Building belonging for regional student retention in higher education

A case study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v36i1.807

Keywords:

belonging, retention, engagement, regional and rural students, higher education

Abstract

Belonging has been identified as important to student retention, engagement, achievement and wellbeing in higher education. It has been challenging for universities to foster, particularly in non-traditional student cohorts and in regional areas. This article aims to identify how belonging has been experienced and supported on four regional campuses of one Australian university (University of Wollongong) enrolling a high proportion of non-traditional students. It focuses on belonging’s role in the students’ successful progress beyond the first year of their university studies. The study examines the experiences of students through focus groups discussing what aspects of their campuses had contributed to students’ success. This study extends previous work on belonging by describing how belonging is successfully cultivated in regional campuses through specific staff and student interactions that had built a culture of community and support, and how the belonging that resulted contributed to student retention. The study’s findings demonstrate how principles from theory and research about practices that support student belonging can be successfully enacted in a university setting with students from regional and equity backgrounds.

Author Biographies

Sue Duchesne, University of Wollongong

Dr Sue Duchesne coordinates the teacher education programs at UOW Bega campus and is Associate Academic Program Director of the Master of Teaching on regional campuses. Working with students in their learning and teaching is exciting and rewarding. As part of this work, Sue is currently exploring students as partners in learning and teaching, researching the benefits of involving students in design and delivery of activities, and of teaching and learning communities in the Master of Teaching program on regional campuses of UOW. She is also involved in professional development for teachers, with a particular focus on support of mentoring.

Sam Avitaia, University of Wollongong

Manager, UOW Bega Valley

Working in the tertiary education sector for over 30 years, Sam is the manager of both the University of Wollongong Bega Valley Campus, and Bega Valley Innovation Hub, one of Australia’s first small-scale regional Business Accelerators.

Sam grew up in the Bega Valley, attending public primary and high schools. This background has given her a passion for providing education and employment opportunities for rural people from diverse backgrounds.  She is the coordinator of the Bega Schools Outreach Program and winner of several Widening Participation awards. 

Brittany Brown, University of Wollongong

Brittany Brown is a former staff member and student of UOW Bega Valley Campus. With degrees in Tertiary Education, Humanities and Teaching Brittany has a passion for rural education and has worked in schools outreach, vocational education, tertiary student support and administration during her career.

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Published

06-03-2026

How to Cite

Duchesne, S., Avitaia, S., & Brown, B. (2026). Building belonging for regional student retention in higher education: A case study. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 36(1), 69–85. https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v36i1.807

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2026): What's Rural About Rural Education Research

Section

JOURNAL PAPERS

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Sue Duchesne, Sam Avitaia, Brittany Brown

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