Every student deserves a mentor who believes in them.
The Institute for Enquiring Minds pairs high school students experiencing disadvantage with dedicated maths mentors — building confidence, curiosity and a lasting love of learning, entirely free of charge.
✓ Registered Public Benevolent Institution with the ACNC
Mentoring built around each student
Our goal is to increase participation in advanced secondary school maths by providing free maths mentoring for financially disadvantaged students. Every scholar is different, so every partnership is too.
1-on-1 Mentoring
Weekly, personalised sessions that build confidence alongside skill — a mentor in a student's corner, week after week.
Learn more →Enquiring Minds Online
All of our mentoring now runs online, so a student anywhere can be matched with the right mentor — distance is never a barrier to support.
Learn more →Industry Mentoring Program
Working professionals show students where maths really leads — from engineering to finance to research — making the subject feel real.
Learn more →Three steps to a stronger start
We match
Each student is thoughtfully paired with a mentor suited to their needs and goals.
They meet weekly
Regular one-to-one sessions build trust, momentum and real understanding.
Confidence grows
Students gain the skills and self-belief to take on advanced maths and beyond.
We have delivered over 7,500 hours of free one-on-one maths mentoring
Our mentors come from all parts of the community — undergraduates, academics and industry professionals.
There's something quite amazing about fully understanding a concept, or finally 'getting something', and we had so many of these moments together. The student I worked with had a genuine enthusiasm and curiosity for mathematics (and the wider world). I would get truly excited to see what we could cover in just one session, and am really proud of what we achieved overall.
Western Chances introduced me to The Institute for Enquiring Minds where I had free, ongoing, one-on-one, high level maths tutoring. I love science and maths and my tutoring was one of the most valuable and enjoyable things I've ever done.
The mentoring program has tremendously impacted my level of confidence in approaching mathematical questions. My mentor is very humble, never gets tired of explaining every detail, generously gives his time when homework becomes stressful and reassures me that I have someone there for me. The belief and moral support I get, more than anything, makes me trust in myself as well as aspire to achieve.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn't.
Maths opens doors to university, careers and confidence — yet the students who would benefit most are too often the ones without access to support.
A gateway subject
Advanced maths underpins science, technology, engineering and finance — and the choices students can make after school.
An unequal gap
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are far less likely to continue with higher-level maths, often for want of support, not ability.
Mentoring changes it
Consistent, personal, one-to-one mentoring is one of the most effective ways to close that gap — and it's exactly what we do.
Three ways to change a student's story
Become a mentor
Whether you're a student, academic or industry professional, we'll train and support you — you bring the belief.
Mentor with us →Become a scholar
Free, ongoing, one-on-one maths mentoring for high school students experiencing financial disadvantage.
Apply as a scholar →Partner with us
Schools, universities, foundations and businesses help us reach more students than we ever could alone.
Partner with us →Proudly supported by
To continue providing unique learning opportunities we need your support
Whether you give your time or give a gift, you're helping a young person discover what they're capable of. Every gift is tax-deductible.