Year 12 Ready Set Uni Program

CUC Western Riverina has celebrated the success of its 2025 Ready Set Uni (RSU) program. The highly successful pilot supported 72 Year 12 students across the Western Riverina region to prepare for the transition from high school to higher education.

Designed to build confidence in post-school decision-making, the program provided practical guidance on university pathways, admissions, financial support, and life after high school. It also connected students with peers, local industry, and tertiary partners, reinforcing that higher education and meaningful careers can be pursued while staying in the region.

Feedback from the 2025 pilot highlights the program’s substantial impact, with the majority of students more confident about study and career options, while 89% said they now have clearer goals for life saying they would recommend the program to others. Notably, 83% of participants reported feeling after school. Most indicated plans to pursue university study.

Centre Support and First-Year Advisor Maddi Ramponi said the results reinforce the importance of targeted transition programs for regional and first-in-family students. “Ready Set Uni is about giving students the confidence, information and reassurance they need to take the next step,” Ms Ramponi said.

“For many students, particularly those who are the first in their family to consider university, the transition can feel overwhelming. This program shows that with the right support, students feel more prepared, more confident, and more certain about their future.”

As part of the program, representatives from the University of Wollongong and Riverina Regional Development’s Grow Our Own presented, highlighting regional workforce pathways and the role higher education plays in meeting local skills needs in Griffith and Leeton.

Students consistently highlighted the program’s supportive environment and practical content, noting that it helped ease concerns about transitioning to university and build confidence. Many also valued the budgeting component, which addressed practical considerations they would not usually encounter unless they actively sought out the information.

“Being part of Ready Set Uni gave me the chance to meet current university students and hear about their experiences, which was really valuable,” said St Francis de Sales Regional College student, Tucker Collins.

“Maddi and the student mentors were enthusiastic and supportive, and talking with them helped me better understand my options after school. I feel much more informed and confident about my pathway to university.”

Following the success of the 2025 pilot, CUC Western Riverina will deliver Ready Set Uni again in 2026. The program will feature special guest sessions from Charles Sturt University, Three Rivers Department of Rural Health and Grow Our Own, providing students with insight into university life, study expectations, placements and career pathways.

For more information about the Ready Set Uni program, visit www.cucwesternriverina.edu.au/ready-set-uni-program/ or contact Maddi via email at maddison.ramponi@cucwesternriverina.edu.au or call 0419 540 956.