Journal article
Towards a better era of equity funding: perfecting policy for practice
Journal of Social Impact in Business Research, Vol.2(4), pp.17-26
2026
Abstract
Purpose
Increasing university access and success is a bipartisan policy priority for building human capital, generating economic growth and meeting the skills needs of the modern Australian workforce. Furthermore, there is an emerging social imperative that universities address the underrepresentation of equity groups in higher education. In Australia, the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) has, in part, contributed to improved representation. However, its annual funding cycle limits institutional capacity to deliver equity projects that shift the dial. This study aims to reflect on learning from the current approach to inform recommendations for the new funding model taking effect from 2026.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the University of the Sunshine Coast as a point-in-time case study, this paper draws on the reflections of an Australian early career equity practitioner and uses stakeholder theory and design thinking to critique the current annual HEPPP funding cycle’s ability to fulfil stakeholder needs and enable social impact through improved equity student outcomes.
Findings
Reflections suggest that a multi-year equity funding distribution cycle is optimal for improving equity student outcomes. A three-year model has been repeatedly suggested in literature to benefit project delivery, stability and quality while enabling compliance, reporting and evaluation.
Practical implications
This paper urges the current Labor Government to engage with sector leading recommendations around the current annual HEPPP funding cycle ahead of the transition to the future equity funding model so as to best position universities to support social impact.
Originality/value
This viewpoint fills a gap in existing literature by sharing the practical perspective of an Australian equity practitioner responsible for coordinating administration of the HEPPP at their university.
Details
- Title
- Towards a better era of equity funding: perfecting policy for practice
- Authors
- Joshua Dale (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Journal of Social Impact in Business Research, Vol.2(4), pp.17-26
- Publisher
- Emerald Publishing Limited
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1108/JSIBR-05-2025-0052
- ISSN
- 3049-4877
- Copyright note
- © 2026 Joshua Dale. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence maybe seen at Link to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licenceLink to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence.
- Organisation Unit
- Student Services and Engagement
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991214851902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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