In a national first, the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) has unveiled the Trials Registry, an innovative resource set to close evidence gaps and revolutionise equity policy and practice across Australian higher education.
The ACSES is an evidence-based research and public policy centre funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and based at Western Australia’s largest tertiary institution, Curtin University. The centre is driven by a commitment to provide the higher education sector with tangible proof of what works to improve the quality and impact of student equity practices in higher education.
While commitment to equity in higher education is strong, access to evidence on what truly makes a difference remains inconsistent. The Trials Registry seeks to bridge this gap by showcasing equity initiative trials through ACSES’s Equity Frontiers program. It provides universities and practitioners with open access to evaluation results and methodologies, empowering them to implement proven strategies to enhance outcomes for both prospective and current students.
The Registry highlights initiatives being evaluated at universities across Australia, focusing on trials targeting specific outcomes, priority student groups, and different stages of the student lifecycle. In the near future, detailed trial protocols will be added to the Registry, offering deeper insights into these initiatives and equipping users to replicate successful models locally.
As each trial concludes, the Registry will be updated with final reports and summaries of trial results, creating a continuously evolving resource. This tool is designed to support evidence-based decision-making, helping to close equity gaps in enrolment, retention and student success. It also aligns with the broader higher education reforms outlined in the Australian Universities Accord Report.
Spearheading the Registry’s development, ACSES Trials Lead Dr Patricia Vermillion Peirce says the tool is a turning point for equity research in Australia.
“As ACSES continues to fund trials, the Registry will grow in size and value for the equity sector,” she says.
“By sharing results and methodologies, we’re not just building knowledge, we’re driving change because the Registry gives universities easy access to relevant information that can make a difference to student outcomes.”

ACSES Executive Director Professor Shamit Saggar emphasised the significance of the initiative.
“Equity in higher education is essential for Australia’s future given its inextricable link with the nation’s prosperity,” he says.
“The Trials Registry provides the tools for our universities to make that vision a reality.”
Vermillion Peirce agrees.
“Education provides opportunities for students to fulfil their potential,” she told EducationDaily.
“Just as literacy enables people to fully engage in a society, educational attainment often determines the employment opportunities available to them. Education also creates opportunities for society, not only enabling its citizenry to fill existing skills gaps and address emerging needs but also helping them develop the skills and knowledge towards solving the most pressing and emerging global issues.
“While greater equity in higher education allows for greater competition and collaboration within Australia, it also further enhances our economic competitiveness on the world stage.”
The launch of the Trials Registry marks a crucial first step in building a stronger evidence base for equity in higher education. ACSES is funded by the Commonwealth Government to support sustained improvement in outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In July 2022, the Government announced it would commit $20.5 million over four years to expand the Centre. Its work aligns with the Australian Universities Accord.
Vermillion Peirce says she expects institutions will use the results of the Trials Registry “to prioritise their equity efforts or redesign the initiatives to better support student success”.
“We also expect that policymakers and funders may use the evidence to determine how best to support the sector. From these collective efforts, we expect to see more equitable outcomes achieved across the higher education system.”
She told EducationDaily that the ACSES’s role is “to help fill the evidence gaps on equity in higher education in Australia, providing the sector with the insights it needs to create meaningful change”.
“Currently, there is limited evidence of what works in achieving equity, and notably few impact evaluations of Australian equity initiatives. Much of the available evidence comes from overseas, where systems and contexts differ significantly. For example, studies from the USA highlight the benefits of scholarships in improving student retention and qualification completion.
“However, the financial structures and study costs in Australia mean we cannot assume these findings directly apply.”
Vermillion Peirce says that the ACSES Trials and Evaluation Program was established in 2023 to build a robust and transparent evidence base on what works in equity, with an aim to address what she call a lack of “consistent evidence on the effectiveness of common equity initiatives within Australia, such as pre-entry mentoring and outreach programs”.
“By rigorously evaluating initiatives, this program ensures institutions and policymakers have the insights needed to drive meaningful and measurable improvements.”
She told EducationDaily that, in any evaluation, “the potential for learning is plentiful”.
“Not only do we expect to learn more about which equity initiatives are working and which may require redesign, helping the sector to prioritise its efforts, but we also expect to learn about the systems hindering or enabling our success, which may lead to systems shifts.”