Rate
The rate is simply the indicator expressed as a percentage.
Ratio
The ratio is the indicator for an equity group expressed as a rate divided by a reference group rate for that indicator. This is a better measure of equity because it makes a comparison between the equity group and a suitable benchmark. Ratios of less than 1.00 indicate poor performance, while ratios of 1.00 and greater indicate good performance.
Access
Access is the indicator for commencing students in an equity group.
The access rate is the percentage of all commencing students who are in an equity group.
Participation
Participation is the indicator for all enrolments in an equity group. It can be expressed as a rate or a ratio.
The participation rate is the percentage of all students who are in an equity group.
The reference rates for the participation ratios for students with a disability, NESB students, and students from regional and remote areas is the percentage of that group’s share of the corresponding state population aged between 15-64 years. The reference value for low SES students is the percentage (participation rate) of high SES students.
Retention
Retention measures the proportion of students who continue their studies from the previous year. It can be expressed as a rate or a ratio.
The retention rate is the percentage of continuing students out of all students enrolled in the previous year who did not complete their course in that year.
The reference rate for the retention ratio for an equity group is the retention rate for all other students.
Success
Success measures academic performance by comparing the effective full-time student load (EFTSL) of units passed to the EFTSL of units attempted. It can be expressed as a rate or a ratio.
The success rate is the EFTSL of units passed in an equity group as a percentage of all EFTSL of units attempted in that group.
The reference rate for the success ratio for an equity group is the success rate of all other students.