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View all programs George Williams: When the Cost of University Is Poverty
It's a two-track system. If you've got the bank of mum and dad, uni's great, it's not a problem. But a lot of people don't. It's pretty tough in Sydney, youth allowance is $47 a day; median rent's over $100 a day. How are you meant to survive if your parents can't support you ... I met one student recently at a Campbelltown community dinner, they're living in their car while they study paramedicine.
For too many young people, chasing the dream of a degree means going without meals, struggling to pay the rent, and writing assignments on a mobile phone because they can’t afford a laptop.
Doug sits down with Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University, for a frank conversation about the financial pressures facing students – and what happens when those who would benefit most from higher education are least able to afford it.
George has decades of experience as a teacher, scholar and senior leader in higher education. Alongside that, he is a barrister and one of Australia’s leading experts in constitutional law.
He explains how we can make higher education fairer by designing the system around young people and their needs, why universities must be bold advocates for students and fight for change – and his plan to make every year the ‘Year of the Student’.
They also chat about the importance of humanities and the critical thinking skills these subjects foster in a world of misinformation and AI. Plus, how showing up where young people are – even if that means doing a headstand on TikTok – has helped him connect in meaningful ways.
And his advocacy for young people doesn’t stop there. We’re honoured that George has supported The Smith Family students as a donor for more than three decades.
Conversation highlights
George talks to Doug about:
Doug sits down with Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University, for a frank conversation about the financial pressures facing students – and what happens when those who would benefit most from higher education are least able to afford it.
George has decades of experience as a teacher, scholar and senior leader in higher education. Alongside that, he is a barrister and one of Australia’s leading experts in constitutional law.
He explains how we can make higher education fairer by designing the system around young people and their needs, why universities must be bold advocates for students and fight for change – and his plan to make every year the ‘Year of the Student’.
They also chat about the importance of humanities and the critical thinking skills these subjects foster in a world of misinformation and AI. Plus, how showing up where young people are – even if that means doing a headstand on TikTok – has helped him connect in meaningful ways.
And his advocacy for young people doesn’t stop there. We’re honoured that George has supported The Smith Family students as a donor for more than three decades.
Conversation highlights
George talks to Doug about:
- [1:42] The school detention that changed his life
- [4:58] How one in every two students faces food insecurity
- [7:30] Why university today is a two-track system
- [9:13] Rebuilding the broken social contract – and why it matters
- [11.31] What universities can do to help give all students a fair go
- [14:49] AI as a game changer for equity in education
- [16:53] Why critical thinking and humanities are more important than ever for future jobs
- [18:53] The reason he did a headstand on TikTok
- [22:50] His source of hope for the future
Watch the full conversation below via YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Read George’s Australia Institute essay on reforming higher education, Aiming Higher Universities and Austalia’s Future.
