Investigation of the factors contributing to Indigenous students’ retention and attrition rates at the University of Adelaide

Shane Hearn; Madeleine Benton; Sarah Funnell; Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos

doi:10.1017/jie.2019.5

Authors

Shane Hearn Wirltu Yarlu, The University of Adelaide
Madeleine Benton Wirltu Yarlu, The University of Adelaide
Sarah Funnell Wirltu Yarlu, The University of Adelaide
Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1017/jie.2019.5

Keywords:

Higher education, Indigenous education, retention

Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remain significantly under-represented in higher education systems. There are significant disparities in university completion rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts. The poor-retention and high-attrition rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students come at significant financial and personal cost for the individual, families, community, universities and governments. Existing evidence in relation to attrition has identified complex and multifaceted reasons including ill health, family and community responsibilities, financial difficulties, lack of social support, academic disadvantage and issues surrounding personal well-being. The current study aimed to add to evidence of the academic, financial, social support and well-being factors affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student's decision to continue or withdraw from their university studies. Contrary to expectation, students' decision to withdraw was not related to academic and social factors. It was found that students between 22 and 25 years old strongly agreed they were likely to withdraw from studies. There was a significant association between withdrawal and type of enrolment. This study provided important insights into the factors that contribute to a students' decision to withdraw from their university studies, with implications for future educational interventions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AdamsT, BanksM, DavisD and DicksonJ (2010) The Hobsons retention project: Context and factor analysis report. Paper presented at the Australian International Education Conference.

AndersonI and PotokR (2011) Indigenous education: increasing the flow of students from school to university. The Australian Literary Review 6, 22.

AndersonC, BundaT and WalterM (2008) Indigenous higher education: the role of universities in releasing the potential. 37, 1–8.

AugoustinosM, TuffinK and EveryD (2005) New racism, meritocracy and individualism: constraining affirmative action in education. Discourse & Society 16, 315–340.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2015) The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 2015. Cat. no. IHW 147. Canberra: AIHW.

BarneyK (2016) Pathways to postgraduate study for Indigenous Australian students: Enhancing the transition to Higher Degrees by Research. National Teaching Fellowship final report. Retrieved from https://altf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Barney_NTF_Report_2016.pdf.

BehrendtL, LarkinS, GriewR and KellyP (2012) Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: Final Report. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government. Retrieved June 5, 2013.

BradleyD, NoonanP, NugentH and ScalesB (2008) Review of Australian Higher Education: Final Report. Canberra: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

CarterJ, HollinsworthD, RacitiM and GilbeyK (2018) Academic ‘place-making’: fostering attachment, belonging and identity for Indigenous students in Australian universities. Teaching in Higher Education 23, 243–260.

DayD and NoldeR (2009) Arresting the decline in Australian Indigenous representation at university; student experience as a guide. Equal Opportunities International 28, 135–161.

DelvinM (2009) ‘Aboriginal higher education student equity: focusing on what works’. The Australian Journal of Aboriginal Education 38, 1–8.

DrewN, WilksJ, WilsonK and KennedyG (2016) Standing up to be counted: data quality challenges in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander higher education statistics. Australian Aboriginal Studies 2, 104–120.

EngstromC and TintoV (2008). Access without support is not opportunity, change: the magazine of higher learning. 40, 46–50.

HartiganJA and KleinerBA (1984) Mosaic of television ratings. American Statistician 38, 32–35.

HunterBH and SchwabRG (2003) Practical reconciliation and continuing disadvantage in Indigenous education. The Drawing Board: An Australian Review of Public Affairs 4, 84–98.

Indigenous Education Update 5 (2016) Indigenous Education Update: 5(5), Article 1. N Australian Council for Education Research, Available at http://research.acer.edu.au/indigupd/vol5/iss5/1

JamesR, AndersonA, BexleyE, DevlinM, GarnettR, MarginsonS and MaxwellL (2008) Participation and Equity: A Review of the Participation in Higher Education of People from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds and Indigenous People. Report prepared for Universities Australia: Centre for the Study of Higher Education University of Melbourne. http://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30006777?print_friendly=true

KnappT (2010) Percentages: the most useful statistics ever invented. htttp://www.tomswebpage.net.

MalenM and MaidmentD (2003) Education, Indigenous survival and well-being: emerging ideas and programs. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 23, 85–100.

MestanK (2016) Why students drop out of the bachelor of arts. Higher Education Research & Development 35, 983–996.

MorganD (2001) Indigenous education: factors affecting students’ decisions to continue or withdraw from tertiary studies at flinders university. International Education Journal 2, 233–239.

NolanM, FrawleyJ and WhiteN (2009) Canvassing the issues: Indigenous Australians in higher education. In FrawleyJ, NolanM and WhiteN (eds), Indigenous Issues in Australian Universities: Research, Teaching, Support. Darwin, NT, Australia: Charles Darwin University Press, pp. 1–6.

ParadiesY (2006) Beyond Black and White: Essentialism, hybridity and Indigeneity. Journal of Sociology 42, 355–367.

ParenteA, CravenRG and MunnsG (2003) What do Indigenous students say about their aspirations? Journal of Aboriginal Studies Association 12, 11–22.

PechenkinaE and AndersonI (2011) Background paper on Indigenous Australian Higher Education: Trends, Initiatives and Policy Implications, The Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

PechenkinaE, KowalE and ParadiesY (2011) Indigenous Australian students’ participation rates in higher education: exploring the role 59 of universities. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 40, 59–68.

Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (2011) Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Available at https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/context_paper_0.pdf.

RochecousteJ, OliverR and BennellD (2014) Is there cultural safety in Australian Universities? International Journal of Higher Education 3, 153–166.

RochecousteJ, OliverR, BennellD, AndersonR, CooperI and ForrestS (2017) Teaching Australian Aboriginal higher education students: what should universities do? Studies in Higher Education 42, 2079–2098.

SharrockP and LockyerH (2008) One to one and face to face: a community based higher education support strategy retaining Indigenous Australian university students. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 37, 28–39.

SonnC, BishopB and HumphriesR (2000) Encounters with the dominant culture: voices of Indigenous students in mainstream higher education. Australian Psychologist 35, 128–135.

Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision (SCRGSP) (2011) Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2011. Canberra, Australia: SCRGSP.

The University of Adelaide (2013) Tarrkarri Tirrka. Available at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/indigenous/system/files/media/documents/2019-02/tarrkarri-tirrka.pdf.

TrudgettM (2009) Build it and they will Come: building the capacity of Indigenous units in universities to provide better support for Indigenous Australian postgraduate students. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 38, 9–18.

WilksJ and WilsonK (2015) Indigenous Australia: a profile of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander higher education student population. Australian Universities Review 57, 17–30.

WyattN and CookeJ (2008). On the road to deadly? Paper presented at Monash Transition Round Table, Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.