Central Queensland’s disabled residents looking at post-secondary education and career options are being encouraged to attend a ‘studying and working at CQU’ information seminar on Wednesday February 22 at CQU Rockhampton.

The Regional Disability Liaison Office based at CQU will provide information about what to expect in the university application process, what adaptations CQU has already made and is able to make for people with disabilities, and what other assistance is available.

Giving a first hand account of studying and working at CQU will be Fintan Real. Fintan studied and graduated from CQU in 2001 with a Bachelor of Information Technology and currently works as a web developer in the Faculty of Business and Informatics.

Confined to an electric wheel chair due to a muscle wasting disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Fintan said he has and continues to overcome his disability by relying on support of family, friends and colleagues.

“My relationship with CQU’s Equity and Diversity Office has been a godsend in my time as both a staff and student,” Fintan explained.

Fintan said he encouraged all disabled people thinking of career options to attend this information session to understand the career options available.

CQ Regional Disability Liaison Officer Samantha Frost said advice and help for people with disabilities is just a click on the mouse or a phone call away.

Ms Frost said her role was to assist with the transition of people with disabilities from secondary education into post secondary education, training or employment.

A website has been created with information for prospective students and also career information at www.rdlo.cqu.edu.au . The website has information and resources for students makings transitions into university, TAFE, agricultural colleges, apprenticeships and traineeships; graduates making transitions from post-secondary education and training into their careers; and information on practitioners who assist them.

Ms Frost has a regional responsibility which covers five CQU campuses, four Central Queensland TAFEs and one Wide Bay TAFE, two agricultural colleges and 53 state and non-state secondary schools, from Bundaberg in the south to Mackay in the north and inland to the Northern Territory border.

Regional Disability Liaison Officers are funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training.

Ms Frost can be contacted on 4930 6394 or s.frost@cqu.edu.au .

Photo: CQU graduate and now web developer Fentan Real.