CQUniversity's Professor Bronwyn Fredericks recently met with Sam Refshauge, Program Operations Director of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME).

Prof Fredericks was in her capacity as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement.

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks with Sam Refshauge from AIME

AIME provides a dynamic educational program that gives Indigenous high school students the skills, opportunities, belief and confidence to finish school at the same rate as their peers.

This initiative has proven to dramatically improve the chances of Indigenous kids finishing school. AIME also connects students with post Year 12 opportunities, including further education and employment.

AIME's goals for all Indigenous students involved in the program are to: Increase Year 10 progression rates; Increase Year 12 progression rates; and Increase university admission rates. The program has also proven its ability to strengthen the links between universities and local high schools. It supports teachers to become more optimistic about tertiary education being a real option for their Indigenous students; and through a strong relationship with AIME, parents' belief in their child's chances of pursuing a university education is increased.

To find out more about AIME go to: http://www.aimementoring.com/about/program/

AIME was featured on a television show earlier this year and people from Central Queensland rang AIME and CQUniversity to see if the University could get the AIME Program.

"I am delighted to say that CQUniversity will be working with a limited number of schools to offer the AIME Outreach Program. This is an example of where the Office of Indigenous Engagement at CQUniversity has been able to respond to what people said was needed in Central Queensland," Prof Fredericks said.

"While we are starting AIME Outreach with a small number of schools, there are also opportunities to develop the Program further afield depending on funds," she said.