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Attending university is an experience which opens up a world of opportunity and possibility for the individual as well as significant benefits for society and the economy.

For decades, only 15% of university students have come from low socio economic status communities despite being 25% of the population.

Five universities in the Sydney basin have joined forces to address this challenge:

• Australian Catholic University,
• Macquarie University,
• The University of Sydney,
• The University of Technology, Sydney,
• University of Western Sydney.

Over the last three years they have been working together on programs to engage students, parents, and teachers in the idea of higher education being a real option for all students with ability and motivation, regardless of where they live or their background.

Together, these five universities have formed Bridges to Higher Education and successfully bid for $21.2 million funding to December 2014, from the Federal  Government’s  Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program.

Bridges to Higher Education will work to build the participation of students from under represented communities in higher education.

Bridges will work with schools and communities to:

1. Improve academic outcomes
2. Raise education aspiration and engagement 
3. Provide professional development for teachers and others working in schools and communities
4. Increase and coordinate pathways and alternative routes to university.

Bridges will build on established relationships with partner schools, NGOs, government and communities.

Bridges will expand proven programs like UWS’s Fast Forward, Macquarie’s LEAP, Sydney’s Compass – Find your way to Higher Education, UTS’s U@Uni and ACU’s ACUgate.

Through Bridges we will reach more schools, school students, mature age students, parents and community groups. In 4 years we aim to reach: 100,000 students, 2,800 teachers and 175,000 parents.

Bridges will reach out further into Greater Western Sydney and specific programs will target rural and remote communities within NSW.

Bridges will provide exciting and innovative programs that aim to engage and inform:

• Bridges Connect– will provide up to 60 academic enrichment sessions per year to low SES schools, using the NSW Department of Education and Communities cutting edge technology.
  
  
• Two TV series will build excitement and awareness of the opportunities provided by higher education will be broadcast across all national community TV stations
  
  One series, Enquiring Minds focuses on 7–12 year olds, linking childhood interests with university courses and careers.
  
  The other series, Models of Achievement is aimed at students 14 years and over, showing how people from a diverse range of backgrounds have successfully made the step from school to university.
  
  
• Two Websites will provide clear and centralised resources and information about university and admission pathways. 

Bridges to Higher Education is about:

• Collaboration
• Achievement
• Partnership
• Aspiration
• Innovation
• Early engagement

What makes us different?

• Bridges to Higher Education brings together five universities, to collectively broaden and deepen their engagement with low socio economic communities. 
• Our partners work with students as early as Year 3 of primary school.  Bridges-funded programs run through to Year 12, aligned with the school syllabus and key learning areas to increase raise awareness of higher education and build readiness for university.
• We provide professional development to teachers and other school staff.
• The Universities Admissions Centre has partnered in Bridges to Higher Education to develop a website designed to meet unmet needs of future students. 

The cornerstone of Bridges is our partner universities’ proven programs with schools.