Seventeen high school students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and their school based support staff gathered at CQU Bundaberg last Tuesday.

Nulloo Yumbah campus coordinator, Graham McLoughlin said the day was designed to highlight pathway options open to indigenous students about to enter further education and the workforce.

Presenters from locally based school support units, group training companies, the Wide Bay College of TAFE and CQU walked students from five district state high schools through their available programs and training opportunities. Graham said he was very pleased that the Darumbal meaning for, ‘Our Place’ was being extended into the wider Bundaberg and district community, particularly the schools.

“Support for indigenous students through their high school and post secondary years is vital to their personal success and for the ongoing successes of the indigenous communities they belong to,” Graham said.

“Here at Nulloo Yumbah we recognise that we must work in conjunction with school, TAFE and industry based agencies to ensure that students are aware, and can easily take advantage of all of the various programs that will assist them in life outcomes for themselves, their families and their people.

“Many of those attending are showing an immediate interest in the options on offer. Of particular interest to those intending to go on to tertiary study was a presentation by Kelly Thompson, an officer of the Australian Defence Forces Indigenous Cadetship program, who spoke on the career prospects and advantages open to indigenous university students who gain a cadetship place with the A.D.F.” Ms Thompson made the journey from her Canberra base to Bundaberg as part of a wider ADF support network visit, spending the previous days in universities in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Rockhampton, and timing her visit to fit in with the information day on CQU Bundaberg.

Photo above: Finding out about their pathways after high school are from left at rear are Isis State High’s Peta McKenzie and Heidi May and at front from left Kepnock State High’s Leon Roeve and Bundaberg State High’s Robert Graham.

Photo left: From left, Isis High School’s Faren Munro, CQU’s Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander Recruitment and Retention Officer Wayne Ah-Wong CQU Bundaberg first year student Kathering Williams and Nulloo Yumbah campus coordinator Graham McLoughlin were at the Pathways Day at CQU Bundaberg.