• Charles Sturt’s First Nations Student Connect service recognised in AFR Higher Education Award

Charles Sturt University is proud to announce an important First Nations initiative was named a finalist for an Australian Financial Review (AFR) Higher Education Award.

The University’s First Nations Student Connect service was an award finalist in the Equity and Access category.

The program is recognised for its focus on student perspective, offering innovative service for student support and delivering an integrated support model for on-campus and online First Nations students.

The AFR awards highlight the contribution that the ‘higher education sector makes on Australian prosperity and quality of life’. Nominations were submitted across eight categories, including Community Engagement, Emerging Leadership, Employability, Opportunity and Inclusion, Research Commercialisation, Industry Engagement, Teaching and Learning Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Award.

The First Nations Student Connect innovation was launched in 2021 to allow First Nations students to access tailored, culturally safe support services to improve participation and educational success.

Since its launch, registrations have increased to more than 500 First Nations students (45 per cent) by mid-2022, with a 48 per cent increase in First Nations completions from 2020.