Equity in Education: Paving Pathways to University Success

In 2024, The Smith Family and The University of Sydney are celebrating 20 years of working in partnership to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Currently, there are 28 students on our Learning for Life program studying at the university on a Smith Family tertiary scholarship.

In this conversation, our CEO Doug Taylor speaks with Professor Mark Scott AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Sydney, about the challenges and supports for students experiencing disadvantage, and initiatives to open up more opportunities in higher education.

“What we could see through our data was, when you open the door to students who hadn't had the advantages and you put them in an environment here, and they had the right kind of support around them, they could flourish,” says Mark.

Conversation highlights

Mark talks to Doug about: 

[1:58] Addressing barriers for students from disadvantaged backgrounds 
[5:00] A student whose world opened up through the MySydney program 
[6:18] The potential benefits of a demand-driven, needs-based tertiary education system 
[9:32] Helping young people start thinking earlier about their future aspirations 
[10:36] A message for students on The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program 

Watch the full conversation below or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.