Photo: Dr Daniel Tyler, Ailish Barry (Fr 2022) and Chancellor of the University of Sydney, David Thodey AO, FTSE
St Andrew’s College is proud to recognise Ailish Barry (Fr 2022) as the recipient of the 2025 St Andrew’s Medal, the College’s highest academic honour. Presented at this year’s University & Schools Chapel Service & Dinner, the Medal is awarded annually to the student who achieves the highest academic performance over 144 credit points while in residence at the College.
Currently completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Anatomy and Histology at the University of Sydney, Ailish has consistently performed at the highest level across her studies. With a sustained high distinction average, she has also been awarded the University of Sydney Academic Merit Prize and placed on the Dean’s List of Excellence in Academic Performance.
In the following Q&A, Ailish reflects on her time at College, her academic journey, and her hopes for the future.
Congratulations on receiving the St Andrew’s Medal. What does this recognition mean to you personally and academically?
Receiving the St Andrew’s Medal for 2025 is a deeply meaningful acknowledgement of the academic and personal commitment I have made throughout my university journey. It represents the culmination of consistent effort, long hours of study, and a strong drive to make the most of the opportunities I’ve been given. It validates the time I’ve invested in my studies and reminds me that setting high standards and following through matters.
Personally, it is a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come, not just in terms of academic milestones, but in terms of the growth and resilience required to reach them. I am proud of this achievement and grateful to the community that has supported me along the way.
You’re completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Anatomy and Histology. What inspired you to pursue this field of study, and what do you hope to achieve in the future?
I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember, so the first step was pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) at the University of Sydney, which I graduated from this year. During this degree, I was fortunate enough to receive a Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholarship, which sparked my interest in undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Honours) as a fourth year of study. My Honours project is focused on the development of a gene therapy to treat a specific type of kidney transplant rejection. My supervisor introduced me to some of his paediatric patients whose lives could be transformed by the research – an experience that was incredibly grounding. It reminded me why I am on this path and showed me that research is not just academic, but deeply human. Looking ahead, I still want to pursue a Doctor of Medicine, and I am currently in the process of applying. However, a new goal of mine is to be at the intersection of research and clinical practice, so I also want to complete a PhD in the future. This will hopefully put me in a position to both expand medical knowledge and see its translation into patient care.
How has living at St Andrew’s College shaped your university experience, in terms of academic support and the broader college community?
I’ll be honest, I found it intimidating at first. I had just moved from Coffs Harbour, and being in Sydney was a big adjustment. But what I found at St Andrew’s was structure, opportunity, and people who genuinely wanted to see me do well. The College tutorial program was particularly helpful, connecting me with older students who became mentors and role models. Through events like the Medicine Professional Development Evening, the College also connected me to people working in healthcare, which reaffirmed and strengthened my desire to pursue medicine.
Beyond academics, St Andrew’s has provided a supportive community where I’ve built meaningful friendships, developed leadership skills, and grown in confidence. It has been a place that has consistently encouraged me to aim higher and provided the environment to do so.
What have been some of the biggest challenges and highlights of your time at College and university?
One of the more significant challenges for me was learning how to adapt when plans change. I moved to Sydney off the back of a significant knee injury, and unfortunately, I ended up reinjuring my knee in 2023. This was a bit of a low point for me, but I was lucky my family was there for support and to encourage me to persevere. I’m beyond grateful that they did, as the injury happened five days before starting a summer research internship. I managed to hobble around for eight weeks, completing the project, and wrapped it up with knee surgery right before the start of my third year of uni. I would not have made it through this period without the support of those around me. In being forced to slow down and ask people for help, I ended up better connected to my friends and family. I also found ways to study more productively while balancing university work with physiotherapy.
Though it was a challenging period, it ultimately led to many highlights. The summer internship guided me towards enrolling in honours, and I had my most successful academic year in 2024 following the injury. This success set me up for a second summer internship in the lab I am now completing honours in, and I was awarded the University of Sydney Honours Scholarship for 2025. I graduated from my first degree and celebrated with my family, and I have now received the St Andrew’s College Medal. It has been a strange but rewarding kind of reset – and I’ve come out the other side with a better appreciation of adaptability, discipline, and perspective.
What advice would you give to other regional or rural students considering university in Sydney or applying to St Andrew’s College?
My advice is simple: just go for it. The thought of leaving a close-knit regional community to study in Sydney might be overwhelming. The pace is faster, the buildings are bigger, and yes, everyone seems to know someone. But once you settle in, you realise that those differences don’t matter nearly as much as you think.
Respect the effort that you put into getting through your final year of high school. Realise that the work ethic, determination, and commitment you developed is something that will pay dividends while in university, regardless of where you came from or what school you went to.
University and St Andrew’s College is also much more than academics. Say yes to the opportunities you worked so hard to make available to yourself, whether that be summer research scholarships, mentoring programs, student societies, or sporting teams. I’ve never forgotten how lucky I am to be here – it’s a privilege, and I try to treat it that way every day.