Indigenous ASPIRE Program
Acknowledgement of Country
Western Sydney University acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of the Lands, the Darug, Gundungurra, D’harawal, Wiradjuri and Bundjalung Peoples, upon which our campuses now stand. We continue to value the generations of knowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples embed within our University. This land Always Was and Always Will hold great cultural and spiritual importance to First Nations peoples.
About the Indigenous ASPIRE Program
The ASPIRE Program is a unique initiative aimed at supporting Indigenous undergraduate students studying in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science (ECS). The success of the ASPIRE Program was recognised when the schools moved into the Faculty of Engineering Computing and Science, meaning the program was expanded to a Faculty wide initiative. The program is now supporting 4 schools including Engineering, Build Environment and Design, Computing Data and Mathematical Sciences and School of Science.
Aim of the Indigenous ASPIRE Program
The ASPIRE Program provides a paid part-time internship with industry partners, which allows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to gain valuable work experience while studying for the duration of their degree. Following on from that, the end goal is for the students to complete their internship and move into a graduate position when they finish their degree.
ASPIRE Program Founder
In 2020, Professor. Olivia Mirza founded the Indigenous ASPIRE Program aiming to support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students, studying Engineering, Design and Built Environment with career opportunities. The ASPIRE program connected Indigenous undergraduate students to Industry partners providing paid internships and work experience opportunities. Since then, the program has expanded to supporting all Indigenous students in STEM in the Schools of:
- Engineering
- Built Environment and Design
- Computer Data and Mathematical Sciences
- Science
"Speaking to our Indigenous students, we understand there are significant social, educational, and cultural influences that can impact the students’ study and career choices. In knowing this, we aim to support our Indigenous students throughout their studies, as well as provide opportunities for their future."
The ASPIRE program respects the knowledge and cultural identity of our Indigenous communities and would like to see this representation more in the STEM areas in the future. Our team works with Indigenous students at Western Sydney University, as well as prospective students from High schools in the Greater Western Sydney region. The ASPIRE Team aims to help and guide Indigenous students to develop their careers as the future leaders of our generation.
Indigenous Student Success Officer
Luke Davis is a proud Dunghutti and Biripi man, working as the Indigenous Student Success Officer in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science (ECS). After completing a Bachelor of Sports Development at Western Sydney University in 2024, Luke started as the ASPIRE Program Project Officer. Since then he has moved into the Faculty of ECS whilst continuing his work with the ASPIRE Program.
"After experiencing so many outstanding opportunities as a student at Western, what I hope for in my role is to provide those same opportunities and more to the next group of Indigenous students coming through. I was very fortunate to have a strong support network, so I understand how important it is for young Indigenous students to have reliable connections as they progress through university."
Steps to apply for the Indigenous ASPIRE Program
Requirements: Complete/In process of finishing their First Semester in their First year of studies.
Opportunities through the ASPIRE Program
Paid part-time internship opportunities in your field of study
Through the ASPIRE Program you will be able to connect with a diverse range of Industry Partners from all across the STEM field. We, as the ASPIRE Team will pair you with a suitable industry partner for your internship that aligns with your degree and career aspirations. These partners have longstanding relationships with the ASPIRE Program and have hosted a number of successful students in the past.
Student panel opportunities
Throughout each academic year there will be a number of events that the ASPIRE Program will host, present and attend. For these events there will be an opportunity for a student panel where you can share your story and experiences as a member of Western Sydney University. We recently hosted a 5 Year’s of ASPIRE Celebration event, where we had four of our current students sit on a panel sharing their experience with the ASPIRE Program.
Work with prospective students
During the year, the ASPIRE team works with the Pathways to Dreaming team to run STEM workshops for Indigenous high school students as a way of showing them the opportunities available to them at Western Sydney University. As a current student you can have the opportunity to work alongside our team to deliver these programs and share your experience to potential future students of WSU.
ASPIRE Program Contact Email & Student Registration Link
If you are an Indigenous Australian Western Sydney University student studying in the Faculty of ECS and are interested in the ASPIRE Program you can contact the ASPIRE team via email:
- Aspire-enquiries@westernsydney.edu.au[[link]]
- l.davis2@westernsydney.edu.au[[link]]
Register Interest
We encourage prospective Indigenous students to express interest early.
Click here to register[[link]]
ASPIRE Program Student Brochure
Download ASPIRE Students Brochure[[link]]
ASPIRE Program Staff/Industry Partners Brochure