SDG10 Reduced Inequalities

Our Office of Indigenous Engagement (OIE) plays a pivotal role at the University in providing leadership to improve higher education outcomes for Indigenous Australians. The office drives informed policy development to influence the way in which the University provides higher education, training, research opportunities and engagement that expresses a deliberate destiny for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Indigenous Student Engagement Team provides advice about a number of support services available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students including:

• Free tutoring support
• Financial Guidance
• Cultural Advocacy
• Safe learning support
• Basic course information, and more.

Student Support Services are available for all students including those from underrepresented groups such as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island students, international students, and students with disabilities.

Services include:

• Welfare Support
• Career Support
• Academic Support
• Campus Support

We have dedicated employees available to assist with any equity or diversity requirement including our Equity Program Officers and Student Access and Equity Manager. To reach out to the Program Officers, contact the Equity and Diversity Office.

We developed an online micro-credential which explores what it means to work in a diverse workplace and introduces the roles of leadership, valuing individual and group differences and promoting a culturally diverse and harmonious workplace.

Our Student Mentors are existing students who volunteer their time to help new and continuing students transition to life and study at university. 

We are dedicated to creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students with a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and discrimination. As part of this, we have implemented an Ally Program to promote acceptance and understanding for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) students.

There is an Ally Network on Moodle as a connection point for any student who would like to be involved, with resources, links, and forums. It is a place for students to access support and get in contact with an Ally.

General

• Widening Participation Strategy – we have a widening participation strategy that aims to promote higher education to low socioeconomic, regional and remote, and indigenous school students and sees our Connect team partnering with schools to deliver programs outreach programs.
• Principal's Recommendation Scheme - Our Principal’s Recommendation Scheme is an early offer scheme that allows Year 12 students to apply to an undergraduate CQUniversity course based on the recommendation of their high school Principal rather than ATAR. 

STEM

• Young Engineers Lego Club- CQUniversity hosted workshops in seven regional Queensland towns to school students from Years 1 to 8.
• RoboCup Junior Competition – we were proud to support the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enthusiasts at the recent RoboCup Junior competition in Mackay. By exposing school-aged kids to STEM and giving them opportunities to explore its concepts, they will hopefully develop a passion for it and pursue a job in a related field.
• CQ Junior Robotics Competition – open to school students in years 4 – 12 within the Central Queensland region, we host the CQ Junior Robotics Competition, and it provides a fun environment for students to develop pivotal skills in problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking and teamwork.
• Connecting STEM with Music- over 70 primary school students experienced the connection between STEM and music at the STEM meeting Symphony workshop
• Young Engineers Summer Holiday Workshops- CQUniversity hosted workshops over school holidays to launch kids into STEM 
• National Science Week- CQUniversity Engineering lecturers hosted a hands-on STEM activity for Cairns high school students to spark their interest in STEM. The workshop focussed on sustainable engineering and included building replica wind turbines. 

Arts

• Choices Program – our students engage with police and community stakeholders in delivering a theatre production called Choices to year 12 high school students as part of the preparation for post year 12 celebrations.
• Safety Circus – conveys road safety and personal safety messages to year 3 school students. This product has been operating since 2012.
• CQ Conservatorium of Music Summer Performance – 34 high school students travelled to Mackay to attend a week of workshops in preparation for their 30-minute version of Disney Aladdin KIDS.
• Connecting STEM with Music- over 70 primary school students experienced the connection between STEM and music at the STEM meeting Symphony workshop
• Music-making workshops- CQUniversity Associate Lecturer Patty Pearce travelled 4000kms to conduct music-making workshops across Western Queensland.
• Savannah Art Trail- the project team from CQUniversity travelled to remote schools to provide them with an insight into the world of public art.

Agriculture

• Educating Kids  about Agriculture QLD – the Agri-tech team travelled to North Queensland as part of the Kids to Farm project to increase primary school aged children's understanding of agriculture and its importance on Australia's way of life.
• RACE - Gippsland will deliver a range of hands-on, interactive, and engaging activities to primary and secondary students focused on raising aspirations in agriculture and building student capacity in STEM, digital technologies, agribusiness, manufacturing and food and fibre concepts.

• International Science and Eco Festival- Aspiring pilots had the opportunity to try flying for themselves as CQUniversiyt hosted Cairns Aviation Centre tours and flight simulator experiences. 
  Project Booyah – we are a training partner in Project Booyah which provides educational opportunities for at-risk young people. It is a partnership between the University and the Queensland Police Force.
• Smith Family Learning for Life program – we partner with The Smith Family to deliver the Learning for Life Program. The Smith Family is a charity that supports financially disadvantaged young people with assistance in maintaining their educational aspirations. The University is working with Rockhampton and Mackay Learning for Life staff to open up pathways to higher education for scholarship families, through information sessions and by supplying families with university program and scholarship information.
• Seagrass: Citizen Scientist Program – This initiative engages volunteer community members to collect seagrass flowers in Gladstone Harbour, for the final harvest of the season.  This is part of the Sea Flowers: Growing Community Engagement for Seagrass Restoration Project and teaches volunteers how to work together to ensure the restoration of the vital flora.
• WinTECH Society  – The Women in Technology (WinTECH) Society has developed free online workshops teaching students skills in data science using Excel and Python software. The workshops encourage students to choose STEM career paths.
• Gladstone’s STEM Central – It’s a state-of-the-art experience that takes science, technology, engineering and mathematics out of the classroom and into the real world, one of the highlights of STEM Central has been the diversity of people who use of the facility – from five-year-old children getting their first experience of flying a drone, primary and high school groups from right across the region, then Indigenous elders, and even senior citizens.
• Student Health Clinics – Our Student Health Clinics operate in Rockhampton, Mackay, Sydney, and Brisbane. These clinics are a collaboration between health care practitioners and our students to deliver local health services in oral health, speech pathology, physiotherapy, podiatry, and chiropractic services.
• Australian Defence Force Reservists – Several CQUniversity employees are active in the ADF Reserves and are often deployed to operations in response to various natural disasters that impact on all Australians including bushfires and catastoiphic flooding. Our commitment to supporting staff to engage in such activity led to it being announced as the 2020 Defence Reserve Employer Support Award winner under the not-for-profit organisation category.

Studying abroad for a year, term, or even just a couple of weeks is a very rewarding and educational experience. Students have opportunities to travel, make friends from around the world, enhance employment prospects, and possibly even learn another language. Above all, they will gain a fresh perspective on the world around them. We are all part of an increasingly globalised world and international study gives students a cultural awareness and life experience that will set them apart from their peers.

CQUniversity is reintroducing international travel and global outreach activities with the following occurring in 2022:

• Bangladesh School- CQUniversity academic Olav Muurlink heads a charity that is building and running cyclone-proof schools in Bangladesh.
• Wildlife Law and Protection in Vietnam- The tour partners with Education for Nature Vietnam and Vietnam National University School of Law and allows CQUniversity law students to understand first-hand the legal, cultural and environmental context of wildlife protection and illegal trafficking.
• New Colombo Plan- scholarships were awarded to three CQUniversity undergraduates to travel to our Indo-Pacific neighbours. 
• Pokhara Fishtail Hospital, Nepal - CQUniversity students on clinical placements shadowed staff at Nepal's Fishtail Hospital. Exposing them to areas such as paediatrics, intensive care, medical and surgical, theatre, maternity, outpatient clinics, renal dialysis, accident and emergency, and medical imaging. They also provided health assessments and education to locals in rural villages.
• Salaam Baalak Trust, India - CQUniversity is a partner with the Salaam Baalak Trust and supports its WALK project. CQUniversity health students visit Salaam Baalak and participate in local health projects.

To find out more about CQUGlobal Outbound click here for more information

Bundaberg, QLD residents living with a disability will be able to access local beaches and enhance their lives through movement thanks to the Universal Beach Access Hub (U-Beach). U-Beach is a project driven by our university, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs.

The clinical project that uses electrical stimulation to improve the lives of those living with spinal cord injuries has been named an Early-Stage Bionic Innovation Winner in the Bionics Challenge 2022.

Led by Lecturer in Neurological Physiotherapy Dr Vanesa Bochkezanian, the Electrical Stimulation (E-Stim) treatment aims to increase muscle mass, reduce spasticity and improve overall physical health. The project uses electrical stimulation to improve the lives of those living with spinal cord injuries and has been named a finalist in the Bionics Challenge 2021.

We have delivered a series of sector leading programs that have increased the access, participation and success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in vocational and higher education. Our aim is to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by delivering education, training and research that improves lives and offers pathways to meaningful careers.

Our vision for reconciliation is for all Australians working together to address injustice and provide equality of opportunity, and to develop a tertiary education sector that truly embraces the knowledges, leadership and strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan July 2022 - July 2024 is an important step in meeting our vision.