Remote Zone).
Students with a disability: Domestic higher education students with a disability are defined through self-identification on student enrolment forms. The degree of disability can vary significantly and affect the likelihood of a person with a disability participating in education at all levels. People with a profound or severe core-activity limitation are excluded from the reference value.
Further information about the indicators can be requested through equity@deewr.gov.au