CQUniversity recognised as a leader in First Nations Education
CQUniversity has been recognised for its excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Regional' Remote and Rural (RRR) education at the 2022 Australian Rural Education Awards.
Senior Coordinator of Indigenous Student Engagement' Leonie Taylor said the award recognises the Dare to Be Deadly (D2BD) Student Journey case management program.
"Dare to Be Deadly is a culturally safe program that engages with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students online and on campuses across the CQUniversity footprint to ensure students are prepared for studies and assists with connecting students to services and tools to be Deadly students'" Mrs Taylor explained.
The D2BD program was also extended to CQU students attending the Geraldton Universities Centre due to the strong relationship with the staff at the centre in assisting students' needs in Western Australia.
The program is centred around the Indigenous Student Framework by Dr Melinda Mann.
"In the past 12 months' our team has listened to feedback from students to develop and deliver a series of sector-leading programs that have increased the access' participation and success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in vocational and higher education'" Mrs Taylor said.
"CQUniversity's inclusiveness and flexible approach to learning and teaching provides opportunities for thousands of First Nations students to complete qualifications' regardless of their age' geographical location or personal circumstances' surrounded by the support of family and community'" she said.
CQUniversity aims to improve higher education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples by providing higher education' training' research opportunities and engagement that expresses a deliberate destiny for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The University also provides numerous scholarship opportunities to First Nations students' including the Dare to be Deadly Scholarship that assists Indigenous students from regional and remote locations with expenses associated with undergraduate study.
"We are honoured and acknowledge that we are walking in the footprints of our ancestors and elders who paved the way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have access into higher education'" Mrs Taylor said.
"This recognition would not have been possible without our collaborative partnerships within CQU' our communities and industry. We are proud to be recognised as Australia's most Deadly' inclusive' and engaged university with some of the highest ratios of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students."
