Address to University of Melbourne Narrm Scholars, Get Career Ready

G’day Narrm scholars. 

I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we're meeting today and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

And I thank the University of Melbourne for inviting me to speak to you today. 

Education is the most powerful cause for good in this country. And when we get it right, it doesn't just change lives, it changes countries. 

But there's a flip side too. 

If we don't get it right, it's kids from disadvantaged backgrounds who miss out. And I want to change that. Programs like the Narrm scholarship are a big part of that. 

This is personal for me.

I'm the first person in my family to go to university. I'm the first person in my family to finish school. The first to even finish year ten. 

I imagine that many of you have similar stories. 

When I was growing up as a kid in Western Sydney, I didn't know many people who'd been to university. 

Most of my mates finished school at the end of year 10. 

There was this invisible brick wall that made them feel that university was never really going to be an option for them. 

That it was for privileged young people from the other side of town, that it was some place else for someone else. And it's programs like this that help to change that. 

Every one of you will inspire someone else. 

Young people, school kids, family members will see what you achieve here and what you go on to achieve too. 

You can show them what your pathway to university looked like. 

And you can be the example, the role models that a lot of my mates never had. 

Help them to see what they might think is impossible today is possible. 

That's better than any TV advertising campaign. You're a walking talking billboard. 

So, congratulations from the bottom of my heart. All the best.