CQU's Equity and Diversity Office recently awarded the Equity Computer Award to Sonia Bridgeman, a first-year Bachelor of Learning Management student at CQU Emerald.

To be eligible for the award, students need to demonstrate difficulty in accessing reliable computers and have at least 2 years' academic study load remaining.

Sonia did not own a computer and was forced to borrow computers from friends.  Otherwise, she would continually travel to and from the University to use computers, which was difficult due to her carer commitments.

Being in her first year of the BLM course, Sonia has 2 years of study remaining as she hopes to fast-track and complete the degree in 3 years.

Maria Parlato, Lecturer at CQU Emerald said, "It's fantastic that in these days of changing teacher delivery that so many students are keen to engage both themselves and their learning cohort with the current media technologies to improve their performance.  This award will most definitely assist Sonia in developing her capabilities as an E-Learning Manager."

Sonia was awarded a Dell Inspiron 6400 notebook computer complete with 3 years' telephone technical support including accidental damage and theft coverage through Dell, the approved supplier to Central Queensland University.

Sonia said, "I'm very grateful to the University for this award.  This will be a big help to me with completing assignments, accessing the internet and networking with my peers and lecturers electronically."