Donate to Be Ready Equity Packs

Stationery pack items on a table, including laptop bag, mouse, tote bag, headphones, calculator, pens, pencils, and notepads.
DONATE TO THE CAUSECQUNICARES APPEAL
2026 CQUniCares Appeal - breaking down barriers so students can succeed.

For some students, the transition from school to university happens seamlessly, but for others the journey is less straightforward. 

CQU's Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory (STEPS) course is designed to help those students who are returning to study after some time away, as well as those needing to meet entry requirements for their chosen degree.

Around 14% of all undergraduate enrolments at CQUniversity are via the STEPS pathway – representing thousands of students who might not otherwise be able to access higher education.

Our staff have identified that many STEPS students begin their studies without the necessary stationery and technology needed for successful study. And for some, this is the key to whether or not they complete their course.

To address this challenge, we have created the Be Ready Equity Packs initiative. Our aim is to provide equity packs to students in need, equipping them with essential study resources and helping to remove financial obstacles that may impact their academic journey. By supporting students in this way, we aim to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. 

CQU Program Leader Kristin Freeman said being involved in the initiative has been both inspiring and humbling:

“I hear stories of people facing enormous challenges, yet I see them working tirelessly to create better lives for themselves and their families. Sometimes all it takes is one small opportunity to help them break through the barriers holding them back. This initiative has the potential to positively impact so many lives, and I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of it.”

Help students start strong with a Be Ready Equity Pack

STEPS provides these students with the confidence, knowledge and skills needed to start a university degree. Learn what your donation to the Be Ready Equity Packs can do. 

Each Be Ready Equity Pack contains essential stationery items to support the students’ academic success. These resources are carefully selected to address common barriers faced by equity students: 

  • Laptop
  • Essential Software
  • USB Drives
  • Headphones
  • Study or Laptop Bag
  • Scientific Calculator
  • Water Bottle
  • Diary/Calendar
  • Stationery (notebooks, pens, highlighters etc.)
  • Additional items tailored to specific student needs 
Stationery pack items on a table, including laptop bag, mouse, tote bag, headphones, calculator, pens, pencils, and notepads.

While the idea behind the Be Ready Equity Packs is powerful, it is only achievable with your support. 

Here's what your donation could fund:

  • $600 - One complete Be Ready Equity Pack
  • $250 - Laptop (discounted price due to generous partner organisation)
  • $200 - Essential software package
  • $100 - Laptop bag, headphones and USB drives
  • $50 - Calculator, stationery and other study items

Your donation can equip students with the basic study materials and technology they need to start their studies prepared and with confidence.

Every contribution will go directly towards purchasing the items for the packs.

CQUniCares 2026 Appeal: Be Ready Equity Packs – Shauntae Del Manso

More about the STEPS Enabling Program

  • At CQUniversity, we are committed to widening participation in higher education in our communities through the Tertiary Education Preparatory (STEPS) course.

  • Our STEPS program remains a key pathway, enrolling 1652 students in 2025.

  • Of this number 11% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in supporting equity groups to transition into higher education.

  • Former STEPS students now make up 14% of CQU's undergraduate enrolments, and those students consistently achieve stronger first-year outcomes compared to peers entering through other pathways.

  • To extend flexibility and broaden participation, STEPS was also delivered through nine micro-credential suites via our online platform, attracting 102 enrolments in 2025.

  • Our new Pathway to STEPS initiative supported students with foundational literacy and numeracy needs through intensive tutoring, peer mentoring and structured study plans. Completion rates rose from 30% in 2024 to 50% in 2025, with withdrawal rates decreasing significantly due to proactive outreach and early intervention.

  • Manuel Nylen standing by the reception desk at the CQU Cairns campus
    “
    Receiving a Be Ready Equity Pack from CQU meant the world to me. To anyone thinking of donating to the Be Ready Initiative, I would say that you never know what is happening in someone else’s life, and the level of difference you can make is huge.

    Manuel Nylen

    STEPS

Join us in creating a positive change

Donate today to remove the barriers that stand between a student and their education.

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Inclusive Placement Assistance

Students with a disability face additional costs to participate in study placements. Donations will provide discretionary funding to assist these students to complete their placements.