At the age of just 19, Phoebe Britten is passionate about making educational equality a reality for everyone.
The Avoca Beach law student has founded a not-for-profit organisation called Inspire Tomorrow Education with the mission of making educational equity a reality for every student across NSW and the Central Coast.
“Our organisation aims to address the disparities in educational opportunities that exist due to socioeconomic factors and geographic location,” Britten said.
“We provide free tutoring and Australia’s first-ever scholarship application and writing workshops to break down barriers to tertiary education, and foster diversity in professional fields.
“We believe that every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Britten’s personal journey was the genesis of the foundation.
As one of the first people in her family to attend university, she moved from regional Australia and was shocked by the stark reality of modern tertiary education.
This included the systemic exclusion of countless bright students from underprivileged backgrounds such as refugees, those who were culturally and linguistically diverse, first in family and regional and rural students.
She discovered impediments created by the complicated processes for accessing scholarships and non-traditional entry pathways, and the need for mentorship from older students and a lack of awareness of scholarships that do exist within different universities.
“These realisations sparked our mission: to create an academic landscape that fosters inclusion and equitable opportunities irrespective of circumstance,” Britten said.
“Since our inception in 2024, Inspire Tomorrow Education has been working tirelessly to level the playing field for students in our area.
“From providing online tutoring and mentorship programs to advocating for policy changes that promote equity in schools, we are dedicated to creating a more equitable and inclusive education system for all.”
The foundation aims to address these discrepancies in three ways, first by working directly with those who need it most by providing mentorship, free tutoring, and scholarship writing support to underrepresented cohorts across the country.
Secondly, they advocate for national change by working with institutions, policy makers and communities to help rewrite the narrative of educational equity in Australia.
And thirdly, the foundation helps provide technology to students in regional and rural areas to bridge the digital divide in access to education.
“Together, these pillars of our mission ensure that Inspire Tomorrow Education can do more than just provide aid – we can empower future leaders at a grassroots level,” Britten said.
“Through our tutoring, technology and scholarship programs, we help students access university by giving them the tools to carve out their own paths to success.
“Our journey is far from over, but with each step forward, we illuminate the way towards a future where every student – no matter where they come from – realises their human right to access quality education.
“I believe that our story has the potential to inspire others in our community and beyond to take action and make a difference.”
To find out more email Inspiretomorroweducation@gmail.com