Why the first-in-family definition requires revision
The term ‘family’ in the first-in-family student definition traditionally refers to the student’s parents, with some studies extending their scope to the student’s siblings. It is well known that a lack of higher education experience of these family members can disadvantage the first-in-family student at university, impacting their capacity to participate, progress and succeed.
A study with women nurse students in Australia, all of whom began their degree in a heterosexual intimate relationship, has revealed the university experience of the male partner is a further important influence.
As nurse education in Australia increasingly attracts mature-age women to university, it is reasonable to assume that the number of those who begin their degree in an intimate relationship is also rising. The partner is therefore a further category of ‘family’ that requires consideration in first-in-family student research and supp