USQ brings Indigenous youth together

St Saviour’s College Year 11 students Whitley Jacobs (left) and Wazana Comollatti are all smiles at USQ’s Indigenous Connections event.

Almost 300 young Indigenous students have walked away from the University of Southern Queensland inspired.

The high school students came from as far as Cunnamulla and Charleville and all over the Darling Downs for the third annual Indigenous Connections event.

They heard the inspirational stories of Indigenous role models like actor Luke Carroll, Barrister Josh Creamer and senior public servant Carol Vale.

They explored the USQ Toowoomba campus and they learned how a university education can change their lives.

Attending the event for the first time, Josh Creamer was clearly impressed.

Mr Creamer is the President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland and said he was overwhelmed at the opportunities presented to the students at Indigenous Connections.

‘We never had anything like this when I was a young fella,’ he smiled, looking out at hundreds of excited faces.

Mr Creamer told his story of hard work and determination and explained that it was possible for any one of the Indigenous students before him to stand in his shoes in years to come.

‘For me, growing up in Mt Isa, there wasn’t a lot of options,’ he said.

‘But eventually I got the opportunity, through a lot of hard work; to go to university and that changed everything for me and my family.

‘Every student should have the opportunity to get an education.’

It was a sentiment echoed by Luke Carroll, who has graced Australian TV screens since he was just nine-years-old and has since appeared in shows like Home and Away, The Flying Doctors, Water Rats, Play School and Remote Area Nurse.

‘Without an education behind me I probably wouldn’t be where I am today or where I need to be in the future,’ he said.

Indigenous Connections organiser Donna Smith said about 290 students attended the event this year.

Ms Smith said it was a key opportunity to engage with Indigenous high school students and staff from their schools to encourage and motivate the students to view university study as desirable, achievable and a pathway to supporting their long-term goals.

‘Speakers are keen to talk to students with regard to their education and employment history and their future goals to encourage Indigenous high school students to make a difference in their own and other people’s lives,’ Ms Smith said.

‘USQ has been very fortunate over the last three years to have Indigenous people willing to give their time to support this event and inspire Indigenous high school students with their stories.’

USQ is expecting an increase of about 25% in the number of Indigenous students studying at the University in 2012 with the number expected to jump from 309 last year to about 400 this year.

For more information, visit: http://www.usq.edu.au/school-liaison/indigenousconnections or phone Donna Smith on 07 4631 1717.

Contact Details:
Jim Campbell, USQ Media, +61 7 46 31 2977