CQUniversity's Outreach team recently juggled resources and helped underpin a pyramid of community organisations so students from Eidsvold and Baralaba state schools could experience an exclusive circus workshop in Bundaberg.

Outreach coordinator Stacey Doyle said the lure of the circus workshop and performance encourgaged the Eidsvold students to keep their absenteeism down to five days for the year and built on a recent circus drama subject for the Baralaba students.

LINK HERE for ABC coverage: ‘Bush kids run away with the circus, end up at uni'

Circus action in Bundaberg. LINK for a larger image

"The program also included university experiences that enabled students to expand their understanding of university and career opportunities," Ms Doyle said.

Eidsvold State School principal Norah Murphy joked that she hoped her students would decide to come back to school, rather than running away to join the circus.

Creative Regions, a Bundaberg Arts and Performance company that facilitates the development of sustainable regional cultural activities, organised for the CIRCA performers to visit Bundaberg, run workshops exclusively for the Eidsvold and Baralaba students, and perform the scintillating show '61 Circus Acts in 60 Minutes'.

Creative Regions Director Rod Ainsworth said the school students' interaction with the CIRCA team confirmed his view that the arts "can be incredibly powerful educational tools in their ability to engage in very different, but complementary ways to traditional teaching methods".

"Creative Regions is looking forward to a longer and deeper relationship with these communities and others in developing arts-based education initiatives through our partnership with CQUniversity's Outreach team," Mr Ainsworth said.

A fruitful learning experience

CQUniversity and Creative Regions haved jointly thanked ARTOUR, the Queensland Government's performing arts touring agency, and Bundaberg Regional Council for helping to make the CIRCA performance a reality at the Moncrieff Theatre.

Annette Thompson, Outreach Program Officer, who facilitated the program said 11 students from Eidsvold and 16 from Baralaba attended the two-day program in Bundaberg, staying overnight in camp-style accommodation at the Riverside Retreat.

"For the science session, students explored the topic of vitamins and minerals in food, participated in a fruit kebab challenge and discussed the importance of a nutritious diet.

"For the aviation session, students dressed up a wide variety of aviation uniforms, learned about the corresponding careers and experimented with an online flight simulator.

"During the CIRCA workshops, students worked with three members of the CIRCA troupe on a variety of circus skills such as juggling, tumbling and base and flyer manoeuvres and they attended the evening performance by the CIRCA troupe.

LINK for a larger image

"At Snakes Down Under Reptile Park in Childers, students learned about and viewed a variety of different reptiles and held a baby crocodile and a snake. Students also learned from the keepers about their educational journeys and careers.

"Students were engaged and enthusiastic in all activities offered in this program and were excellent representatives of their schools and communities."