The Indigenous Support Program (ISP) provides grants to higher education providers to assist them to meet the needs of their Indigenous students and to advance the goals of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP). The Indigenous Support Program operates under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

The types of activities supported under ISP include the establishment of Indigenous Education Units, assistance with study skills, personal counselling and cultural awareness activities.

Guidelines

The Indigenous Support Program Guidelines set out:

• the establishment of the Indigenous Support Program as a program for the purposes of subsection 41-15(1) of the Act and to specify the matters listed in subsection 41-15(2) of the Higher Education Support Act 2003;
• the purpose of the Indigenous Support Program which is to promote equality of opportunity for Indigenous Australians in higher education in accordance with item 1 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act; and
• the objectives of the Indigenous Support Program which are to assist eligible higher education providers meet the special needs of Indigenous Australian students and to advance the goals of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP).

 Extra conditions of eligibility apply from 30 April 2005.  These include:

• evidence of the implementation of strategies for improving access, participation, retention and success of Indigenous Australian students;
• evidence of participation of Indigenous people in the decision-making processes of the higher education provider (which may include the existence of an Advisory Committee on Indigenous issues); and
• existence of an institutional Indigenous Employment Strategy.

Each higher education provider will be required to report on their expenditure of ISP funding and will have to indicate the amount of money provided to an Indigenous Support Centre (where one exists at the institution).

Indigenous Support Program Guidelines 2005 ( PDF 30KB | HTML)

Indigenous Education Statement

As part of the ISP, providers are required to supply Indigenous education statements. These statements, including the annual Indigenous Support Program expenditure reports are required to be presented to DEEWR in the correct format.

Indigenous Higher Education Units

Indigenous Higher Education Centres are located in universities around Australia.  These units provide support to Indigenous students, further Indigenous academic studies, create a network of Indigenous students and academics and provide an Indigenous presence on university campuses. 

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