CQUniversity Australia
 

Engaging Indigenous people within Higher Ed

CQUniversity's Office of Indigenous Engagement recently hosted a visit from the Oodgeroo Unit of Queensland University of Technology (QUT), at Rockhampton Campus.

Professor Anita Lee Hong, Director of the Oodgeroo Unit, and Lone Pearce, Project Officer, met with Office of Indigenous Engagement staff to discuss employment issues and best practice models for engaging Indigenous people within the higher education sector, including governance matters.

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Kris STEPS up the ranks in the Navy 

Published on 05 October, 2006 

Kris Clein is about to step up the ranks in the Navy to train as an officer after completing a STEPS course at CQU Mackay.

STEPS, an acronym for Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies, is designed to prepare students for university study. It provides an alternative pathway to higher education for students who have not recently completed year 12.

PhotoID:3607 Kris, 19, realised after a year as an electronics technician in the Navy that he wanted to go further in the forces.

Having left school at the beginning of year 12, Kris did not receive an OP score, and therefore has had to look at alternative ways of getting back into the higher education system.

Kris’ mother learnt about the STEPS program at the ‘See CQU @ Caneland Central’ Promotion and suggested to Kris that this could be his ticket into the Australia Defense Force Academy (ADFA) to train as an officer and receive a university degree.

Reflecting on his journey through STEPS, Kris acknowledges how much better prepared he feels to take on the many challenges that lie ahead.

“I’ve learnt a lot about computers and how to write academic assignments and I feel ready to take on a university degree after my initial year of military training,” said Kris.

“I’ve met lots of different people from different backgrounds; all with different goals in the course. It’s been a friendly and supportive environment to be in and it’s opened the door to where I want to go with my career,” said Kris.

Kris expects his first 12 months of military training will be in Perth and Melbourne and, after this, he hopes to return to CQU to commence his undergraduate degree.

PhotoID:3608 “I’d like to look at doing Education. I enjoy helping others and always found the role of a trainer as one I enjoyed and got results with. Even at STEPS I was helping a friend with her maths – she got 98% on her exam and I got 97%!” said Kris.

Kris and 57 other Mackay-based STEPS students will take part in a completion ceremony this Saturday evening. This ceremony will be followed by the STEPS 20th anniversary celebrations.

Photo: Kris Clein took STEPS towards a better future at CQU Mackay and now prepares to head to the Australia Defence Force Academy to train as an Officer in the Royal Australian Navy.