Conversations How I went from young delinquent to running a university
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Jan 28, 2026 George Williams, constitutional law academic and Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University, rose from a rebellious childhood to lead a major university. He discusses why Western Sydney matters, student food insecurity and casual academic jobs. He critiques funding models and fees, defends humanities amid AI, and urges reforms for equity, teaching and campus life.
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Student Hunger Is Widespread And Academic Risk
- Western Sydney University found half its students face food insecurity and many skip meals or live in cars.
- Student survival struggles — food, medicine, transport — drive dropouts more than academics.
Early High Court Role During Mabo Case
- George Williams served as an associate to High Court Justice Michael McHugh and worked on the Mabo case research at age 23.
- He remembers the courtroom's impact and sees Mabo as a pivotal legal and social catalyst.
Engage Students On Their Platforms
- Go to students where they are: use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to engage them.
- Adopt new channels and formats to hear raw student concerns and build trust quickly.
