First published 13 May 2026
On May 11th TAFE Queensland students studying Justice, Paralegal, Mental Health and Community Services visited QUT for a tailored on-campus experience designed to build confidence and strengthen pathways into higher education.
Led by QUT’s Student Inclusion team in partnership with the Law Faculty and Student Success and Teaching Advancement, the Gardens Point experience included campus tours, presentations, networking opportunities, and conversations with current QUT student ambassadors.
The initiative focused on supporting students from cohorts historically underrepresented in higher education participation, including students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, students with disability, First Nations students, and learners from non-traditional educational pathways.
Recent recommendations from the Australian Universities Accord have highlighted the importance of stronger pathways between vocational education and universities to improve participation and success for equity cohorts. Adult learners studying through TAFE are an increasingly important part of that conversation, with targeted pathway engagement opportunities often limited across the higher education sector.
QUT Student Inclusion worked closely with TAFE Queensland staff to shape the experience around the cohort’s needs, including information about academic transition, student support, QTAC pathways, and university life.
Outreach and Student Engagement Officer Adam McNiven said the experience was designed to help students see university as accessible and achievable.
“TAFE students bring valuable lived experience and practical capability, but many may not yet see university as a place where they belong,” Mr McNiven said.
“A big part of this work is creating opportunities for students to hear directly from current students and ambassadors who can make the transition feel real and relatable.”
The program also included tours of key student spaces such as the Law Library and general library facilities, alongside networking opportunities with QUT staff, TAFE staff and former TAFE students now studying at QUT.
For more information about QUT’s student inclusion programs and outreach partnerships, visit QUT Student Inclusion.
