Pacific Islander students are being encouraged to “dream big dreams” at the inaugural PolyVision: Pacific Youth of Tomorrow event hosted UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre at UQ Ipswich this Friday, July 13.
Savali Harvey, UQ’s Pacific Island Project Officer responsible for coordinating PolyVision, said the event would target Pacific Island high school students in the Inala to Ipswich corridor, seeking to inspire them to broaden their horizons and consider higher education.
“PolyVision aims to plant a seed in the minds of Pacific Islander students so they start to think that no dream is ever too small and no dream is ever too big,” she said.
“We’re telling them not to allow their situation to dictate what they can achieve. We’re saying ‘let university or let TAFE be options that are open to you’.
“You don’t have to be the smartest kid in the class to succeed. Whatever you want to do in your life is within your reach. You just have to be willing to put in the work.”
PolyVision represents one of a number of outcomes of an 18-month research project undertaken by the UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre.
This equity project was designed using a reflective, collaborative process with local Samoan and Tongan communities, to identify and address issues impacting on higher education access for young people.
Initial research revealed that in recent years the numbers of Pacific Islander students entering university or TAFE did not reflect the growth in the population.
“Pacific Islander students face all of the challenges which go hand-in-hand with coming from a lower socio-economic background,” Savali Harvey said.
“There are financial considerations, systemic issues relating to disengagement and attainment at school, lack of understanding regarding the benefit of higher education and a lack of positive role models.
“The result is that too many Pacific Islander people go to work in factories or administration. Not many consider professional or technical careers or working in the arts.
“We want them to know that they have options and that education is the key that opens up your options.”
Polyvision will be attended by 50 Pacific Islander students from local high schools, 10 Pacific Islander mentors, 10 community elders and staff from the University of Auckland who will assist in the running of the program. PolyVision is co-coordinated by UQ-Link and the UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre with the assistance of staff from the University of Auckland.
Media: For further information contact:
Sarah Schindeler, Marketing & Development Manager - UQ Ipswich on 3381 1068 or 0421 587 278 OR
Savali Harvey, Pacific Island Project Officer, UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre on 3381 1373 or 0411 821 695
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