CQUniversity announced a new partnership with NRL Cowboys House on Monday which aims to improve education access and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote communities.
As a Supporting Partner of the Education Program at NRL Cowboys House, CQUniversity will contribute to a tutoring initiative that it says is "transforming the education journey of young Indigenous students" who relocate to Townsville for their secondary schooling.
CQUniversity Associate Vice-President of the North Queensland region Jodie Duignan-George said the partnership was a natural fit for the University's values and regional mission.
"At CQUniversity, we believe education should be equitable, inclusive and transformative," she said.
"By supporting the NRL Cowboys House Education Program, we are helping to break down barriers that prevent Indigenous students from reaching their full potential due to geographical disadvantage," she said.
"This partnership is about standing alongside a community-led model that is achieving real impact for young people and the future of Northern Australia."
The Education Program provides individualised academic support designed to close literacy and numeracy gaps by aligning with the student's school curriculum and learning needs.
NRL Cowboys House, a program of the Cowboys Community Foundation, provides "culturally safe, purpose-built" boarding facilities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attending 10 partner schools in Townsville.
Since opening in 2017, the House has grown to support more than 100 students each year from up to 31 remote communities, with 83 graduates to date.
The "wraparound model of care" includes cultural programs, academic support, career and transition planning and wellbeing programs - making it, in CQUniversity's words, "one of Australia's most effective and unique Indigenous boarding school initiatives".
Cowboys Community Foundation chief executive Fiona Pelling welcomed CQUniversity as a Supporting Partner.
"This partnership with CQUniversity is a meaningful investment in educational equity," Ms Pelling said.
"Our students often arrive at the House with significant learning gaps, but with the right support, they thrive.
"With the support of CQU, we aim to continue to create opportunity, inspire futures and deliver long-term social and economic outcomes for our communities."
As part of the partnership, CQUniversity will also engage with House students to provide them with potential future learning and employment opportunities.
