Indigenous Tuition Program (ITP)

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled at UNSW are encouraged to apply for the Indigenous Tuition Program. To be eligible, you must satisfy the following criteria:

• be an Australian citizen; and
• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person (confirmation of identity required); and
• be enrolled in a formal course of study at UNSW.

You are eligible for 15 hours of study assistance per term per course.

These hours can be used flexibly but students are encouraged to meet with their Study Assistants on a regular basis, for example: one hour of study assistance per week and 5 hours for exam preparation.

Due to the unique structure of the Medicine Program, Medicine students can receive 32 hours of study assistance per course.

While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity is unique and sacred to every person. All applicants are required to provide proof of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity and heritage.

You need to apply for ITP assistance each term or as required.

1. Register through the online form via www.nuragili.unsw.edu.au, opens in a new window.
2. Complete the commencement survey.
3. Watch the introductory video, opens in a new window.
4. Request a study assistant, enter the course code and submit the request.
5. Repeat this process for each course you require study assistance.
6. Select “Study Assistant Preference” and choose options that will assist our Student Success Officers to match you with the best study assistant.

Your application will be assessed to ensure you meet the eligibility requirement. A study assistant will be selected based on the information provided in the application. You and your study assistant will be notified by email with information on the next steps and how to start the study assistance sessions.

• Study assistance sessions do not commence until you study assistant has received confirmation that they have an active contract and in the system. If study assistance commences prior to the confirmation, your application and study assistant’s contract will be cancelled.
• You are responsible for entering study assistance session hours into the Nura Gili’s ITP System at the end of each session. It is not possible to add future sessions. All hours will be rounded up to the nearest 15mins.
• By applying for a study assistant, it is anticipated that you will use the hours allocated. However, if you find you no longer require the study assistance, please notify Nura Gili so that the study assistant can be assigned to another student.

You must give the study assistant at least four (4) hours’ notice if a study assistance session will be cancelled or changed, otherwise, a study assistant will be entitled to a one-hour “no show” payment and the hour will be deducted from your allocation of hours.

Students who persist in ‘no shows’ will have their study assistance contract cancelled.

You are expected to contact Nura Gili if you are experiencing further difficulty with academic work or with study assistance. In the rare situation that there are any problems between you and study assistant, please contact a Student Success Officer.

You have the responsibility for preparing yourself adequately for study assistance sessions. Study assistance is not a substitute for your independent study time.

Before any ITP contract can be approved, you have the responsibility to declare any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest between the study assistant and yourself.

Study assistants must not be:

• Immediately related to you (by marriage or de facto relationship or family member)
• Regular course lecturer/tutor
• Employer or supervisor at work

Report any conflicts of interest (or potential conflicts of interest) to the ITP Coordinator or any Student Success Officer. This needs to be reported via email itp@unsw.edu.au.

ITP is awesome! It’s free, student led and if use properly will make a big difference with your grades. Here are some tips to make your ITP experience the best it can be:

1. Meet with your study assistants regularly! The more you meet with your study assistant the better experience you will have to succeed. Make a regular meeting time with your study assistant that is ongoing for the term. Make sure you meet in an environment where you can concentrate and won’t get distracted. This will help you to stay focused and smash out those HD’s.
2. Don’t be shy! There are no silly questions and your study assistants are judgement free. The study assistance program is a great opportunity to ask those questions you may not be able to ask during your tutorials. If you don’t understand an explanation, ask if your study assistant can explain an idea in a different way until you are clear.
3. Be prepared! To ensure you have a good session with your study assistant make sure you have everything you may need like course outlines, text books, diaries, readings, calculators, pens etc. If you need help getting your hands on these items get in contact with the Student Success team. It’s also super important that you are ready by attending class and doing your weekly readings and tasks prior to your session. ITP is not an alternative to going to class!
4. Don’t risk it! Your study assistant is not there to do the hard work for you or do your assignments for you. They can guide you, explain and discuss concepts and help edit your work but cannot touch your assignments. The University takes plagiarism very seriously and you will be at risk of being suspended.
5. Set Goals! Have a good yarn with your study assistant about your goals for the term. Your study assistants will be able to share some really good tips and advice about how to reach your study goals and ace the course. Remember they have also completed the same courses and have a good understanding of the assessments. They can also share tips on things like how to prepare for an exam, how to get organised and avoid burning out.
6. Get to know your study assistant! Our study assistants are really great people and can become wonderful support and mentors for you throughout your degree. They can give you all sorts of advice on other things around the campus and not just study.

To become an ITP study assistant, you must:

• Be a third-year student and above to provide tutorial assistance.
• Have at least a credit or higher in the course you wish to tutor in.
• Be at least 2 years ahead of the student matched to you.
• Hold or be able to obtain a valid New South Wales Paid Working With Children Check, opens in a new window (WWCC)
• NOT be members of the student’s immediate or de facto family, live at the same address or be the student’s course coordinator, course lecturer or tutorial lecturer.

There are two separate systems involved: ITP system which is used to match study assistants and students and to keep track of study assistance sessions, plus a HR system (UNIHIRE) to get a study assistant established on the HR payroll and provide an employment contract.

1. ITP System

Study assistant applicants are required to register their interest to be a study assistant through the Nura Gili ITP system. This allows the Student Success team to match a student with a study assistant. This is also where the sessions are logged and confirmed for payment.

Please register at www.nuragili.com.au, opens in a new window and include the following details:

• Current Curriculum Vitae.
•  Academic transcript/statement or proof of qualification/s

Note 1: CV and transcript are used to enable the study assistant to be matched with the student requiring study assistance.

Note 2: Registering as a study assistant does not guarantee employment.

Once the Student Success team has established a match, both the study assistant and student will be sent an automated email with clear instructions on the next steps.

2. UniHire System

In order to get paid, study assistants MUST be set up on the UNSW payroll system called UniHire. How it works:

• Applicants need to set up their profile in UniHire (this is only required once).
• Follow requests from the UniHire system to upload required documents, for example: your resume, academic transcript, Paid NSW WWCC, etc. (You will need to upload these on UniHire system and the ITP system).
• After a job offer is made, follow up emails will be sent from HR requesting additional documentation e.g. evidence of work rights (Birth cert/Passport etc.). The university uses a third-party provider Fit2Work to manage this process.
• After a job offer has been accepted, HR will request bank details and details for Superannuation.

Study assistants MUST have an employment contract PRIOR to commencing study assistance. Allow 5 days minimum from the time you set up your profile on UniHire to be established on the HR payroll. This is to allow sufficient time for the following steps:

• Hiring Manager has to check that the UniHire application has been completed correctly and approve the application.
• A job offer must be created and sent to the applicant.
• Applicant MUST accept the job offer.
• Applicant must submit all documents required via HR in a timely manner.
• Applicant must supply bank details and superannuation details as required once offer is accepted.

A new contract is required for each term. Existing study assistants will receive a new contract as soon as they have been matched with a student in the new term. You must accept the new contract before commencing study assistance in the new term.

Only when the contract has been accepted can study assistance sessions commence. Study assistance sessions MUST NOT commence until confirmation of your contract being active and in the system. If you start study assistance sessions before the contract is processed, your contract will be terminated and you will not be back paid.

In the first study assistance session it is recommended that the study assistant and student discuss goals, study support and expectations for the term as well as their availability and locations for study assistance sessions.

By accepting a contract, study assistants and students are agreeing to comply with all UNSW Governance and Policies, opens in a new window

As a study assistant you will work directly with the student(s) individually to provide supplementary study assistance. It is essential that study assistants establish and maintain collaborative and respectful working relationships with Nura Gili staff and students to ensure that the best outcomes are achieved for all stakeholders.

As study assistant, you are expected to:

• Be culturally aware and sensitive to the needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. This includes participation in Cross Cultural Awareness Training.
• Demonstrate an understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait peoples in contemporary Australian society.
• Possess sound and clear interpersonal communication skills.
• Foster student autonomy and independence by focusing on the development of student skills and capacity to succeed independently.
• Deliver the program of study assistance within the contractual agreement.
• Always behave in an ethical manner. This includes ensuring student(s) are doing their own work.
• Be aware of the University’s Student Misconduct Procedures, opens in a new window and ensure their behaviour is compliant with these policies.
• Attend ITP training workshop(s).

The ITP study assistant role does not involve:

• Conducting research on your student’s behalf.
• Taking or supplying course notes.
• Writing or editing your student’s assignments or work.
• Liaising with your student’s teachers, lecturers or supervisors on their behalf.
• Any other academic support outside of the subject you are engaged to tutor in, such as providing enrolment advice or course management. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they attend all classes, complete and hand in assignments and fulfill all other requirements to pass their courses.
• Assisting with anything that might constitute academic dishonesty.
• Providing personal, financial, or counselling support.

Student and Study Assistant matching

The Student Success team will make every effort to source and assign a suitably qualified study assistant to each eligible student. If for any reason the Student Success team cannot match a student with a suitable study assistant, the student may be able to nominate a study assistant, provided the person:

• Is not a direct family member, partner, or close friend.
• Does not reside in the same household as the student.
• Is not the student’s usual lecturer, teacher, educational assessor, or classmate.
• Is sensitive to and understands the educational needs of Indigenous students.
• Has relevant experience and/or qualifications in the students’ relevant discipline of study; and
• Declares to the ITP Coordinator any situation that may compromise the professional integrity of the study assistant, student, or the University.

All requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Student Success team. Study assistants and students must declare all conflicts of interest, opens in a new window to the Student Success team via email.

It is important to remember that the ITP is a student-driven program, and study assistants should refrain from soliciting or approaching students for work.

Contract Cancellation

With a written statement to the Student Success team contracts can be cancelled at the student or study assistant's request. Contract cancellation can also occur when:

• A student withdraws from the unit or course; or
• A student or study assistant is not engaged or has had two (2) consecutives ‘No Shows’; or
• Unsatisfactory performance/ conduct occurs by either the study assistant or student.

Once a contract has been cancelled no further hours can be claimed.

A student is eligible for 15 hours of study assistance per term per course.

Typically, this equates to one hour per week and 5 hours to use flexibly, for example, for exam preparation.

Students have the flexibility to use their total contracted study assistance hours as they require throughout the term, however, students are encouraged to commit to meeting weekly with their study assistant. It is not uncommon for the total allocated contract hours to not be fully utilised throughout the duration of the contract.

Due to the unique structure of the Medicine Program, Medicine students receive 32 hours of study assistance per course.

Casual Pay Rates and Superannuation

The Study Assistant role is graded at a level 4 step 2. See UNSW HR, opens in a new window for more details.

Rates of pay for casual professional staff are displayed on the HR site, opens in a new window.

After each study assistance session, it is the student’s responsibility to log the hours in the Nura Gili ITP system and the study assistant needs to confirm them.

Payments cannot be processed until the hours have been confirmed.

We strongly encourage for this to be completed straight after the session. This will prevent any payment delays.

If a student has missed/forgotten to enter the hours for a particular pay period, then the hours can be entered and claimed in the next pay period.

Students and study assistants are encouraged to use public spaces for tutor sessions.

Under no circumstances should study assistance occur in a student or study assistant’s home. Suggested meeting places include:

• Nura Gili East Wing – Engineering Building, Kensington Campus
• F206 Winangala Gurrugurrubaa, Paddington Campus
• UNSW Library
• Open spaces on campus