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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Performing arts graduate wins golden dream job at Commonwealth Games 

Published on 20 March, 2006 

A life-long dream to work in performing arts is becoming a reality for a Central Queensland University graduate who hails from Queensland’s Wide Bay district.

Former Hervey Bay Performing Arts student Nikki Kimlin is currently on a 3-month work placement with the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games organisers.

PhotoID:2952 Arranged as part of her Bachelor of Performing Arts degree, which she has just graduated from at CQU Rockhampton, Nikki has taken on the role as deputy stage manager.

She held the reins on opening night and will again do so on closing night at the Games.

Nikki has been working on the ceremonies under the guidance of Lauren Snelling, Peter Labza (The Producers Australian Tour) and Fritha Truscott (Saturday Night Fever).

“My year at uni has been the happiest year of my life,” Nikki said.

“It was the stepping stone I always dreamed of.”.

Nikki began living her dream at Wide Bay TAFE in February 2002 in Hervey Bay, enrolling in an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts, majoring in acting.

“It was a rough start having no drama available as a board subject at my previous high school and having my father pass away less than 6 months before.

“I no longer felt worthy of anything and it was only because I had never quit anything in my life that I was not going to give up on my life-long dream to be an actress.”.

At TAFE, Nikki excelled in drama, music, dance and voice classes and completed her most memorable performance as Sister Mary in ‘Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All’ in her third year of study.

After negotiations between TAFE and CQU, Nikki was able to receive credit for 2 out of the 3 years of her TAFE study and entered the final year of the Bachelor of Performing Arts at CQU at the beginning of last year.

“To my delight I was able to do a triple major in drama, music and dance, so I didn’t have to choose between my favourite subjects.”.

Nikki has been able to undertake 2 workplace positions during her final year of study including work with QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Complex) and now with the Commonwealth Games. Due to the Games, Nikki will attend her graduation ceremony in Brisbane on May 10.