Drawing on both the AUSSE figures, and the openended
comments, we can say that universities seem
to be meeting the expectations of Indigenous students
on many levels. Yet we end our analysis of the AUSSE
findings by returning to our initial anomaly. The puzzle
is that, whilst Indigenous students are very positive
about their studies, and are engaged on similar (or in
some instances, higher) levels to their peers, they remain
more likely to seriously consider leaving. The continued
under-representation of Indigenous students in higher
education, combined with the greater likelihood of
non-completion, remains a serious concern.
The issue of student support appears a crucial one, with
vital contributions being made by both administrative
and academic staff, whether Indigenous or not. The
perhaps under-recognised Indigenous centres provide
a strong central pillar for such support systems, with
Indigenous staff in the disciplines also playing their
part. The question of how best to support the supporters
is one that universities might also consider, given the
very small number of Indigenous staff in the higher
education system as a whole.