UPDATE: Professor Braden Hill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Students at Edith Cowan University (ECU), has just issued an urgent message to Year 12 students disappointed with their ATAR results: There are multiple pathways to university, and a single number does not define their future.
On the day ATAR results were released, Professor Hill, who once faced a disheartening score of 55, shared his empowering journey, urging students to see beyond their rankings. “I was devastated when I received my ATAR score,” he said. “It felt like my dreams of attending university had evaporated.”
Each year, reactions to ATAR results flood social media, but Hill emphasizes that “these scores are just a moment in time — they do not measure your full potential.” He passionately encourages students to recognize that skills and determination matter just as much as numerical scores.
As a Nyungar (Wardandi) man who overcame his own struggles, including racism and homophobia, Professor Hill wants students to understand that there are many valid entry points to university, including enabling courses, vocational training, and portfolio entry. “We have to move past the idea that ATAR is the only route to success,” he stated. “It’s time to celebrate diverse pathways that allow for personal growth and academic achievement.”
In Western Australia, the landscape is shifting. ECU has seen a remarkable 30 percent increase in school leavers entering through enabling pathways over the past three years, with 540 students opting for this route in 2023, up from 410 in 2022. These students are performing just as well as their ATAR counterparts, achieving a pass rate of 85 to 88 percent in their first-year courses.
Professor Hill reflected on his own experience, revealing that despite feeling overwhelmed during his Year 12 studies, he found a pathway through a year-long enabling course at Murdoch University. “It was rigorous, not an easy way out,” he clarified. “Enabling courses are designed to prepare students for the challenges of university, and they work.”
He highlighted the importance of a supportive educational environment, stating, “Our education system is full of opportunities, but it can also be a source of immense pressure for young people. We need to be mindful of that.”
With the pressure of academic performance looming large, Professor Hill urges students to remember: “Your ATAR does not define you. Focus on your abilities and the multiple paths available to you.”
As students navigate their future in the wake of ATAR results, Hill’s message resonates deeply. “There’s not a better or worse way to get to university; there are just different options,” he concluded.
For those feeling disheartened, this is a critical moment to reflect on all the possibilities that lie ahead. Share this news to empower others who may feel the weight of a single number on their future.
