Welcome to the Noticeboard
Welcome to the June edition of the Noticeboard, a monthly update with news and opportunities from around the sector. If you have anything you’d like to share with members please contact DASSH.
News from dassh
Essential Insights: Building Gender Competency
Tuesday 21 July
11am – 12pm (AEST)
Online
Associate Professor Gail Crimmins from University of the Sunshine Coast will lead discussion on shifting expectations for universities to address gender-based harm. This session will consider the important role Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines can play in leading this work institutionally through curriculum innovation, critical scholarship and public engagement.
This session will be chaired by Professor Nathan Wise, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education at the University of New England.
Annual conference update
We have released more insights into our upcoming annual conference speakers, facilitators and venues. Joining us over two-days of programming are:
- Professor Andrew Norton, Monash University
- Professor Bethan Greener, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University
- Professor Kate Darian-Smith, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
- Professor Phill Dawson, CRADLE, Deakin University
- Professor Tim Majoribanks, Swinburne University of Technology
Registrations opening soon. Keep an eye on your inboxes.
Getting the word out
Towards a new National Cultural Policy Submission
DASSH and the Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA) jointly submitted a response to the consultation on the next National Cultural Policy.
Our submission highlighted the important role of universities in sustaining Australia’s long-term cultural and creative capability. It calls for stronger alignment between cultural policy, higher education policy and the work of ATEC.
Around the traps
Australian Federal Budget release
The 2026-2027 Federal Budget includes investment in research and development and progresses recommendations of the Ambitious Australiareport. The higher education sector has raised concerns about the absence of broader reform to university funding settings.
Read Universities Australia response
Read Future Campus commentary
Read about Arts and Culture opportunities in the Budget
Aotearoa Federal Budget higher education insights
John Ross writes in Times Higher Education that less than half the savings from scrapping the “fees-free” system will be returned to Aotearoa’s tertiary education system. Universities are also able to raise fees up to six per-cent, risking higher student debt burdens.
NZ budget at a glance
Read Times Higher Education article (paywall)
Aotearoa “fees-free” tertiary scheme scrapped
The Aotearoa New Zealand Federal Budget reshapes tertiary funding by scrapping the first-year Fees-Free university scheme. The sector has raised concerns over higher debt burdens and risks around reduced participation in higher education.
Read more about the policy change
Read Māori student perspective
Australian government blocks research projects
Brendan Walker-Munro writes in The Conversation that the Federal Education Minister Jason Clare recently blocked funding to 13 projects for security reasons. This is more than double the number of projects vetoed on security grounds since the Australian Research Council was established in 2001.
Read more
Permanent ATEC Commissioners announced
Professor Barney Glover has been appointed the first permanent Chief Commissioner of ATEC. The Hon. Fiona Nash, Mr David Coltman and Professor Stephen Duckett have also been appointed statutory Commissioners for three years.
Read more
ATEC Chief Commissioner condemns JRG
Natasha Bita writes in The Australian that ATEC Chief Commissioner Barney Glover says it will take ATEC 18 months to recommend a new funding model to replace the Job-Ready Graduates package.
Read article (paywall)
Treasury JRG financial modelling released
JRG financial modelling released under the Freedom of Information Act estimates that it will take more than 25 years for one-quarter of Humanities and Creative Arts students to pay off their debts. Around half are expected to pay their debts over 16 years.
Find out more
Australian Universities encouraged to specialise
Minister for Education Jason Clare has announced the government will progress a recommendation of the Ambitious Australia report for university research specialisation alongside the Federal Budget. ATEC will be asked to provide advice on how specialisation reform can be implemented.
Read media release
Read Ambitious Australia report
Understanding the journey to higher education: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander insights
New research by Melissa Fong-Emmerson, Claire Lambert and Braden Hill identifies the key factors influencing university enrolment decisions. Students depended heavily on trusted reference groups rather than formal information search.
Find out more
New 20250 Alliance between nine universities
Nine Australian universities have launched a new organisation, the 2050 Alliance, working towards the goal of 80% of the working-age population to have a degree or qualification by 2050. The new group replaces the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) organisation.
Find out more
Aotearoa university staff need secure work
A press release by the Aotearoa Tertiary Education Union outlines that members are asking for secure jobs and pay increases to meet the increased costs of living.
Find out more
Universities Australia warns of increased regulatory burden
Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy warned of “dramatic escalation” in regulatory burden and government intervention in universities in his keynote address at the Higher Education Industrial Association 2026 Conference.
Read speech transcript
Read commentary
Australian 2025 graduate outcomes released
The Graduate Outcomes Survey – Longitudinal by Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching indicates 90% of Humanities, Culture and Social Sciences graduates are employed full-time in the three years following graduation. The average for all study areas is 91.7%.
Find out more
Australian government freezes private VET
Stephen Matchett writes in Future Campus that there is a 12-month freeze on applications to accredit new training courses applying to private providers. Government schools, public universities and TAFEs are exempt.
Read more
Enabling programs in Australian higher education
The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Access (ACSES) have published the first ever national, institutional-level analysis of university enabling program participation rates stratified by equity group. The report finds the share of equity students enrolling in enabling programs climbed to 60% in the decade to 2023.
Read here
Towards a financially inclusive higher education system
New research published by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Access (ACSES) reports that one in three students experience financial insecurity, particularly international students, Indigenous students and students living with a disability.
Read more
$99 million for research on Australia’s national priorities
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded funding to 178 collaborative research projects through the Linkage Projects 2025 scheme delivering research aligned with Australia’s National Science Priorities.
Find out more
See funded projects
Why are students still paying for $50k degrees?
University of Western Sydney Vice-Chancellor George Williams writes an opinion piece in The Guardian on the government’s missed opportunity to reform the nation’s access to education.
Find out more
Australian government to monitor employee choice pathways
Recommendation seven of the Closing Loopholes review draft report by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations states universities should modernise enterprise agreement provisions, and the government should monitor employee choice pathways in the higher education sector.
Find out more
Arts and cultural engagement linked to slower ageing
Denis Campbell writes in The Guardian that participating in arts activities and attending events, such as exhibition viewings, lead to people staying biologically younger.
Read more
AI prompts the promise of the humanities
Ethics Professor Nicholas Agar from the University of Waikato writes an opinion piece in ABC on the disruption humanities faculties are currently experiencing due to AI.
Read here
Opportunities
Multidisciplinary workshop Program Grants
The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia offers social scientists financial assistance to host multidisciplinary workshops aiming to advance research and policy agendas on nationally important issues. The Academy supports up to eight workshops each year with funding to a maximum of $9,000. Applications close Friday 31 July.
Applications for Discovery Indigenous 2027
Applications for Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2027 and now open in the Research Management System (RMS). Applicants should refer to the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.
Applications close Tuesday 25 August.
Find out more
dassh events
Aotearoa member gathering
Wednesday 10 June
12pm – 1pm (NZT)
Online
Aotearoa members should have received a calendar invite for a mid-year online gathering. These gatherings provide a forum for members to come together on the current challenges and opportunities in the higher education landscape.
Please contact us if you haven’t received a calendar invitation.
Essential Insights: Building Gender Competency
Tuesday 21 July
11am – 12pm (AEST)
Online
Associate Professor Gail Crimmins, University of the Sunshine Coast will lead discussion on shifting expectations for universities to address gender-based harm. This session will consider the important role Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines can play in leading this work institutionally through curriculum innovation, critical scholarship and public engagement.
Register now
Annual Conference:
The Future-Facing University
Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 September
Melbourne
Kicking off with a welcome reception on the evening of Tuesday 15 September, the DASSH conference is a must-attend event for Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities leaders in Australia and Aotearoa. The conference program will consist of keynotes, panels and participatory sessions.
Registrations are opening soon! Keep an eye on your inbox.
Stay updated
dassh networks
If you are interested in joining any of our working groups or Communities of Practice, please reach out to us at office@dassh.edu.au.
Research Network:
Supporting Indigenous-led Research
Wednesday 17 June
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online
In conversation with Emeritus Professor Poia Rewi from the University of Waikato, this gathering will be a great opportunity for researchers to grow their understanding of ways in which non-Indigenous research leaders can be better allies to Indigenous researchers.
Find out more
Teaching and Learning Network:
Career progression and leadership sustainability
Tuesday 30 June
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online
This Teaching and Learning gathering will involve a panel discussion with Professor Paula Geldens, Adelaide University and Professor Nathan Wise, University of New England about transitioning across different career stages and portfolios, and lessons learned along the way.
Find out more
Australian events
A conversation with the Skills and Training Minister
Wednesday 10 June
11am (AEST)
Online
In this webinar the Hon. Andrew Giles MP will outline priorities for skills and training emerging from the Federal Budget and what it means for industry, employers and education.
Register here
Indigenous Data Governance Masterclass: Livestreamed Keynotes
Thursday 18 June – Friday 19 June
9.20am – 10.20am (ACST)
Online
Due to high demand, Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) will be livestreaming two keynote presentations from the Indigenous Data Governance Masterclass. These sessions provide an overview and essential framing for the in-person workshops and talks that follow each day.
Register here
Rechnitz Memorial Lecture: Professor Marcia Langton
Tuesday 14 July
5.30pm (AEST)
Melbourne
The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia welcomes you to join acclaimed author and Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies Professor Marcia Langton for the inaugural Rechnitz Memorial Lecture.
Find out more
What is the purpose of education?
Tuesday 28 July
Canberra
Be part of a forum bringing teachers, school leaders and researchers together to explore the role of schools, universities and institutions in challenging times. Join speakers including Senator David Pocock and Professor Frank Bongiorno for an interactive day exploring the outlook of education in Australia.
Register now
Aotearoa events
Future-proofing Aotearoa: preparing for the population changes ahead
Monday 8 June
10.30am (NZST)
Online
Join panellists Paul Spoonley, Tahu Kuktai, Polly Atatoa Carr and Patrick Nolan for a free online discussion the future implications of Aotearoa’s changing workforce and population trends.
Register here
Research Bazaar Aotearoa
Monday 29 June – Friday 3 July
Online
Research Bazaar Aotearoa is a free, online workshops series on digital research skills. Anyone within the Aotearoa research community is welcome to attend over 40 workshops covering everything from programming to design.
Find out more
Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards: information session
Tuesday 7 July
5.30pm (NZST)
Online
Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards are for Aotearoa academics, artists or professionals to lecture and or research in the United States. This online information session provides more details about eligbility and the application process.
Find out more