Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students from all over South-West Queensland will have a hands-on university experience at the 2013 Indigenous Connections event at the Toowoomba and Springfield USQ campuses.
The event will be held on February 20 and 21 at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre in Toowoomba and February 22 at the USQ Auditorium in Springfield.
USQ Indigenous Marketing Officer David Harley said more than 500 students from over 50 schools attended last year’s events and the feedback was very positive.
“It helped quite a few students make their mind up about going to university and there were a few that might not have gone if they hadn’t been able to experience it for themselves,” Mr Harley said.
The students will attend motivational presentations from successful Indigenous role models, including comedian Sean Choolburra, Journalist Michelle Thyuis, Community Advocate Sam Rueben, Construction Supervisor for Arrow Energy Tom Draper and President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland Josh Creamer.
They will also talk with USQ academic staff as well as attend University Activity Sessions presented by lecturers from a range of study areas.
The day will include a range of cultural activities such as traditional art and dances, a song writing workshop, Sports with AFL Queensland, PCYC Indigenous Games, didgeridoo lessons and more.
“Some of the students are from as far out as Cunnamulla and don’t get to come to Toowoomba very often, so it can be a very exciting event for many of them,” Mr Harley said.
“It’s a great chance for Indigenous students to make up their mind if higher education study is right for them.”
USQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas said the Indigenous Connections event was one of the most important community programs run by the university every year.
“USQ is strongly committed to improving opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
“The University is making a significant contribution to Indigenous higher education and is rated highly in this regard by the Good Universities Guide. However, there is still more we can do to support the goals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across all areas of our operations.
“Since the Federal Government’s release of the ‘The Behrendt Report’ Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’, the opportunities for USQ to play a leading role in this area are significant.”
Professor Thomas said it was important to engage young people in higher education while they were still progressing through their schooling.
As part of its long term strategies, USQ will this year establish an Elders and Valued Persons Advisory Committee made up of representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across USQ’s catchment regions.
This committee will be the principal source of advice to the University executive on Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander/First Nations higher education issues and affairs.
Indigenous Connections is funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government under the Higher Education Participation & Partnership Program (HEPPP) Partnership Grant.
For more information about the Indigenous Connections event, visit
www.usq.edu.au/school-liaison/indigenousconnections
Media contact:
Jim Campbell, email: jim.campbell@usq.edu.au, Phone: 07 4631 2977.
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