The RPPPP will provide funding between 2022-2024 for consortia, led by universities and Regional University Study Hubs, to collaborate with regional communities to enable the higher education aspirations of students in regional and remote areas, which may include First Nations students. From 2021, the RPPPP is a component under the Indigenous Regional Low SES Attainment Fund (IRLSAF).
The program is using a two-phase process to co-design (Phase 1) and deliver (Phase 2) targeted outreach initiatives. This approach is to support initial engagement with communities who may be underserviced by existing initiatives, and subsequent delivery of outreach projects.
Under Phase 1, six community co-design projects were delivered between August and November 2022. Several Phase 1 projects included a strong focus on First Nations communities with projects identifying a range of opportunities to build and enable aspirations for higher education by ensuring First Nations membership in outreach delivery teams and inclusion of First Nations industry and community bodies as part of project governance models and decision making processes.
Under Phase 2, two successful projects were awarded further funding for their two-year outreach projects co-designed under Phase 1 and commenced delivery in July 2023. One of these projects, led by Flinders University, focuses on increasing awareness, aspiration and readiness for a higher education allied health pathway amongst First Nations youth in regional and remote areas.