As part of her networking role, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) recently met with Christine Malone and David Coe of  Buderoo Employment and Training. Ms Malone is the CEO and Mr Coe is the Training Co-ordinator.

Buderoo specialises in training and employment for Indigenous people in Central Queensland. It is a registered Training Organisation and a Job Services Australia Provider (Indigenous Specialist). It also provides a range of flexible learning opportunities in accredited and non-accredited courses, and has training rooms in Rockhampton. Buderoo has won major awards for some of its work.

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks (centre) with Buderoo CEO Christine Malone and Training Co-ordinator David Coe

Professor Fredericks stated that she "is concerned with the issues of literacy and numeracy and how they impact on the ability to move into university or TAFE and to gain employment".

"For some people there are several stages of literacy and numeracy development before people even think about applying for a course at university. Buderoo is one of the organisations endeavouring to address numeracy and literacy and to make a difference in people's lives through training and employment."

Professor Fredericks is looking at opportunities to work with a range of organisations in Central Queensland and in particular ways to develop partnerships that will benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and assist them to move through all levels of education to university.