USQ offers study guidance to prison inmates

USQ showed its support for one of the most disadvantaged groups of students when staff participated in the Woodford Correctional Centre’s Careers Expo recently.

A small team of USQ academics and administrators attended the Expo and offered guidance on university study to more than 300 inmates.

Dr Marcus Harmes, Ms Sue Bishop and Ms Cara-Lee Reardon from the Open Access College, and Noral Piers-Blundell from Domestic Recruitment provided information to potential and current students on a range of external programs and courses.

Dr Harmes said the expo was intended to give inmates information on possible careers and to reduce incidences of recidivism on their release.

'The inmates at Woodford Correctional Centre showed strong interest in the Tertiary Preparation Program in particular’, Dr Harmes said. ‘Many are keen to take this enabling course and then enter full-time study.

'Incarcerated students can often struggle with their studies and face more than ordinary challenges when attempting to complete assignments and exams.’

Providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged students is a central plank of USQ’s policy on equity in education. Incarcerated students make up one the most severely educationally disadvantaged groups of USQ students.

'It’s important that this often silent demographic isn’t forgotten about. The relationships we build up with the Education Officers inside the prisons are vital to ensuring the success of these students’, Dr Harmes said.

Prisoners typically represent approximately 20-25% of the students enrolled in the Tertiary Preparation Program and are also a notable demographic in many other courses, including Arts and Business.