New education pathway proposed for Indigenous Queenslanders

The University of Queensland, UQ College and the Western Corridor NRL Bid have extended their partnership in education programs with the aim of broadening educational opportunities, encouraging Indigenous students to take the next step to tertiary studies and providing them with mentorship to support their success in the workplace.

It makes clear sense to base the collaboration at Ipswich.

It is the location of one of UQ’s four main campuses and UQ College.

The Ipswich Jets have a proud history in the region and have been instrumental in establishing the careers of many great players. The Ipswich region has a large Indigenous population and the Ipswich Jets has strong local support, including 30 per cent Indigenous membership.

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes said the Queensland Government was proud to support the partnership between The University of Queensland, UQ College and the Western Corridor NRL Bid.

“This initiative to develop more pathways programs to university is opening up educational opportunities for young Indigenous students and helping to close the gap in educational opportunities for Indigenous Queenslanders, particularly in Ipswich,” Mr Elmes said.

UQ, UQ College and the Western Corridor NRL Bid have welcomed this commitment to work together on a number of key educational initiatives.

UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Cindy Shannon said that with the very large numbers of Indigenous students enrolled in high schools across the region, this provided a good target audience for us to provide a range of pathways into university and employment.

“UQ is looking forward to working with the Western Corridor NRL Bid on programs to encourage Indigenous high school students to take the next step into university.”

UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Rix said plans for such initiatives to be offered in 2014 were well advanced, and included opportunities at the UQ Ipswich campus, such as pathway programs offered through UQ College.

The Ipswich Jets and the Western Corridor NRL Bid will actively assist UQ and UQ College in promoting the new opportunities to the Indigenous community and its players will encourage prospective students and mentor those who accept placements in the programs.

UQ and the Western Corridor NRL Bid will also be working on opportunities for graduates in to the workplace so that Indigenous students currently in years 11 and below have an exciting new tertiary and vocational pathway.

Students will not just be encouraged to go to university, but helped to succeed to complete tertiary studies and excel in the workplace.

Media contact: Jan King 0413 601 248.