Information for families

Education is the process of developing ourselves. It allows us to understand the world around us and our place in it. It gives us the ability to reason and make our own judgements, to empathise and socialise with others. As a universal declaration of human right, everyone has the right to quality education; it is key in improving health and financial outcomes. It equips us to seize control of our careers and create social change, which we can take back to our communities.

We have summarised some benefits of going to uni:

• To build communication skills in reading and writing, as well as effective listening and the ability to articulate what we want to say
• It develops critical thinking which boosts creativity, time management and decision-making skills
• Graduates have a competitive edge when searching for a job; this increases employment opportunities and the likelihood of securing a high-paying job
• It shows employers our ability to work hard and successfully complete goals making us responsible and knowledgeable employees
• With increased employment rates and high paying jobs, graduate incomes contribute to economy growth which decreases society’s poverty rates
• It provides financial resources for stable lives so people can afford safe housing and good health
• Graduates tend to take part in projects that improve their neighbourhoods and communities
• Education equips us to better understand laws and regulations, so we can shape the society we live in

“These individuals, having benefited from the university's empowering environment, are now better equipped to drive self-determination plans and seize control of their own futures” – Professor Martin Nakata (2023).

Courses at JCU are typically between 3 and 4 years full-time; however, this is dependent on the course they have chosen. View our course finder page. Students can return home during semester/trimester breaks if they don't have any study commitments during this time. You can check the academic calendars at any time to see when the breaks are.

Students can keep in touch with their family throughout the entirety of their studies. Just double check you have a reliable contact number for you to reach them on.

You can always contact us if you have any concerns. General email enquiries are also welcome; please just email us at ierc@jcu.edu.au. JCU also has a contact directory which you or your loved one can use.

Our support services don’t just look after your loved one’s academic progress; we are here to make sure they are safe. JCU also has security on campus and information on safety and wellbeing. This covers physical and mental health supports including the general health facilities on / near the Bebegu Yumba Townsville and Nguma-bada Cairns and campuses that students have access to.

The IERC is a safe environment for students to go to if they need guidance or resources. We have a centre in both Bebegu Yumba Townsville campus (Building 301) and Nguma-bada Cairns campus (Building A21). We contact students via phone and email every few weeks to see how they are going with transitioning into uni, their studies and finances as well as their general wellbeing.

Our students also have access to various professional development opportunities, mentor and peer-support programs, and learning support. We have information to assist our students with finances and scholarship opportunities. JCU also has a variety of support services for all their students.

We have created a page for our students so they can build and expand their social circles. Our centres have three or more BBQs at the IERC every semester for our students to come in, make new friends and eat free food! There is also the Townsville Indigenous Student Association they can join to meet weekly for group study sessions and social/cultural events. The JCU Student Association is also open to any JCU students who are interested in meeting people and building supports through various memberships, clubs, sports and events.

Your family member will likely be applying for a pathway into uni or an undergraduate degree. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance – this is what we are here for!

The link for the JCU application page can look overwhelming; just let us know and we will walk you through the process.

Once your family member has been accepted into JCU, they need to click here to go through the step by step process of enrolling into JCU and activating their student account. There is also information on JCU’s enrolment page on upcoming enrolments. If stuck, please contact us and we will assist you. This is your first time, so it’s ok if you’re feeling unsure; this is what we’re here for!

If an enrolment needs to be adjusted, please contact us so we can help you through this process.

Information about our campuses can be found here.

Click here to see the video we have created so you can take a virtual tour of the IERC on the Bebegu Yumba Townsville campus. A video tour of the Nguma-bada Cairns campus is currently being put together.

There is accommodation support for our Indigenous students which includes information about financial assistance and study support. We are currently putting together a video of accommodation options so you can see where your loved one could be living their uni life!

JCU has a range of transport and parking options including student discounts for public transport.

We are happy to help you with any questions you might have about financial support. In fact, we check in with our students often to make sure they are doing ok financially, so if they’re not sure how to ask for help, we’ll ask those questions for you.

The IERC is opened 24/7 to our Indigenous students for meeting spaces and computer labs on both the Bebegu Yumba Townsville and Nguma-bada Cairns campuses. JCU also has computer labs available 24/7 to all students.

Yes, they can connect to JCU's wireless network using their laptop. For instructions on how to do this, go to our Getting Connected to Wireless self-help guide.