VINH HO: My name is Vinh Ho. I'm currently studying towards a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Laws.

I came through the Q-Step program, which boosted my OP by three. When I was in high school and because I'm from a low socioeconomic background, QUT provided me with financial support as well so that got me through. And that's how I got to where I am right now. I think it's really supportive, it encourages students to actually consider going to uni when they don't have many choices out there for them and financially it's a great way to encourage students to focus on their studies and get the financial burden off their back a bit.

MATTHEW BALL: My name is Matthew Ball and  I'm a lecturer in the school of Justice at QUT.

Equity at QUT is about trying to provide support and opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds or backgrounds in which they may not have had necessarily the same opportunities as other people to go to university. We provide support so that they can do that and so that we have a much more inclusive environment at QUT. It's also an opportunity for us to provide support throughout the degree, so it's not just about getting them into university but also about what happens when they are here. So we have a range of pathways into QUT as well as support mechanisms while students are here at QUT.

JENNIFER TURPIN: I'm Jennifer Turpin, and I'm a second year student here at QUT and I'm studying a Bachelors degree in Justice.

The equity scholarship program is offered to student who need some financial assistance and it's means tested and before I came to uni the careers counsellor told me about Equity and said I should apply and said that a huge amount of money goes out to QUT students. She said that some people don't apply and to give it a go because you might get it.

IVAN INGRAM: My name is Ivan Ingram. I'm studying a Bachelor of Law and I'm in my second year.

The Oodgeroo Unit is an indigenous support unit established here at QUT to support indigenous students in their tertiary education. It provides a number of support networks such as ITAS tutoring which is the indigenous tutorial assistance scheme. It can set student up with a tutor, two hours per uni completely free and there's other networks like that are available and a complete array of professional staff that are available to the student.

MATTHEW BALL: Some of the equity programs that we have available to the student in the law faculty include scholarships, so that they can be able to support themselves while they are at university. We've got textbook loan schemes so that students can be supported through buying textbooks or borrowing textbooks so they don't have to have the expense of buying them. We've got opportunities for students from particular groups to develop mentoring relationships with academics as well as professionals in the field. We've got a range of links with professional organisations so that students can be mentored in that way. And we have got a range of staff members that are aware of equity issues that are available for a chat and are able to help students deal with any issues that they may have.

We have counselling services as well that the equity section works with as well and disability services as well that provide support for student with other disabilities that we can't necessarily provide for.

PETER VON-EINEM: My name is Peter Von-Einem. I'm in my second year of a justice degree majoring in policing at QUT.

The Q-Step program is an entry program for people from a low socioeconomic background. It's just sort of recognising that there are some people this may have a disadvantage and they may not have be able to have as many options as someone from a non low socioeconomic background and it really just makes sure that everyone has a chance to go to uni.

MATTHEW BALL: Equity is an important initiative because it recognises that not everyone has the same ability to access university and not everyone has the same experience while they are at university. So it's important to provide opportunities for people so that we can have a much more inclusive environment and a much more diverse student body and also staff body at QUT and so that the benefits of university study can be made available to more people than it otherwise would be.