Students with disabilities

In 2008, there were 579 students registered with the Equity and Disability Unit’s disability service.

218 of these had registered for the first time in 2008.

The Equity and Disability Unit coordinates a wide range of services for students with disabilities. A highlight in 2008 has been a major project with the library, to develop an in-house system to provide materials in alternative formats to students with print disabilities.

Using sophisticated software bought by the library, books and other print resources are produced in the format needed, and uploaded to a student’s own password-protected web page. In its first year of operation the service was provided to 25 students who reported enthusiastically on the difference it made to their studies.

Clemente Australia program

The Clemente Australia program aims to break the cycle of poverty, inequity and social injustice among disadvantaged people in Australia by offering them university-level education.

ACU works together with Mission Australia and the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide a number of courses across Australia.

The 2008 graduations included students who had completed a Certificate of Liberal Studies through the program.

Education for Indigenous students

ACU was one of 10 universities Australia-wide that received five stars for Indigenous Participation in the 2008 report for the 2009 Good Universities Guide.

Generous provision continues to be made for Indigenous people entering the University, as well as ongoing support for continuing Indigenous students.

There were 359 Indigenous students enrolled in 2008, a 3 per cent increase from the previous year, and 59 Indigenous students graduated during the year.

Graduate outcomes for ACU Indigenous students

Community involvement in our Indigenous programs

An Indigenous Health Symposium was held during the year for health educators and workers with nursing and social work students at the Brisbane Campus. The focus of the symposium was What universities can do to support better health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

Guest Speaker Dr Stefan Girola presented his PhD research on Early Church Relations with Indigenous People.

Indigenous poet Lisa Bellear was the University’s writer-in-residence during Indigenous Week in October. Aboriginal poets Ken Canning and Yvette Holt were guest speakers at a tribute to her.