Helping inspire local students to further study

First published November 1, 2013

Ten high-performing Indigenous Year 12 students from across North Queensland have received an award to recognize their achievements and to inspire them to go into university.

The Arrow Energy Aiming for University Bowen Basin Initiative involves James Cook University providing a series of engagement initiatives to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students from selected targeted schools to apply, and enrol at university.

Rachel Barber, Team Leader in JCU’s School Engagement, said the partnership was designed to increase the students’ awareness and aspiration, with a focus on students studying STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Ms Barber said the initiative consisted of a number of components.

“These include the Principals’ Arrow Awards program, which targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Year 12 to encourage students to select STEM subjects and reward high achievement in those subjects,” Ms Barber said.

Each recipient will receive one payment of $300 and an Arrow Energy Award Certificate.

Principals nominated students based on their achievement throughout Year 12 and their aspirations for the future.

Arrow Energy Community Relations Manager, Glenda Viner, said the partnership was a win for both organisations as well as for the schools and students.

“Through the Arrow Energy Reconciliation Action Plan - or RAP – Arrow is building mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous people and communities in a range of fields including Indigenous education,” Ms Viner said.

“Arrow has partnered with JCU to deliver Indigenous Tertiary Scholarships and a number of career aspiration building programs for local schools.

“This is the first time Arrow has offered awards to high performing Indigenous Year 12 students attending secondary schools in the Bowen Basin region.

“Arrow is helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland obtain long term job prospects through sponsoring more than 200 university scholarships, bursaries, training opportunities and more, and we’re pleased to contribute to even brighter futures for them.”

Recipients are:

A number of ceremonies are being held in participating schools and certificates will be presented to the students.

Dates and times:

Charters Towers – Monday, October 28

Heatley Secondary College – Tuesday, October 29

Ayr SHS – Thursday, October 31

Thuringowa SHS – Monday, November 4, Townsville Civic Theatre, 7:30pm

Kirwan SHS – Tuesday, November 12, Performing Arts Block at Kirwan SHS - 6pm for 6:30pm start

Photographs of the ceremonies which have already been held are available on request.

The program is conducted by JCU’s Get into Uni School Engagement Team, which is located in JCU’s Equity & Student Engagement unit.

JCU Media contact: Caroline Kaurila (07) 4781 4586 or 0437 028 175