UQ welcomes Indigenous students

Indigenous students new to UQ got a head start on their peers during an annual orientation camp held last week.

Coordinated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, the three-day program introduced the group to UQ’s campuses and encouraged them to make the most of the resources, support and scholarships on offer.

Organisers Georgina Baira, Stephen Corporal and Judy Dale said the event was a good way for the students to find their feet before general orientation activities begin this week.

“The whole reason behind having the camp was to introduce our new students to a whole new environment. For our school leavers we try and make that transition easy, and also for mature-aged students it’s a way of easing them back into university,” Ms Baira said.

“Settling in and having a look at what we offer on all of our campuses just makes this part easier for them.”

The new students include those from interstate and overseas, and are enrolled in a variety of programs including Business, Social Work and Science.

Bachelor of Arts student Phillipa Coral Fitz-Henry said being able to talk to staff one on one took some of the stress out of orientation.

“It lifts a load off your shoulders because everything that you’re going to need is there and the Unit has clearly made sure of that,” she said.

“You might think ‘I can’t go and ask someone for help’ or ‘I can’t go for that scholarship’ but this highlights (the opportunities) and makes it a whole lot less daunting.”

The camp is part of wider UQ initiatives to encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout their studies.

For further information, visit www.uq.edu.au/atsis

Media: Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)

Images to accompany this release are available here. For high resolution copies contact Diana Lilley (07 3365 2753, d.lilley@uq.edu.au)