Study at CQU
What to Study
Information About
Engage with CQU
Industry
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.
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
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
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
Registrations are open until March. Sign up now.
Complete your activity for the month.
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.
Experience the satisfaction of knowing your contribution is helping students feel supported, informed and better prepared for graduation and beyond.
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. |
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.
Volunteer to share your professional experience with students or fellow alumni.
You might speak about:
To register your interest, email: alumni-enquiries@cqu.edu.au
Offer an honest look at your working life.
You might include:
Email your video submission to: alumni-enquiries@cqu.edu.au
Write a short practical guide to help students navigate early career life.
Suggested topics include:
You might begin with:
Submit via the online form.
Help students understand what’s happening in your sector right now.
You could explore:
You might begin with:
Submit via the online form.
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.
Share a piece of content in the digital alumni community. This could be:
Once posted, confirm completion via the online form.
Complete the Alumni Advice questionnaire to share your study insights with current students.
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.
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.
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.
CQUniversity acknowledges Traditional Owners and Custodians and pays respect to the Elders of all First Nations peoples of Australia.CQUniversity Australia is a trading name of Central Queensland University
ABN: 39 181 103 288
RTO Code: 40939
CRICOS: 00219C
TEQSA: PRV12073
