Unlocking the potential within - A preliminary study of individual and community outcomes from a university enabling program in rural Australia

Oct 15, 2026

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Australian Journal of Adult Learning presents a longitudinal investigation into how a university enabling program affects mature-aged learners in rural Australia and their communities. The study examines outcomes related to further study and employment, emphasizing benefits that extend beyond individuals to families, friends, and wider community development. It highlights strengthened local skills in key industries and increased awareness of the value of higher education, positioning enabling programs as an under-valued catalyst for medium- to longer-term change.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Context: rural development and widening participation

Literature Review

Prior research on enabling program outcomes

Transitions to undergraduate study and student age effects

Australian Journal of Adult Learning Volume 56, Number 1, April 2016 Unlocking the potential within: A preliminary study of individual and community outcomes from a university enabling program in rural Australia Susan Johns Nicole Crawford Cherie Hawkins Lynn Jarvis Mike Harris David McCormack University of Tasmania Many rural communities have apool of mature-aged local people seeking a career change or better lifestyle, which inevitably involves reskilling or upskilling. These people have strong local ties and are committed to their community. University enabling programs provide a bridge to higher education. This longitudinal study explores the impact on rural mature-aged people of participation in a university enabling program, in terms offurther study and employment outcomes. The benefits of enabling programs extend beyond individuals, to family and friends, and beyond. These broader benefits include an enhanced local skills base in key industry areas, 70 Susan Johns, Nicole Crawford, Cherie Hawkins, Lynn Jarvis, Mike Harris and David McCormack and an increased awareness of the value of higher education within the community. Enabling programs are a powerful but under-valued tool in helping to unlock and harness the potential within rural communities, both in the medium and longer term. Keywords: educational aspirations, enabling program, outcomes of education, rural education, social inclusion Introduction For rural communities, competition in the new globalised economy requires access to a highly skilled, creative and innovative workforce. Rural universities have a key role in rural development in terms of building the capacity of individuals, communities and industries, acting as a catalyst for place-based innovation (Allison & Eversole, 2008), and shaping community educational aspirations (Robinson, 2012). Many communities have a pool of mature-aged people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable or unwilling to leave their community for further study, but who are seeking opportunities for personal development, a better lifestyle or a career change. They are seeking ‘second chance’learning opportunities that may not have been available when they were younger. Research indicates that educational aspirations and their realisation are linked to previous schooling experiences, and to parental factors such as their educational level, socioeconomic status and cultural capital (Abbott-Chapman, 2011; Cullity, 2006; Winterton & Irwin, 2012) . Gendered cultural expectations in rural communities, which favour employment over further study, such as apprenticeships for males, and post-school employment and marriage for females, have been found to influence the aspirations and post-school choices of rural students (Alloway & Dalley-Trim, 2009; Cullity, 2006) . Families without a tradition of further education may not have access to the necessary networks and connections that are important in building navigational capacity for higher education access and participation (Bok, 2010; Hawkins, 2014) . Alongside the economic imperative to increase university enrolments is a widening participation agenda designed to increase social inclusion within the higher education sector. The majority of rural Unlocking the potential within: A preliminary study of individual and community outcomes from a university enabling program in rural Australia 71 and metropolitan Australian universities offer enabling programs as a component of the widening participation agenda. University enabling programs are a key, but largely under-researched, strategy to facilitate the transition to further study for under-represented or non-traditional learners, including those from rural and remote areas. Such programs have operated in Australia for several decades (James, 2002). They provide a foundation for students who may not have a family tradition of higher education, to gain the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections necessary t

FAQs

What is the main focus of the preliminary study?

The study explores the impact of a university enabling program on mature-aged rural learners, focusing on further study and employment outcomes.

Which outcomes does the paper consider beyond individual participants?

It considers broader benefits for families, friends, and the community, including enhanced local skills and increased awareness of higher education’s value.

What does the literature suggest about academic performance and retention in enabling programs?

Prior research indicates enabling students’ attrition and undergraduate academic performance are similar to or better than general entry students, with differences mediated by student age.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by McGucket