Students score study goals at CQUniversity QISSN and QISSRL carnivals
CQUniversity has continued to foster athletic and academic excellence among Queensland's youth, supporting the 2024 Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball (QISSN) and Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League (QISSRL) carnivals.
Held in Townsville from 23 to 28 June, the annual QISSN Carnival and QISSRL Confraternity carnivals saw more than 1200 students from independent schools across Queensland compete.
QISSN carnival winners Canterbury College from Logan took out the women’s division one honours and St James College from Springhill in the men's division.
Townsville's Ignatius Park College were champions of the men’s division of the 44th Confraternity Carnival. St Patrick’s College from Mackay claimed the women’s title, also playing their final as a curtain-raiser to the Women’s State of Origin decider at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Associate Vice-President Far North QLD Region, Jodie Duignan-George highlighted the University’s enthusiasm for the ongoing collaboration which was launched in 2021.
“We are proud to be the official naming rights sponsor of the QISSRL Confraternity and QISSN carnivals, one of the largest school sporting events held in Queensland,” Ms Duignan-George said.
“After the success of our first three-year partnership, we look forward to many more years of collaboration and community engagement.”
CQUniversity will continue its support of QISSRL and QISSN in 2025 with the carnivals scheduled from 29 June to 4 July.
QISSRL will be hosted by Cathedral College Rockhampton and QISSN Shalom College in Bundaberg.
Ms Duignan-George said the carnivals provided a platform to support a variety of young competitors in their athletic and educational goals.
“Each year, we provide two $1000 cash bursaries to QISSN participants and two to QISSRL participants, helping them with their study expenses and furthering their educational journeys.
“These scholarships underscore our dedication to regional participation in education, training and employment by supporting Queensland students in their post-schooling options.”
In addition to financial support, CQUniversity's involvement extended to physiotherapy assistance to the QISSN athletes with members of the physiotherapy team travelling to Townsville to volunteer at the event.
"Invaluable physiotherapy support was provided at QISSN this year with the CQU students assisting the netballers by addressing common injuries obtained from sport and offering preventative care techniques to ensure the athletes could perform at their best," Ms Duignan-George said.
“Additionally, this hands-on experience was invaluable for our students, providing them with practical skills and knowledge that will benefit their future careers.
"We look forward to extending that support to QISSRL next year in Rockhampton, along with paramedic, nursing and chiropractic support.”
Ms Duignan-George said mutually beneficial opportunities such as this one continued to highlight the significance of the partnership.
“The talents, dedication, sportsmanship and teamwork demonstrated over the week of QISSN and QISSRL events have a wider impact in promoting sport and active lifestyles,” she said.
“This positive influence will only continue to deliver meaningful benefits for both local communities and industry.”
