More than 200 students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are benefiting from personalised tutoring and academic support through the new Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP). 

As part of CSU's objective to provide students with flexible access to professional education regardless of background and location and to deliver improved educational outcomes for Indigenous Australians, the ISSP is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students currently enrolled at CSU, both those studying on campus and online.

More than 90 commencing students in 2016 have enrolled in the program, which together with students in their second, third and fourth years of study marks a 47 per cent increase in year-on-year participation.

Ms Shaarn Hayward, Indigenous Student Success Program Coordinator at CSU said, "ISSP has been developed specifically to meet the needs of Indigenous university students and is designed to ensure the transition into higher education is simple."

CSU's ISSP features individual or group tutoring with people who are qualified or experienced in the students' subject of study. ISSP also provides access to Indigenous Learning Advisers and on campus study centres that can provide students with general academic support for tasks like writing, referencing and time management.

First year student Ms Jassmine Leigh-Smith who is studying a Bachelor of Criminal Justice at CSU in Port Macquarie has been taking part in the ISSP since enrolling at the start of the year and credits it with helping her to top one of her session one subjects.

"By working with my tutor one-on-one I have been able to break down and understand complex subjects and also work on improving my academic essay writing," she said. "I have also worked with a Learning Adviser at Port Macquarie to help me become more confident in my classes and with managing my studies."

The qualified tutors who assist students are most often people working in the industry relevant to the student's area of study and are not traditional academics. Ms Hayward said, "In order to support the large number of students seeking specialised and personalised support, we are always looking for new tutors who have the relevant degree qualification of professional experience in the particular field of interest.

"Many of our current tutors work outside the University and take on tutoring as a casual employment opportunity that is way to help others and put their skills to work," Ms Hayward said.  

ISSP was previously known as the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) and provides students with content-based tutoring and help understanding what is required to succeed at their studies. Up to two hours of free tutoring per week, per subject is available with an extra five hours available for exam preparation. For more information about the program or to get involved contact issp@csu.edu.au.