Indigenous students now have more opportunities to consider fresh pathways, taking them beyond undergraduate degrees and into postgraduate coursework and research higher degree programs.

CQUniversity's Office of Indigenous Engagement is promoting presentations by Indigenous role models who are succeeding in diverse areas.

Yvette Roe (seated) is greeted by representatives of the Office of Indigenous Engagement L-R Donna Smith, Prof Bronwyn Fredericks and Anne Munns

Recent examples include a presentation by prominent Indigenous artist Dr Pamela CroftWarcon.

As a visual artist, Dr CroftWarcon has worked extensively in Australia and overseas (including arts residencies in Paris, the Netherlands, Western Samoa, USA and the Philippines).  She is the Managing Director of her arts and cultural business, facilitates and coordinates various community cultural development projects, curates exhibitions, is a master tutor and lecturer, and works in curriculum design. She is also a reviewer, author and social history researcher.

Another visitor promoted by the Office is Yvette Roe, a Njikena Jawuru woman from the West Kimberley, Western Australia.

Yvette's PhD research explores the disparity of care experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks* from the Office is also hosting Doctor of Philosophy candidate Melissa Walker in conjunction with the Collaborative Research Network (Health) CQUniversity. Melissa is the first Aboriginal student to undertake her PhD in Nursing at QUT and joins the limited number of Indigenous Nursing PhD candidates in Australia. She will visit CQUniversity for three weeks in November and for two weeks in January 2013.

"It's our role to bring Indigenous researchers and academic leaders to the attention of the wider community, raising expectations beyond school and undergraduate achievements, and opening the door for others to go above and beyond what they might have previously considered," Professor Fredericks says.

* Professor Fredericks is CQUniversity's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement.