A Central Queensland University group of budding entrepreneurs will present their money-making ideas and community work at a national competition in Sydney next week.

The newly formed CQU SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team will compete against 15 other universities, including last year’s winner University of Melbourne, at Australia’s biggest ever SIFE competition on 13 July. The team judged to have the best portfolio of business projects will be flown to Amsterdam to participate in the world competition.

The eight-member CQU contingent will be required to make a 30-minute presentation about their University, their business concepts and their community involvement. But it will be their innovative projects that will see them in good stead at the competition.

CQU SIFE’S projects include: the sale of commemorative flags; a CQU tutoring business which matches students with tutors; a business forum for high schools students; YourPicOnline.com – a website that includes photographs taken from local meeting spots; a graduation shirts business; “IT for Life” project which promotes and trains teenagers in information technology; and Employment Engineering which aims to see people over 40 re-enter the workforce.

Lead speaker of the group Miranda Hill said CQU SIFE was a small, Rockhampton-based group who wanted to increase the bond between CQU and the business community.

“We have eight active members at the moment, but hopefully we will grow over the next 12 months.

SIFE Australia Fellow and CQU lecturer Beth Tennent said the CQU group was only small at present but had plans to expand, both in numbers and to other campuses.

“I congratulate the team on the work they have put in to make their presentation a success,” Ms Tennent said.

“They have only been together for a few months and they have done a great job so far.\" The team presented a preview of their presentation this week to member of the Business Advisory Board and Member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore, CQU Vice Chancellor Glenice Hancock and various CQU staff. The audience was given the opportunity to comment on the presentation and enquire about the projects.

SIFE is a world-wide organisation for students who want to make a difference in their community by developing leadership, teamwork and communication skills gained at university. The SIFE teams go into the community with student-designed outreach programs.

Members of CQU SIFE travelling to the national competition are: Miranda Hill, Warwick Fletcher, Josh Jones, Andrew Maloney, Craig Litherland, Sandy Forster, Grant Parker and Penny Kowalski.

Photo: (Back) CQU SIFE team Mirand Hill, Craig Litherland, Josh Jones, Andrew Maloney, Warwick Fletcher, (front) SIFE Australia Fellow for CQU SIFE Beth Tennent, Member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore and CQU Vice-Chancellor and President Glenice Hancock.