JCU Indigenous Summer School giving students a head start to university

Townsville teens are swapping high school halls for the hustle of university, jumping into a week-long program that’s giving them a head start on campus life and a taste of what’s to come.

Tiara O'Keefe, 18, Cooper Hemphill 18 and Kunjarra Yeatman-Noble, 17, participated in JCU`s Indigenous Summer School Program this week. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Taking part in a week-long program giving an insight into what university has to offer, recent high school graduate Emily Waters says she is excited to get stuck into her studies and immerse herself in uni life.

The Kirwan State High School graduate is to begin a Bachelor of Secondary Education with the dream of becoming a high school teacher and has taken part in a tailor-made, hands-on program.

Run by JCU’s Indigenous Education and Research Centre, the Indigenous Summer School program is a week-long, free initiative that allows students set to come to university an insight into campus life, what to expect and a headstart into learning their way around JCU.

From learning how to reference, how to read and skim journal articles as well as financial and cultural workshops included in the week-long experience, Ms Water said it had been a great experience.

“There is such a difference in lifestyle compared to how it was in high school,” she said.

“It’s good to see what it’s like to be at uni, to get a little bit more independence and feel what it’s like to live at the dorms and go to classes each day.”

Tiara O'Keefe, 18, Cooper Hemphill 18 and Kunjarra Yeatman-Noble, 17, participated in JCU`s Indigenous Summer School Program this week. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We’ve been going around the different classrooms, different buildings, learning about literacy, numeracy and a bit of chemistry.”

Arriving on Sunday afternoon, the 19 students spent the week living on-site at Saints College student accommodation and began learning essential uni skills on Monday.

With students coming from across the state, program co-ordinator Samara Daragan said it was a great opportunity for the students to connect and make connections between themselves and with staff.

“They are meeting new students and forming friendships with students that could possibly be in the same degree as them next year,” she said.

IERC academic support adviser Tupoa Guligo said his role was to ensure students felt supported during the program and also continue that connection as they begin their studies.

“My main goal is so their first day next year, they can come with their best foot forward into university,” he said.

“As a First Nations student, they are coming into a space that can be quite daunting. A lot of times, they are the eldest or maybe the first to come to university. My main goal is to take that pressure away and make the experience fun and comfortable.”

Originally published as JCU Indigenous Summer School giving students a head start to university