Hip hop dancing, agility tests, sport psychology and rugby league clinics were just some of the activities on offer for this year's Indigenous Youth Sports Program.

Over 30 Indigenous school students from Emerald, Blackwater, Woorabinda and Gladstone visited CQUniversity Rockhampton recently as part of the program, participating in a range of sports, health, cultural and education activities.

Participants get a lesson in exercise performance

The three-day program aims to build self-confidence and promote participation and attendance in school.

"The Indigenous Youth Sports Program aims to get regional Indigenous kids excited about where education can take them, while at the same time allowing them to explore their cultural identity" said CQUniversity's Indigenous Widening Participation Officer and event organiser Melinda Mann-Yasso.

"We want to educate these kids by relating to them via things that are of interest to them, and hopefully give them the confidence to continue to try new things and to continue learning".

Students got the chance to test their speed and agility

The program is in its second year, and after being run for Rockhampton kids in 2011, Acting General Manager for Central Queensland Indigenous Development Justin Loomans says expansion into places like Gladstone, Blackwater and Woorabinda is taking its message to a wider audience.

"The concept of the program is to get these kids on campus and experiencing the feel of university. We want them to realise that it isn't such a big, scary place, and that there are lots of opportunities available to them here if they choose to follow that path" he said.

"Running sporting and cultural activities is really important. Sport in particular is a fantastic vehicle, whether watching and playing, and we try to connect to these kids and teach them about university life and opportunities through sport".

The program is proudly sponsored by Central Queensland Indigenous Development, the Department of Communities (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services) through the Learning, Earning and Active Places (LEAP) Program and run by CQUniversity.

Postgraduate exercise and sport science student Campbell McGregor (in black) schools program participants on how exercise performance is tested  
DEEWR Indigenous Education Ambassador Sam Reuben inspires participants to focus on what they want in life and to never give up