Regional school students experience city life

PCAP students enjoying the sun in the Japanese Gardens

Regional students from 16 rural and remote high schools recently spent a week in Toowoomba, getting a taste of city life.

Students from years eight and nine travelled from western Queensland to attend the 30th Priority Country Area Program Enrichment Camp (PCAP), aptly themed the 'wild, wild west'.

Mr Graham Iffland the PCAP Coordinator has been organising the camp for the past 29 years and sees how the students grow more confident throughout the week.

'At the start of the week, the kids were apprehensive but by the end of the week they have really opened up and made new friends,' Mr Iffland said.

'They make strong friendships throughout this time and some of them stay in contact for years.

'We even have some past students that have remained lifelong friends.'

Kimberley Cormack from Wallumbilla and Jessica Ward from St George were two of 57 students to take part in the week.

'We both have made heaps of friends throughout the week,' Jessica said.

'Everyone has learnt something and met someone new. We didn’t know each other at the start of the week and we are now friends.'

The students participated in many activities through the week including a fancy dress party, Zumba, dodgeball and bowling.

'My class at home has 13 students in it so this is definitely a new experience,' Kim said.

'I really enjoyed it! I want to come back next year and will try to convince my brother to come.'

USQ Lecturer, Dr Karen Spence and a team of preservice teachers studying with the Faculty of Education, helped make the camp possible.

'USQ encourages students from country areas to consider further education in Toowoomba after they complete Year 12, so this is an excellent opportunity to positively influence school students from the ‘bush’ and promote teacher employment in rural and remote locations,' Dr Spence said.

Contact Details:
Sam Tickell, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559