University of Tasmania staff member Darlene McLennan has received a valuable fellowship to support her vital research into supporting people with disability during their tertiary studies.
Darlene, from the office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Equity at the University of Tasmania, has received a 2025 Equity Fellowship from the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES).
This fellowship will support her work at the University through a year-long project that will have national implications for improving access to tertiary education for people with disability.
“In the future, nine out of ten jobs will require a tertiary education and we need to ensure that people with disability have access to that, and that they have what they need to succeed,” Darlene said.
“This project will include things like consulting with students about their needs when adjusting to university studies, setting benchmarks for student-to-staff ratios, the positioning of disability services in universities, and the role universities have in helping students to succeed throughout their studies.”
Darlene is the University’s Manager, ADCET (Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training).
ADCET is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education under the Higher Education Disability Support Program, and is hosted by the University of Tasmania.
ADCET’s mission is to contribute to the improvement of the educational experiences and to the successful outcomes for students with disability in post-secondary education.
“It’s important that universities keep students with disability engaged and succeeding throughout their degree, because that is money well banked,” she said.
“If students enrol in university, stay in university, and then enter the workforce in graduate roles, that’s good value for the university and for society as a whole.”
ADCET recently criticised the Australian Government’s Australian University Accord 2024 for its use of ableist language, and for setting a target participation rate for people with disability that was too low to reflect the actual demand.
Darlene said her project aimed to address this issue and provide a clearer picture of what was needed, by establishing national advisory committees and consulting the whole sector.
“We need to ensure people with disability are not left behind. But often there simply isn’t enough research or evidence available to indicate what best practice actually is.
“This project is about building the evidence base to help inform universities across country, to ensure students with disability have access to what they need to succeed.”
Dr James Brann, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Equity and Success) at the University of Tasmania, congratulated Darlene on her fellowship.
“We are proud to celebrate this significant recognition and look forward to working with Darlene on how best to support and empower students who disclose a disability,” he said.
“At the University of Tasmania, we are dedicated to improving access and outcomes for students with disability, ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive in an inclusive, safe and supportive environment.”