Traversing engagement in higher education for student-carers

This chapter presents the ways in which students who are carers (the majority being women) traverse engagement in higher education (HE). To traverse means to move back and forth or sideways, which aptly describes the higher education journey of student-carers. Throughout their study journeys, student-carers navigate a complex set of demands and priorities. Persistent neoliberal views of tertiary students as independent, unencumbered learners fail to acknowledge that decision-making for student-carers is non-binary, fragmented and that once enrolled, they may face challenges regarding meeting university expectations of their student role. The challenges student-carers encounter during their student journey are likely to be regarded as personal failures rather than a combination of structural and cultural influences which constrain their choices and ability to succeed. Better understandings of the challenges and complexities that student-carers must navigate may inform a range of tertiary institution policies and support services as they seek to fulfil their widening participation agendas.