From possibility to pathway: Shaibah’s Gateway story

When BSc Psychology student Shaibah Hussain thinks about why she chose to study psychology, she doesn’t start with a textbook, she starts with her grandmother.

Growing up in a close-knit Fijian Indian household in Western Sydney, some of Shaibah’s earliest memories are of catching the bus together and listening to her grandmother sing Fijian lullabies. However, alongside those moments of familial connection came something harder to understand. As her grandmother, Rasidan, faced cognitive decline later in life, Shaibah found herself searching for answers.

“Seeing someone I loved struggle in ways I didn’t fully understand made me want to learn more about the brain and how I could support people in a meaningful way.”

Rasidan had once dreamed of going to university herself, but was forced to marry at just 14. That unfinished dream stayed with Shaibah and quietly shaped her own.

At Plumpton High School, Shaibah was encouraged to aim high. But like many students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in higher education, the pathway to university wasn’t always clear. On one hand, she was advised to transfer to a selective school for her final years, on the other, her principal encouraged her to stay put. Ultimately, Shaibah decided to stay.

“It turned out to be one of the best decisions I made, not only because it kept me connected to my community, but it gave me access to UNSW’s Gateway Admission Pathway and Program.”

Established in 2020, UNSW Gateway was designed to expand access to higher education for students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, Gateway partner schools and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Today, the program partners with more than 400 secondary schools across NSW, supporting students through sustained outreach, tailored learning experiences and pathways into university.

For students like Shaibah, the program’s impact is often felt in smaller, more personal moments, such as conversations and guidance from people who have been there before.

A conversation with her best friend sparked her interest in psychology, and an opportunity to shadow a neuropsychologist at Royal North Shore Hospital gave her real insight into the profession. Eventually, through the Gateway Year 12 Program, Shaibah found practical support and confirmation that she belonged at UNSW. The early offer she received to study a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at UNSW lifted a huge weight.

“It meant I could focus on learning, rather than stressing about achieving a particular ATAR.”

Since arriving at UNSW, that sense of support has continued through mentoring, career development opportunities and relationship building.

“Being part of Gateway gave me the confidence to step into university life and feel like I belonged.”

That sense of belonging is at the heart of UNSW’s broader commitment to equity. Through initiatives like Gateway, the University is working towards a future where more students, regardless of background, can access and succeed in higher education.

“Representation matters, especially for young people from communities where they don’t often see themselves reflected.”

By 2026, UNSW aims for 25% of commencing domestic undergraduates to come from low-SES and underrepresented backgrounds.

It’s an ambitious goal, but one grounded in stories like Shaibah’s.

Where alumni mentors come in

Since 2023, UNSW alumni have been a familiar and reassuring voice to students considering university. In 2025, 90 alumni volunteered as mentors in the Gateway Year 10 Program, joining a growing community of graduates supporting the next generation of UNSW students.

When students were asked what stood out most during their visit, conversations with alumni were ranked as their number one preferred session.

“I found talking to the alumni helpful because they shared their experience of their job and how they got to where they are. These experiences are something you can’t just Google.”

2025 student participant, Arthur Phillip High School

Could you be the conversation that helps a student see what’s possible?

For UNSW alumni, mentoring is a chance to be part of a student’s educational journey.

As a mentor, you’ll spend a few hours on campus speaking with students like Shaibah, sharing your experience of university and life beyond it. You don’t need to have all the answers. For many students, simply hearing your story is what makes the difference.

The 2026 on-campus event will be held on Thursday 9 July.

Two sessions are available to join. Mentors are encouraged to stay for both sessions if available, with the option to participate in just one.