From Secretary to Chancellor, Lisa Paul’s University of Canberra chapter begins.
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Lisa Paul is aware that a large percentage of Canberra teenagers are feeling the pressure right now.
As the academic year descends into exam period, the city’s Year 12 cohort is confronting some major life decisions—to go to university next year or to take a different path?
For Lisa, who will take the reins as the University of Canberra’s Chancellor in the new year, replacing Indigenous leader and Senior Australian of the Year Professor Tom Calma, the decision to enroll in a university degree is one she describes as transformative.
“I think studying at university is one of the most life-changing decisions you can make. Not only will you create a community of friends you take with you through life, but you learn critical thinking skills, change the trajectory of your employment prospects and expand your horizons in ways you can’t imagine.”
While students inevitably sweat over their ATAR results, Lisa wants to stress the availability of flexible entry and supported pathways to UC and a growing awareness that a university ranking is a blunt instrument that doesn’t always measure university potential.
“An ATAR is not the be-all and end-all, it is important to keep it in perspective, particularly at this time of year.”
The former Secretary of the Department of Education has committed her public service career to learning and to social equity, so in many respects, this will be cemented in her five-year term as Chancellor.
She came to Canberra to complete an Arts degree at the Australian National University (noting that at that time, the University of Canberra had not yet been established as a university!) and she chose, almost on a whim, to sit the entry test for the Australian Public Service. Her first job was within the then ACT Housing Trust, where she focused on public housing and homelessness and began to see the positive impact that policy could have on disadvantage.
The daughter of two teachers (her mum was a TAFE librarian, and her dad was a Dean of Education at what is now UniSA) Lisa would rise through bureaucratic ranks to become Australia’s third female departmental secretary and holds the record as Australia’s longest serving Education Secretary. She was also the first “out” Secretary, having been with her partner Linda for 35 years.
They live in a heritage-listed red brick cottage in the Inner North and are both passionate about Canberra, its history, and the people that made it.
During a distinguished Public Service career in which she served five Prime Ministers and held portfolio responsibilities for everything from childcare, to vocational education and apprenticeships, higher education and research, science, employment and job creation, workplace relations and social security payments, Lisa was also in charge of coordinating Australia’s domestic response to the Bali bombings, for which she was awarded a Public Service Medal.
Since “retiring” in 2016, Lisa has remained committed to social justice, chairing Headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, and serving on the Boards of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, Social Ventures Australia, Schools Plus and High Resolves.
She is currently Co-Chairing the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Deputy Chair of a Review in the education portfolio to advise targets and reforms for the next national schools funding agreement.
Her five-year term as UC Chancellor begins on January 1 and she admits she is as excited to begin at UC as its 2024 intake.
“Honestly I really enjoy wandering around campus and talking to students and making connections,” she said. While understanding her “inscruitable face” which was displayed during long hours fronting Senate Estimates Committees may have been widely portrayed in the media, Lisa says she’s really “very much a people person and I look forward to getting to know the university community. I will be visible on campus.”
Lisa is also proud of the role UC plays as “Canberra’s” university and says its record on inclusion—UC has been ranked number one globally for reducing inequalities in both 2021 and 2022 by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings—is one she wants to see continue.
She noted nearly 40 percent of UC students are first in family to get a degree, and Professor Calma’s tenure had helped embed the institution’s commitment to Indigenous inclusion through its Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan which seeks to strengthen relationships with local Ngunnawal peoples, creating relevant cultural policies and increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment outcomes.
“I am under no illusion as to the big shoes I have to fill in coming after Tom,” she said. “I really do feel that weight of responsibility.”
And yet, Lisa is confident her bureaucratic skills have prepared her well to act in a “chair of the board” role at UC.
“As departmental secretary I was number one policy advisor, managing up to the Minister, I was the CEO of the department managing downwards and I was number one stakeholder managing outwards.”
“I’m honoured that UC’s Vice Chancellor Paddy Nixon and Council has placed their confidence in me.”
While she is currently busy working on her NDIS report, Lisa suggested she would have more than just a passing interest in UC further cementing strengths in research, alongside its credentials in equity.
“I expect the strong focus on equity will continue but I would hope to see greater focus on creating new look, world-breaking research, because for Australia, that has never been more important.”
And for the Year 12 students who may not see a degree as necessarily being an option, Lisa says be brave and consider it.
“For many young people, it can actually take a lot of courage to apply. They should at least have a look at how we can support them to achieve their dreams.”
Lisa will be one of many hands on deck when the University of Canberra opens its doors to prospective students at its Open Day which takes place on Saturday 16 September between 10 am-2 pm. You can register here.
