The National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP) is an Australian Government initiative that improves the professional employment prospects of Indigenous Australians. It links Indigenous tertiary students with employers in a cadetship arrangement involving full-time study and work placements. The NICP is part of the Australian Government’s Indigenous Employment Policy (IEP). The IEP aims to generate more employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians. The NICP can help you gain the professional qualifications and experience you need for a range of jobs and move into employment when you finish your studies. To learn more go to the website here.

UQ LIBRARY NEWS |
Library Times
All UQ Library's are open at their usual Semester times, go here for times.

Academic Calendar
Be sure to check out the ‘Academic Calendar’ it contains important information such as; deadlines for enrolling, final dates for course selection, and when classes start each semester, break off and finish. Print it out and keep it in the back of your diary.

Find a place to live while at UQ
Finding a great place to live while studying at UQ can really enhance your experience of university life. Accommodation Services provides information and services to assist you to find a home that's right for you, and make your arrival in Brisbane as smooth as possible. Go to accommodation services to learn more.

Changes to University Rules pertaining to examinations in 2008. Students are advised that the following rules relating to examinations apply from January 2008. These changes are very important and you need to be aware of the changes. Full details of the University’s General Award Rules (Part 1A – Assessment) are available here 1. Late arrival to the examination: You may not enter an examination after the first 30 minutes of examination working time. If you arrive after the first 30 minutes, you will not be allowed to sit the examination. 2. Leaving the examination early. You cannot leave the examination room during (a) the first 30 minutes of examination working time; and (b) the final 30 minutes of examination working time. 3. Requirement to take your student ID card to the examination. You must bring your student ID card to the examination. If you don’t bring it, your results will be withheld until you take your card to a Student Centre. If you do not bring your card to a Student Centre within 14 days of the examination, a grade of zero will be recorded for the examination. 4. Due date for lodging special examination applications. If you are eligible to apply for a special examination, you must do so within 5 days of the examination you missed. Note that the timeframe has been changed. Late applications are not accepted. Application forms are available on the myAdvisor website 5. What to do if you become ill during the examination. If you become ill during an examination, you are now required to inform the examination supervisor before you leave the room that you will be applying for a special examination. You have one business day to obtain a medical certificate for that examination (e.g. students who sit an examination on Friday or Saturday have until the following Monday to obtain a medical certificate). Late applications are not accepted.

• Enrolment
• Changing or withdrawing
• Assessment
• Student rights & responsibilities
• Financial matters
• Graduation
• Forms online

So check it out and if you want further advice or it doesn't tell you what you need to know then come and talk to the staff at the Unit.

VOLUNTEER WORK:
Notice to Indigenous Practitioners | volunteer opportunity to participate in a workshop with students at UQ Ipswich campus | Monday 12 May 2008 | 1 hour between 1 and 4 pm to work with 40+ students to share your experiences of working with Indigenous communities to expose students to some cultural issues that you believe are important.
I am teaching a course on Ipswich campus in Perspectives in Community and Community Practice for the school of Human Science for first year bachelor students. In this course students are introduced to the idea of community and begin to form some frameworks for community practice. As part of this process the students are exposed to two key areas of community that require specific cultural understandings. One of those areas is working with Indigenous communities. To facilitate this experience I require the help of active practitioners in the field to help the students gain an understanding of cultural issues for their practice framework. If you are involved in any community work with Indigenous communities or know someone who is I would like to hear from you. I am wanting some volunteers to come to Ipswich campus on Monday 12 May 2008 for 1 hour between 1 and 4 pm to work with 40+ students in a workshop context to share your experiences and expose these student to some cultural issues that you believe are important.
Contact: Dr. Greg Story, Course Coordinator BESC1002 g.story@uq.edu.au or mobile 0409 055 175

Expressions of Interest are now open for the Garma Festival Key Forum | 'Indigenous Knowledge: Caring for Culture and Country' | to be held 9-11 August 2008
The nationally significant Key Forum will explore the cultural, environmental, and economic importance of Indigenous Knowledge, and the many benefits and opportunities emanating from the nurturing, preservation and use of that knowledge. Held over three days at Australia’s leading Indigenous cultural exchange event, the Key Forum will examine current actions and plans and develop key recommendations and policies in regard to Indigenous cultural traditions and practices.
In particular, it will feature presentations and discussions on the use and involvement of:
* Indigenous people and their traditional ecological knowledge in planning, land management and use, and sustainable economic development policies and actions.
* Indigenous ecological and land management knowledge in regard to the challenge of climate change and its effects, particularly on remote communities.
* Traditional Indigenous governance and operating procedures in contemporary Australia
* Indigenous art and performance in maintaining social cohesion, cultural identity and community wellbeing.
Other Key Forums: Aiming to ensure practical, positive outcomes from Key Forums, the Yothu Yindi Foundation (organiser of the Garma Festival) has introduced a rolling set of Forum themes which currently include: Indigenous Education, Indigenous Health and Indigenous Knowledge –each an issue of vital and basic importance. Each theme will be revisited on a regular cycle to review policies, actions and the progress of recommendations arising from the previous forum on that theme. Each year at Garma also it is intended that there will be a separate session focused on Regional Economic Development, and other sub-Forums on particular matters and issues, eg Indigenous art, traditional healing
Indigenous Knowledge: Caring for Culture and Country The 2008 Garma Key Forum will be centred on Indigenous knowledge and the potential benefits and opportunities emanating from it in regard to economic development, land use, community wellbeing and promoting traditional Indigenous culture. While recognising that something is “wrong” between “mainstream” development objectives and Indigenous cultural priorities, there appears to be general consensus on all sides that changes must take place in order for traditional cultural and environmental knowledge to survive. Survival depends on establishing a new framework of thinking from within which Indigenous communities, governments, industries and developers – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous – can negotiate their development priorities through a framework with real benefits for all.
At three issues of the Forum are:
the need for strategic review of the balance between the standard operating procedures of government, economic development, and traditional Indigenous ecological knowledge; the incorporation of Indigenous peoples into, and beyond, the early planning stages of mainstream development, social policy and land use; and clear recognition of the economic and social significance of Indigenous culture and the benefits that can be derived from adapting mainstream institutions that regulate and govern land use and economic development to Indigenous land management systems.
All three matters will form the foundations for the Key Forum on Indigenous Knowledge at the 2008 Garma Festival. Indigenous societies are under unprecedented pressure to stabilise the social and economic dimension of their local Indigenous systems. The economic and social development of many Indigenous communities has been seriously undermined by western ideals and practices and any sort of recovery and progress is seemingly dependent upon the striking of a balance between Indigenous cultural and economic priorities and modern development and imperatives. Mainstream conventional concepts of land use and Indigenous ecological practices and development tend to perpetuate tensions between Indigenous traditional land practitioners, cultural priorities, “western” policies and key issues related to the environment, economic strategies, industry and government.
First, there is an urgent need to take a systematic approach to halting the loss of Indigenous knowledge and to support local land management programs that will assist Aboriginal people to achieve a quality of life enjoyed by other, non-Indigenous Australians, particularly in northern Australia. Quality of life is much more than a passive involvement in economic development and land management. At one level, achieving quality of life and equity is contingent on economic freedom and sustainability. Indigenous peoples must feel secure about gaining a place at the table which will guarantee them control over the ownership, the use, and economic development of their land within the overall decision-making processes. At another level is the need to ensure that economic and development entrepreneurs and governments can participate fruitfully with Indigenous people, non-Indigenous bureaucrats, governments, and private developers, to revise their understanding of Indigenous practices, operating procedures and governance systems. The strength and perseverance of traditional Indigenous culture remains very powerful but the ability of Indigenous people to live up to their traditional responsibility of caring for country has been seriously inhibited. Ultimately, for better or worse, governance permeates every aspect of putting Indigenous knowledge into practice. Part of the reason is that modern “western” development has advanced rapidly into Indigenous life within a very brief time frame. The result is that Indigenous knowledge – an ancient culture -based system specific to different Indigenous peoples – is required to fit into the existing practices designed to fulfil the contemporary needs of western ideals. In short, the ancient inheritance of culture, tradition and land belonging to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been significantly affected by the impact of settlement, government, industry and economic development, but can and should still play a vital role in social, economic and cultural policy and action.
Go to the website: http://www.garma.telstra.com/ to submit an expression of interest and learn more about the Garma Festival

University of Queensland College Accommodation Scholarships | apply before 20 October
There are 20 of the above scholarships available to indigenous students who are seeking college accommodation for the first time at the Gatton or St Lucia campuses of the University of Queensland. Amount: the scholarship is valued at $400 and is to be used to assist with payment of the Caution Money (Security Bond) for that accommodation. This money is returned to the Unit at the end of the year. Written applications, addressed to the Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit should be submitted before 20 October, or as soon as possible. For further details call into the Unit.

The Sally White/Diane Barwick Award
$1000 for one year will be offered to a female Indigenous Australian Honours student entering fourth year at any Australian university. Applicants must be carrying out full-time Honours degree research. To apply, the applicant must write a letter about themselves, their honours topic and plans for the future. Send this, an academic transcript and details of personal and academic referees to the address below: Applications and enquiries to the following:
Secretary
Aboriginal History Inc.
GPO Box 3837 Canberra ACT 2601
Go to  website:

The Spark Fund | the first round of applications will close 26 March 2008 and successively on 30 June 2008 and 22 September 2008.
The Spark Fund provides funding support for young people aged 12-25 years to ‘ignite an innovative idea’ which makes a positive contribution to the community and enhances their skills and experiences. Applications for the Spark Fund can be made all year, with the Selection Committee meeting three times during the year to decide on applications received. Applications for Spark Fund are now open for 2008.