When equity meets opportunity

Nathan is Deakin University’s Senior Coordinator of Equity Initiatives and a passionate advocate for removing the barriers that stand between young people and a higher education.

‘I didn’t think I was smart enough to attend university,’ Nathan admits. ‘My parents didn’t finish Year 10. As a kid from a single-parent home in a regional town, I couldn’t ask anyone at the dining room table about university because there was no one to ask.’

Nathan had set his sights on becoming an air traffic controller, but discovered the strict entry requirements meant he had to get some life experience and qualifications under his belt first. Nathan had pulled double duty during his senior secondary studies in order to support himself, working upwards of 25 hours a week.

Some lateral thinking led him to Deakin – entry into the Bachelor of Creative Arts program was based on audition, not grades.

Happily, Nathan thrived in his new learning environment and, following graduation, began working in student-facing roles where he could use his qualification and hard-earned experience to assist others. Today, almost one third of Deakin’s students are the first in their family to attend university – one of the highest rates in the country.

Last year, in conversation with the Dawn Wade Foundation, a bold new equity scholarships program was born.

‘We shared stories about what we do and realised that together we could build something holistic and impactful. We called it “the barrier destroyer” scholarship – taking away those barriers that stop some students from accessing a higher education,’ Nathan explains.

For three generations, the Geelong-based Dawn Wade Foundation has nurtured projects that address two global challenges: climate change, and the widening social equity gap.

‘My own father had to go to work at age 13 so that he could help pay for his brother’s university fees,’ shares Foundation Director Darrell Wade. ‘He has no regrets about this as he saw first-hand the transformative effect his brother’s degree had on the entire family.’

Darrell Wade, Director, Dawn Wade Foundation and his wife Anna Wade

'If you want social transformation you need economic development and that is only achieved through education. The scholarships for first-in-family access to university will not only change the recipients' lives and their families', but also contribute to the development of the Geelong region and Australia more broadly.'

Darrell and wife Anna have continued the Foundation’s family legacy and find it incredibly rewarding.

‘Anna and I are looking for opportunities to help other people gain the education that will transform their lives and make them happier, more satisfied people that contribute to a healthy, progressive society,’ Darrell says.

Thanks to the Foundation’s visionary $2.8 million gift, the Dawn Wade Foundation scholarships – the largest equity scholarships ever offered by Deakin – are supporting 30 students for the first time in 2026. Each scholarship is valued at up to $25,268 per year.

The scholarships are providing ‘wrap-around’ support to recipients for the full duration of their undergraduate program (up to four years). This includes a living allowance, in addition to residential accommodation at the Geelong Waurn Ponds or Waterfront Campuses, where students will live together as a cohort and not have to vacate their rooms over the summer break.

Health and wellbeing are also at the heart of the scholarships, which include membership at the Deakin gym.

Nathan says the opportunity to tailor a new equity scholarship to reflect the needs of Deakin students was a circuit breaker to intergenerational disadvantage.

‘We sat down as a team and asked: “What are we hearing on the ground? What are our young people telling us that are preventing them from seeing themselves at the University?”. These scholarships will mean they can participate wholeheartedly in as much of the university experience as they can.’

The application process has been designed to be as straightforward as possible. Recipients need only to be based in Geelong or relocating from a rural or regional area, and to have completed Year 12 at an underrepresented Australian public school.

Nathan Coffey, Senior Coordinator, Equity Initiatives at Deakin

'We've focused on what we believe is most important for now, but we'll evaluate the impact of the program as we move forwards and continue to tweak and improve it. We also plan to share our findings with colleagues in other institutions, so they can learn what might work for their equity programs.'

Deakin’s Equity team will keep a close eye on the initial cohort, and engage with them regularly to ensure the scholarships remain fit for purpose.

Nathan says while the Dawn Wade Foundation Scholarship program is a new and welcome intervention, it reflects Deakin’s proud 50-year history.

‘The University aims to be a catalyst for positive change for the individuals and the communities it serves. Equity, inclusion and diversity are at the core of Deakin. And it’s the reason we are stepping up now with the Dawn Wade Foundation Scholarship program and showing the nation what is possible.’

Learn more about Deakin’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.