Future Changemakers explore what's possible at Year 8 Days

10 November 2026
Students work together with a CQUniversity staff member to build a structure from spaghetti and marshmallows during a hands-on classroom activity on campus. Orange walls and other participants can be seen in the background.
Students and CQUniversity member working on team challenge. 

By Jayde Redgen

Hundreds of Year 8 students stepped onto CQUniversity campuses across Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Mackay and Cairns this year, taking part in immersive experiences designed to spark curiosity, build confidence and encourage them to think about their futures.

Transforming campuses into vibrant hubs of creativity, culture and problem-solving, the CQUniversity Year 8 Days invited students to step beyond the classroom and explore what university life can offer through hands-on activities and meaningful connections.

Built around the theme of future changemakers, the events encouraged participants to consider a simple but powerful question: Who am I becoming?

Throughout the day, students took part in a range of interactive activities focused on sustainability, wellbeing, innovation, leadership and community impact. Working alongside their peers, they tackled challenges, explored new ideas and developed solutions to real-world issues while gaining insight into the opportunities education can create.

The program was designed to help students identify their strengths, explore their interests and better understand how those qualities could shape their future study and career pathways. Activities encouraged collaboration, creative thinking and problem-solving, while also highlighting the important role young people can play in shaping the future of their communities.

CQUniversity Future Students Coordinator Shelley Pisani said the events were designed to inspire students at a pivotal stage in their learning journey.

"These events show students that the future isn't something they wait for, it's something they can help build," Ms Pisani said.

"When young people try new experiences, connect with local knowledge holders and see real examples of innovation, they begin to recognise their own potential in a whole new way.

"Year 8 is an important time for students as they start thinking more seriously about their interests, strengths and future aspirations. We want them to leave campus feeling confident, capable and excited about what's possible."

The Year 8 Days provided many students with their first opportunity to experience a university campus firsthand. By engaging with CQUniversity staff and current students, participants gained a greater understanding of higher education and the pathways available to them after school.

Students were encouraged to think beyond traditional career outcomes and instead focus on the skills, values and personal qualities that will help them navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. Through teamwork and practical challenges, they explored the importance of resilience, adaptability and communication while learning how these skills can be applied across a range of industries and professions.

A strong sense of community was woven throughout the events, with students learning from one another as well as from the people who shared their knowledge and experiences throughout the day. These interactions helped demonstrate how different perspectives and lived experiences can contribute to positive change and stronger communities.

The events also highlighted how education can be a pathway to addressing some of society's most pressing challenges. By exploring themes such as sustainability, innovation and community wellbeing, students were encouraged to think about the positive impact they could have both locally and globally.

Across all four campuses, the atmosphere was one of enthusiasm and discovery. Students embraced opportunities to step outside their comfort zones, build new connections and engage with ideas that challenged them to think differently about their future.

The Year 8 Days form part of CQUniversity's ongoing commitment to supporting educational aspirations across regional Queensland and helping young people see themselves as future leaders, innovators and changemakers.

As participants returned to their schools, they took with them more than memories of a day on campus. They left with new perspectives, greater confidence and a stronger understanding of how their interests, talents and ambitions can create meaningful opportunities for the future.

Most importantly, they left knowing that the future is not something that simply happens to them, but something they have the power to help shape.

A CQUniversity staff member uses an ultraviolet light during a hands-on health science activity while two students examine the illuminated results on their hands. The practical classroom exercise demonstrates concepts related to hygiene and contamination.
A CQUniversity staff member guides secondary school students through a hands-on science activity, using an ultraviolet torch to examine a substance on a student's hands while other students observe and participate in the classroom demonstration.
Students work together with a CQUniversity staff member to build a structure from spaghetti and marshmallows during a hands-on classroom activity on campus. Orange walls and other participants can be seen in the background.
A CQUniversity staff member works with a group of secondary school students during a hands-on STEM challenge, helping them build a freestanding structure from spaghetti and marshmallows.
Students sit on the floor during a hands-on first aid activity while a CQUniversity staff member demonstrates how to bandage an arm. A first aid kit is placed beside the student receiving treatment as other participants observe and assist.
Students sit in a tiered university lecture theatre listening to a presentation at the front of the room. Attendees from several school groups are seated throughout the auditorium while a presenter stands beside a lectern, computer and projection screen. The image is taken from the back of the theatre, showing rows of blue seats and the large learning space.
Students sit in a tiered university lecture theatre listening to a presentation at the front of the room. Attendees from several school groups are seated throughout the auditorium while a presenter stands beside a lectern, computer and projection screen. The image is taken from the back of the theatre, showing rows of blue seats and the large learning space.
Students gather on a university lawn outside a campus building during an organised visit or activity day. Groups of students in school uniforms sit at picnic tables, walk between activity areas and relax on the grass, while others congregate under a covered outdoor space. Trees, shade sails and landscaped grounds surround the busy campus setting on a sunny day.