Recruiting firm helps CQUni roll out Indigenous mentoring program
Published on 22 February, 2013
A long-standing supplier of executive recruitment services to CQUniversity, UniRecruit, has partnered with the University to help improve the educational outcomes, employment and life opportunities of Indigenous students.
UniRecruit is donating $30,000 to support a pilot of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) in Rockhampton for the next three years.
UniRecruit Principal Michael Toohey said "our business is all about matching people with opportunities, and working within the higher education sector we are particularly passionate about education and the pathways it can create".
"Supporting the AIME at CQUniversity is therefore a perfect fit for us. We are delighted to be associated with such a promising initiative that has the potential to deliver life-long benefit to many Indigenous students and their families," Mr Toohey said.
UniRecruit is also encouraging other businesses and individuals to follow suit.
In receiving the donation, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, spoke with Mr Toohey about the difference his donation will make to kick-starting the AIME program in the Rockhampton area.
"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," Professor Fredericks said.
"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."
As Director of CQUniversity's Development and Alumni Relations Directorate (DARD), Suzi Blair said partnerships with all kinds of organisations "are very important to CQUniversity and the positive difference we make to people's life opportunities and community development in general".
"It is especially rewarding when businesses we are dealing with to run the University choose to support our work in additional ways - I hope others will follow UniRecruit's lead."
AIME's goals for all Indigenous students involved in the program are to: increase Year 10 progression rates; increase Year 12 completion rates; and increase progression to university. 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/