About The Partnership

The Thrive program partners researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Western Sydney University (WSU), and educational experts from the NSW Department of Education (DoE) with funding from the Paul Ramsay Foundation for 3.5 years. Working together at the intersection of digital technologies and data with lived experience and community co-design, Thrive is reimagining how we approach student success. We are pioneering the use of digital technologies in a social science project, applying machine learning and emerging tools to tackle complex real-world issues. Our approach goes beyond traditional research by weaving together digital innovation, human insight, and system-wide collaboration.

Thrive is a dynamic living learning hub where new insights, lived experience, and community co-design are used in the development and implementation of effective support initiatives. These initiatives are continuously updated and improved as new information comes to light.

Thrive's unique approach combines the expertise of youth and education specialists with the development of new causal machine learning methodologies, rich longitudinal datasets, and qualitative and co-design research methods.

Through digital technology, we are breaking down the traditional barriers between qualitative and quantitative research. We are not just gathering data — we are creating new ways of understanding it. Thrive’s methods unravel the complexities of education systems, giving voice to young people, families, educators, and communities in shaping better futures.

The Thrive program looks to identify the best ways to support students by bringing together new data science techniques with the real experiences of students, their families, and teachers. Using multiple sources of information and newly developed techniques, Thrive will guide and propose strategies to help children finish school well across communities and time.

Our Approach

We bring together people with diverse skillsets to solve complex problems. We focus on defining real problems which are identified by schools and communities and apply cross-disciplinary expertise to create impactful solutions. We break down our overarching mission - finishing school well - into manageable challenges, with multi-skilled teams working collaboratively to address them.

Thrive combines digital technologies and algorithmic development with adaptive design and implementation science to tackle educational disadvantage. By combining statistical machine learning with community-centred approaches, the research aims to develop actionable and scalable educational programs that make a meaningful impact for individuals and society.

Why do we work this way? Because despite significant investment — including $2.8 billion in education research over the last decade and substantial government spending — the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" continues to widen. Good intentions and funding alone aren't enough. We must do something different.

Our approach is inspired by civic platforms and listening to community voices to focus on what matters, show what works, and drive what changes.

Focusing on What Matters: By leveraging newly linked administrative data and employing multiple methods to collect otherwise unavailable information, Thrive ensures a comprehensive understanding of student needs and causal drivers for success.
Showing What Works: We continuously inform schools, teachers and the department about the most effective initiative, helping them maximize impact and improve student outcomes. Insights from these findings guide strategic funding decisions and ensure resources are directed toward proven solutions.
Driving What Changes: Thrive equips education departments with the evidence needed to implement new approaches, refine policies, and enhance learning environments—ultimately improving student retention and success.