Goal #1 No Poverty | Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

2nd

highest stipend

UNSW raised stipends for HDR students in 2023 to well above government recommendations.

1806

equity scholarships

UNSW is committed to having an undergraduate community that is reflective of the broader Australian population.

$250+

towards core textbooks

UNSW have some textbook and educational resource access schemes to support the inclusion and success of students from equity groups.

In this video, Dr Jinki Trevillian from the Centre for Social Impact, UNSW, breaks down some of the key challenges behind SDG #1.

Our work

Poverty and inequality short course

The ACOSS-UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership launched a short course on understanding poverty, inequality and social disadvantage in Australia. The course explores the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality, with individuals with lived experience, advocates and researchers. It is designed for professionals and researchers working in social policy, and individuals with an interest in supporting their organisation’s advocacy for social change.

13 new equity scholarships

UNSW is committed to having an undergraduate community that is reflective of the broader Australian population and enabling access, participation, and graduate success for students from equity cohorts. In 2024, 13 new equity scholarships at UNSW were established to support and encourage students to undertake study. The total number of equity scholarships was 1806, with 1366 awarded in the year and 440 continuing from prior years.

Tax Clinic lobbies for equality

The UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic provides free tax and business advice, community education and research-driven advocacy for those most in need. In 2024, the Clinic hosted the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman for a roundtable discussion on preventing system abuse by perpetrators of domestic violence, and potential reforms to get to the root of economic inequities.

ACOSS-UNSW Poverty & Inequality Partnership

Everybody should have enough money or resources for the basic needs of life. ACOSS (the Australian Council of Social Service) and UNSW have partnered since 2017 to tackle poverty and inequality head on. The partnership monitors trends in poverty and inequality over time, and explores the drivers of poverty and inequality to inform effective action to to address some of Australia’s most pressing social challenges.

The partnership's latest report shows poverty in Australia has increased to 1 in 7 people - with 3.7 million people (14.2%) living below the poverty line of 50% of median income, including 757,000 children (15.6%).

Read the latest reports

550,000+ meals provided by Arc Food Hub

With one in four university students skipping meals due to financial hardship, Arc’s Food Hub provides groceries to UNSW students, and received over 65,000 visits in 2024. Over 90% of Food Hub services were provided to international students and Arc averages 250-350 students per session.

Find out more

Centres, institutes and partnerships

UNSW Tax Clinic

The UNSW Business School Tax Clinic provides access to free, independent and confidential tax advice for individuals and small business owners in severe financial distress, and invaluable student development opportunities. As a teaching clinic, it also offers year-round opportunities to enrolled students and student volunteers.

Postgraduate students studying to be a Juris Doctor

UNSW Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC)

UNSW Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) undertakes independent research on critical social issues, engaging in policy design, impact and evaluation & design and delivery of systems to improve social outcomes. Researchers review the implementation and effectiveness of services, programs and policies through program evaluation and policy analysis.

Aerial view of the suburbs roofs near Brisbane, Australia.

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)

Researchers at UNSW and from other universities partner with the AHURI, which undertakes evidence-based policy development on a range of topics including tenancy reforms, housing & labour markets, urban growth & renewal, supply & affordability, homelessness and social cohesion & wellbeing.

Good Economic for Hard Times

Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee - winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics for their ground-breaking work on solving global poverty - explore how cutting-edge economics can take on these challenges and bring the world back from the brink.

Poverty, equity and the drivers of health.

Decolonising global health means a dismantling of privilege and the structural barriers to health, both across countries and within. In a world where everyone’s health matters, whose knowledge do we value? Whose voice is loudest and how do we shift the dial?

Poverty and disadvantage at UNSW

Following a 2023 survey to gain a greater understanding of UNSW students’ attitudes and awareness of poverty and inequality, UNSW and ACOSS produced this video to share information with students about support available at UNSW and make finding assistance easier.