Discussion Paper: Measuring the Socio-economic Status of Higher Education Students

[From the DEEWR website]

In response to the Bradley Review, the Australian Government announced significant reforms to the higher education system. Within this package of reforms the Government announced its intention to improve the participation of students from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds in higher education to 20 per cent of all undergraduate students by 2020. The government also indicated that new measures of SES would be developed.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) in consultation with the Indicator Development Group of higher education experts have developed a discussion paper on the measurement of SES. This discussion paper provides a starting point for consultations and is designed to encourage discussion in the Australian higher education sector about how to define and measure socio-economic status.

The Department welcomes comments on the questions and issues raised in this paper. Further details to assist with submitting comments are provided in the paper.

Submissions should be addressed to:

Or emailed to:MeasuringSES@deewr.gov.au

Related Links

• Download the discussion paper
• Young People from Low-Ses Families and Participation in Higher Education: Evidence from Five Australian Cohorts (Rothman 2003)
• Improving Selection for Tertiary Education Places in Victoria (James, Bexley and Shearer 2009)
• What’s the difference? Models for assessing quality and value added in higher education (Coates 2008)
• Outreach: A local response to new imperatives for Australian universities (Ferrier, Heagney, & Long, 2008)
• Why are high ability individuals from poor backgrounds under-represented at university? (Cardak and Ryan, 2006)