Established by Edith Cowan University in 2017, the program is aimed specifically at those from disadvantaged or lower socio-economic backgrounds, nurturing their aspirations and celebrating their learning beyond the classroom.

Children’s University aims to inspire a passion for lifelong learning from a young age, strengthen educational engagement, widen participation and support students from diverse backgrounds to access higher education.

Open to WA primary school children, learning achievements are celebrated each year at special graduation ceremonies held at ECU's Joondalup campus.

“Doing the activities in this program was very interesting, as it didn’t matter what was being done or what place we were visiting, there was always something new that could be learnt,” Milner-Jutten, pictured above right, explains.

“It was always interesting visiting new places because you could explore and investigate for as long as you wanted and not be limited by time, unlike when you are at school.”

Children’s University offers an out of school opportunity for children to take part in extracurricular learning, travel and to develop valuable life skills.

“I’ve had lots of fun doing different things with my mum, especially cooking, I loved making and trying new foods,” the Grade 1 student says.

Milner-Jutten, like the many other WA graduates who’ve gone through Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Children’s University since its inception, has explored exciting locations and landmarks, including Perth Zoo, Caversham Wildlife Park, Kings Park, museums, WA beaches, orchards, countless libraries, and the soon-to-be home of Edith Cowan University’s new campus – Perth CBD.

The youngster has even travelled abroad, to the UK.

“One of my favourite places that I visited was England, that is where I was born, it was good to experience the differences between the two countries, weather, temperatures, beaches, everything,” he says. 

The program has seen primary school-aged children dedicate more than 64,500 hours to extracurricular learning. 

Vice Chancellor of the Children’s University WA Partnership and former Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People, Colin Pettit, said the Children’s University, which also operates in England, South Africa and the US, is a program that uses education at a young age to change lives for the future.

“I believe the potential impact of the Children’s University program is enormous," Pettit says.

"Facilitating educational opportunities is the best investment that any organisation can make."

Student-led learning 

Children’s University’s unique approach supports students to take the lead in their own learning. 

“... and we encourage students to choose activities and subjects they may never have thought of before,” ECU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Regional Futures) Professor Cobie Rudd says. 

“Just like university, the learning opportunities are not limited to a classroom, it offers real world, hands-on experiences.

“There’s everything from museums and galleries right through to festivals, art studios and even climbing centres,” she explains. 

While students are encouraged to have fun, the activities link in some way to a course that can be studied through higher education.  

Changing young lives for a better future 

Further strengthened through the Children’s University Western Australia Partnership (CUWAP) with the University of Western Australia since 2020, the program has reached more than 2900 children, across 40 Western Australian schools. 

The CUWAP collaborates with 99 community and cultural organisations, including zoos, museums, galleries, sports clubs, councils, and libraries, to provide a rich tapestry of extracurricular learning experiences.

Expanding in the South West

ECU is now inviting school students in the South West to embark on their own transformative educational journey.

“We want to see this program to children in our regional and remote areas in the future and that’s why we are inviting students from the South West region to enrol for 2024 and beyond,” Rudd says.

Milner says the program is rewarding, enjoyable, and importantly, fun. 

“There are so many activities that you can do with your child that they can learn from, cooking, reading, arts and crafts, science experiments, after school clubs, sports, the portal, the list is endless,” she says.

For more information, visit the ECU Children’s University website here or email childrensuniversity@ecu.edu.au