Guide aims to help Indigenous families with university

In an effort to increase the support for Indigenous students undertaking higher education and their families the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has launched the Indigenous Family Guide to USQ.

The guide provides information about studying at university, the student experience and support services available at USQ.

Director of USQ's Centre for Australian Indigenous Knowledges (CAIK) John Williams-Mozley said the guide recognises that family and supporters are an important part of Indigenous students' life and can make a real difference to their experience of university.

'One of the more important reasons why the guide will be a valuable resource for families of Indigenous students is that it is still the case that many of our mob are the first generation of university students in their family and the families generally don't have a good understanding of universities.

'Usually this is because, for one, they've never been involved or two, because universities are quite alien in many respects in terms of the academic language, the structure and the ceremony.

'The guide is a practical resource with useful tips and comments which would make it easier for families of Indigenous students to understand how to support them.'

There are a range of support mechanisms in place for Indigenous students at USQ, Mr Williams-Mozley said.

'The central organisation providing student support is the Centre for Australian Indigenous Knowledges.

'Through the centre we have the tailored, student-specific support program. It is an all-embracing program that involves students outlining their personal, academic, study, social and financial needs for the life of their program. So for an undergraduate program that is three years, or for the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program it is 12 months.

'We take in the students' learning needs and capture them in an informal agreement for better targeted use of the funding resources we do have.

'Part of the program is the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) where students are entitled to two hours of tutorial support with an approved tutor, someone who has qualifications in the subject area, and that happens on a weekly basis over the semester. It can take place in study groups or individually.'

The guide also outlines all of the services provided to Indigenous students across USQ's three campuses in Toowoomba, Springfield and Fraser Coast.

Mr Williams-Mozley acknowledged the contribution of the Student Affairs team in developing the guide.

'The bottom line is a big thankyou to Peter McIlveen and his team for thinking of the Indigenous Family Guide and getting it off the ground. He thought it was a good idea and it sprang from the original Family Guide to USQ which they developed.'

To find out more about USQ's CAIK and to obtain a copy of the Indigenous Family Guide to USQ, email knl@usq.edu.au or phone 1800 005 137.

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559