Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre (PALS)

The Pathways and Academic Learning Support (PALS) Centre continues to play a vital role in supporting students from equity backgrounds to access, engage with, and succeed in higher education. In Q1, PALS delivered six HEPPP-supported projects that addressed academic preparation, engagement, and outreach across enabling programs.

• Student Liaison for Support and Success
  With 7,945 active enabling students, over 2,500 were engaged through events, classroom visits, and enrolment sessions. SLOs resolved 899 CRM cases and supported 2,417 enrolled students, contributing to improved retention and early-semester connection.
• Widening Participation
  Through Children’s University and UNI STEPS, over 2,800 school students were reached in Term 1. Workshops enhanced understanding of university pathways, career options, and numeracy, with students articulating clearer educational goals post-participation.
• PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions)
  Delivered in five high-attrition enabling courses, PASS recorded 268 hours of peer-led support with 116 students participating. Two courses have already met the 10% engagement benchmark, supporting academic confidence and connection.
• NUPrep
  With 1,327 active students, NUPrep offered enrolment support and academic preparation for equity students entering or returning to study. Q1 focused on seamless student onboarding and transition into coursework.
• Learning Development and Engagement
  Targeting online access, this initiative developed fully online enabling courses using universal design. With 719 online learners, course documentation and approvals were completed, expanding flexible study options for students unable to attend in person.
• Uni Next (Adult Outreach)
  Uni Next delivered targeted workshops to adult learners from equity backgrounds, increasing awareness of higher education pathways. Q1 focused on building confidence and supporting long-term study planning among traditionally hard-to-reach groups.