Abstract

This research case study is based on a pilot outreach project, called Ride AHEAD, undertaken to build aspirations to higher education among young people disengaged from mainstream schooling. The project is part of a suite of initiatives under Curtin University’s Addressing Higher Education Access Disadvantage (AHEAD) funded by the Australian Government in its commitment to open up access to higher education for people of all backgrounds. Ride AHEAD uses bicycle restoration activities, integrating these with campus visits, mentoring, career counselling, and community engagement, to motivate the participants to think of university as a post-schooling option. The study uses practice-based research methodology, where the authors as practitioners have taken active part in the project. The objective of the study is to investigate the integrated approach in shifting perceptions of the participants (disengaged youth) toward higher education. The case study is significant for sharing the opportunities and challenges of an integrated approach to outreach aimed at young people disconnected from mainstream schooling. It is also an opportunity to create awareness of changing practice in the equity field to reach a wider range of groups underrepresented in higher education.