Central Queensland University will be partnered with 7 other Australian universities to develop a new program to promote and develop quality university teachers for the new millennium, through a Carrick-funded project.

The program will be conducted across the participating universities from 2009.

CQU PhD student Alison Jones has helped the 'Friends of Keppel Group' gain $32,084 for community awareness, education and monitoring of biodiversity.

The funding was announced in the latest round of Natural Heritage Trust Envirofund project results.

A Childers university student and her 10-year-old son have both been awarded science prizes in separate competitions.

CQU Bachelor of Learning Management student Rebecca Taylor was awarded with a Peter Doherty Award for Excellence in Science and Science Education, while her son Jake received a Distinction for Science in the NSWUni Competition, putting him in the top 10% in Queensland for the category.

Around 70 staff members turned out for the Pink Ribbon Breakfast fundraiser hosted at Capricornia College by CQU's Office of Development on Monday (October 22).

All present enjoyed food, fellowship and light-hearted (or should it be light-hatted) antics to support research into breast cancer.

CQU Rockhampton will get a synthetic running track - the only one between Townsville and the Sunshine Coast - as part of a federal funding package worth more than $2 million.

The VSU Transition Funding announced on October 16 will also go towards floodlit tennis courts at Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Mackay campuses and continued improvements to facilities at the Rockhampton sporting precinct.

CQU Mackay is even more on course to become a centre for simulation training - servicing the mining, engineering and construction industries - thanks to $100,000 funding for development of a specialised education program.

Member for Dawson De-Anne Kelly welcomed the funding announced by Minister for Vocational and Further Education Andrew Robb on October 19.