30 Minutes a Month
30 Minutes a Month is a micro-volunteering program — where small acts on your part make a big difference to our students. You give just 30 minutes of your month to complete activities that benefit you, current students and your fellow graduates. These activities support your professional development, help students get the most out of their education and demonstrate the impact our alumni are making in our communities.
The program runs annually from March to November.
Each month, participants receive a priority activity designed to take around 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can complete one of the standing activities. Every completed activity counts toward recognition at three, six and nine completed months across the year, with milestone rewards acknowledging your contribution along the way.
Read below to explore this year’s range of activities and frequently asked questions.
From a Certificate I to a PhD, all CQUniversity graduates are eligible to participate. Registrations are now open: sign up to be part of this year’s program.
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Being an alumnus of CQU means being part of an exclusive group of changemakers — and giving back to CQU by mentoring and supporting students.
Edmond D'Albret
Diploma of Human Resources Management, Certificate IV in Human Resources, Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
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The alumni community has been an invaluable resource, giving me professional insights and the confidence to pursue further study.
Evangeline Bridges
Certificate III in Individual Support
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To me, being an alumnus of CQU means staying connected to a community that helped shape who I am today. It’s about giving back, sharing experiences and supporting the next generation of students and leaders.
Tanya O'Shea
Bachelor of Psychology, Master of Business Administration
Get involved
Sign up
Registrations are open: sign up now.
Complete your activity
Complete your activity for the month.
Submit
Submit your activity so we can send you your rewards.
Every completed activity counts toward recognition at three, six and nine completed months across the year.
| Months completed | Reward |
|---|---|
| 3 Months | CQU Alumni merchandise (details to be confirmed) |
| 6 Months | Luke Mallie Artist Collection rPET Reusable Fold-Up Shopping Bag (3 Pack) with Drawstring Bag |
| 9 Months | Choice of selected books, including titles by CQUniversity academics and thought leaders |
Participants who complete at least six months will also receive a CQU Alumni Contributor digital badge. Badges will be issued at the end of the program in December 2026.
*Rewards are subject to change based on availability.
Why Participate?
Make a difference
Experience the satisfaction of knowing your contribution is helping students feel supported, informed and better prepared for graduation and beyond.
Strengthen your professional profile
This program is designed to help you build demonstrable experience through alumni contribution, mentoring insight and thought leadership.
You can reference completed activities on your resume or LinkedIn profile as examples of professional engagement and community leadership.
If you share content publicly, you’ll also be showcasing your expertise and communication skills to your network — visible evidence of your professional voice in action.
When you were studying, did you ever have a moment where you weren’t sure where your study was taking you; or how to approach the leap between study and your first job? Many of the tasks in this program are designed to help students in these times – and the people best positioned to give advice are those who have experienced it.
This program is designed to involve alumni in simple activities that make a big difference - both to your professional development, but also to current students and the University.
We want to reward you for getting involved because your contribution through these carefully selected activities really helps students get the most of their education, and helps the University demonstrate the impact alumni are making in our communities.
Below are the 2026 activities for the 30 Minutes a Month program.
Each month features one priority activity, with the option to complete a standing activity instead (find these below).
Once you’ve completed an activity, submit it via the online form or via email so your month can be marked as complete. Note, your month cannot be marked as complete unless a submission notification is received. You’ll receive full details in the monthly activity email sent to all participants.
Please make sure you have signed up as a participant before submitting your first activity.
| Month | Activity |
|---|---|
| March | Build the CQU Survival Kit Support students starting their CQU journey by sharing one practical insight from your own experience. Choose to:
Contributions will be collated into a digital CQU Survival Kit shared with students during Orientation. |
| April | Career Curveballs Careers rarely follow a straight line. Share an honest story that helps students build resilience and realistic expectations. Choose to:
Stories will be shared with students to help them prepare for real-world career pathways. |
| May | Paying It Forward May focuses on small acts that create meaningful impact. Choose to:
These reflections highlight that impact isn’t always financial — shared experiences matter too. |
| June | My Job, Unfiltered Help students understand what careers are really like beyond job titles. Choose to:
Or:
Your contribution will be shared with students through blogs and student-facing platforms. |
| July | The Tool That Changed Everything Share one mindset, habit or resource that made a genuine difference in your professional life. Choose to:
These insights help students build confidence and practical readiness. |
| August | Mentoring Month In line with Mentoring Month at CQU, share a question or insight that shaped your development. Choose to:
Contributions will be developed into mentoring resources for students and alumni. |
| September | The Turning Point Share a defining moment that shaped your academic or professional journey. Choose to:
These reflections reassure students that uncertainty is a natural part of growth. |
| October | The Photo That Says It All Celebrate a moment that captures your connection to CQU. Choose to:
These contributions form part of CQU’s living alumni story. |
| November | Complete the short closing survey to reflect on your experience in the program and help shape future iterations. |
Standing activities
An activity is set for each month (see "Monthly activities' above). If you don't want to complete a priority activity, you can choose to complete one of the activities below.
Once you have completed your activity, remember to submit it via our online form so your month can be marked as complete. All standing activities should take no longer than 30 minutes.
Guest Speaker or Panel Contributor
Volunteer to share your professional experience with students or fellow alumni.
You might speak about:
- Emerging trends or changes in your industry
- Navigating your first professional role
- What employers look for beyond the résumé
- Career pathways in regional or remote areas
- Inclusive and supportive workplace practices
- Employability insights for international graduates
- Early career challenges
- A skills-focused topic relevant to your field
To register your interest, email: alumni-enquiries@cqu.edu.au
A Day in the Life (3–5 Minute Video)
Offer an honest look at your working life.
You might include:
- What a typical day looks like
- Tasks that might surprise people
- A part of your role that people don’t expect
- Advice for someone considering your profession
- Something you wish you’d known earlier
- The part of your job you enjoy most
Email your video submission to: alumni-enquiries@cqu.edu.au
Career “How-To” Micro-Guide (150–200 words)
Write a short practical guide to help students navigate early career life.
Suggested topics include:
- Preparing for your first performance review
- Managing up in your first job
- Writing a strong cold outreach email
- Thriving in your first 90 days
- Building confidence in meetings
- Working with clients for the first time
You might begin with:
- “One thing that helped me early in my career was…”
- “A small habit that makes a big difference is…”
- “If I could teach new graduates one thing, it would be…”
Submit via the online form.
Industry Snapshot
Help students understand what’s happening in your sector right now.
You could explore:
- What’s changing in your industry in 2026
- Skills becoming more important
- A misconception people have about your field
- How the graduate job market is shifting
- The impact of technology or AI in your area
You might begin with:
- “One big change I’m seeing in my industry is…”
- “Graduates entering this field should…”
- “Something people often get wrong about my job is…”
- “AI/technology is changing our work by…”
Submit via the online form.
Scholarship Reflection
Were you a scholarship recipient while studying at CQU?
In 4–6 sentences, share how your scholarship impacted your academic or professional journey.
Submit via the online form.
Digital Alumni Community Contribution
Share a piece of content in the digital alumni community. This could be:
- An article you’ve written
- A professional insight
- A presentation or video
- Something relevant to your field
Once posted, confirm completion via the online form.
Alumni Advice Questionnaire
Complete the Alumni Advice questionnaire to share your study insights with current students.
Promote an Opportunity
Sign your business up to Career Hub and promote a job vacancy to students.
Important: Don't forget to complete our online form to confirm you've completed an activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can choose to complete the monthly priority activity or one of our standing activities. You can view the monthly priority and standing activities above.
No. You can only submit 30 minutes of activity each month.
The 30 Minutes a Month program rewards alumni for continuous participation. But we understand that life happens, and you may not be able to complete your 30 minutes of activity each month. If you miss a month you can keep participating in the program.
Rewards are sent when you complete three, six and nine months of the program.
Yes! You can register and start participating at any time – but you will only be able to complete the months remaining.
More Information
If you have any questions or would like more information on the program contact the Alumni Relations Team on alumni-enquiries@cqu.edu.au or +61 7 4923 2875.
