ECU UniPrep Schools Engagement Lead Glynne Bartle and Governor Stirling Senior High School Pathways and Transitions Coordinator Naomi Bunch
Fifty iMac computers once housed at the Edith Cowan University (ECU) Mount Lawley campus have been given a new lease on life after being donated to four Perth high schools.
The 2021 24-inch M1 Apple iMacs, which belonged to two iMac labs at Mount Lawley, had reached an end of lease agreement but were still in good condition.
Worth approximately $900 to $1,500 each, the repurposed iMacs were donated to Kiara College, Governor Stirling Senior High School, Dianella Secondary College and Balga Senior High School to support UniPrep Schools, an In-School Enabling Program that provides a direct pathway to university.
The schools chose various ways to make use of the donations, including creating dedicated learning spaces to support the delivery of UniPrep Schools, as well as giving the devices directly to students to provide access to learning at home.
UniPrep Schools is a nationally recognised program and is delivered by teachers and schools to help support students and the wider community.
Governor Stirling Senior High School Principal Leo Surjan said the donations benefited 12 students, who without the opportunity might not have completed a university entry course.
"Several of our UniPrep members do not have access to a computer at home, or perhaps only one per family," he said.
"This can severely impact their ability to study at home, a necessity of the UniPrep course and university life.
"Being able to gift these computers to the students who need them gives the students much greater access to the content and chances of succeeding."
Kiara College Associate Principal Marita Rozario said the donations supported several whole-school initiatives aimed at improving student outcomes and Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) achievements.
"This donation directly supports our goal of ensuring that every student — regardless of background — can participate fully in senior schooling and pursue further education with confidence," she said.
Ms Rozario said the UniPrep pathway has been especially impactful, providing an alternative university entry route for students who demonstrated academic potential but might not thrive in traditional exam-based pathways.
"This has lifted student aspiration, increased engagement, and given many of our young people a realistic and supported transition into tertiary study," she said.
