CQUniversity will immediately roll out a special higher education program designed for employees and contractors in mining, retail and other sectors affected by thousands of job cuts announced this week in Queensland and the rest of Australia as a result of the global economic crisis...

Under the scheme (which is open now) redundant and retrenched workers will be offered a free assessment of their qualifications and receive careers advice, followed by placement in one of the university's access programs, and/or immediate enrolment in their choice of one of CQUniversity's degree* programs in Term 1 2009.

Professor Angela Delves

Workers could enrol part-time or full-time and study by distance education or at campuses in Mackay, Emerald, Bundaberg, Rockhampton or Gladstone.

The University's program complements the state's $25million strategy to protect jobs and boost opportunities in regional areas affected by the mining downturn.

The scheme is designed to provide displaced workers of any age with the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to respond to change and successfully study at university regardless of their educational background. CQUniversity will personalise a program that is specific to an individual's skills and knowledge, even providing a free trial undergraduate course and other opportunities for people to earn credits towards a degree.

[* A major long-term study released this month by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has shown that a bachelor's degree leads to higher-status occupations and increases earnings by about 31 per cent on average.]

"CQUniversity is responding to the local impact of a global crisis. Our aim here is to get retrenched workers in Central Queensland re-skilled and prepared for the future," said Deputy Vice Chancellor Angela Delves.

"Even workers who find new employment would be eligible to study part-time and benefit from longer-term career and professional development."

 "We want to ensure that out-of-work Queenslanders benefit from our services and make the most out of any lull they may experience," Professor Delves added.

CQUniversity is well-placed and structured to assist students with extensive support and flexible distance education programs. According to the Good Universities Guide "few universities can say that they interact in a customised way to a student's requirements. CQUniversity can."

Companies and organisations wanting outplacement assistance from CQUniversity should contact Mike Donahue, Manager, Corporate Communications at 07 4930 9384 or one of CQUniversity's Heads of Campus:

Mackay, Trevor Davison, 07 4940 7404

Bundaberg, Philip Clift, 07 4150 7070

Gladstone, Pierre Viljoen, 07 4970 7203