Eleven UQ journalism student volunteers are reporting the international Indigenous Health Knowledge and Development Network conference on St Lucia campus this week.
Sessional academic, and former ABC broadcaster, Bruce Woolley is mentoring and coaching the students.
Mr Woolley said the students have the opportunity to carry out a wide range of journalism tasks.
“They are writing copy stories, illustrating them with their own photojournalism, packaging radio news features, producing television reports, hosting their own television interviews in studio, and posting it all to our special conference website where it can be viewed by the delegates and their family and friends around the world,” Mr Woolley said.
The students' work can be viewed here.
UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education)Professor Cindy Shannon said students were gaining practical training in journalism.
“For me, this is a really novel and great way of teaching, and I hope that it’s been good exposure and a good grounding,” Professor Shannon said.
“From a reporting point of view, I would hope it gives some sensitivity to both the way in which things are reported, and the sorts of things you report on in an indigenous context.
“The media hasn’t always had that sensitivity.”
Reporting the conference provides students with the opportunity not only to meet and interview Indigenous people from Australia, but also from North America, which is particularly pleasing to Mr Woolley, who spent two decades at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Volunteer journalism student Nicole Rowles said reporting at the INIHKD Conference was more than a practical experience.
“It’s a professional experience, whereby we’re required to create work that is of industry standard for a deadline, and within the context of cultural consideration and sensitivity,” Nicole said.
“I’m so very grateful to the University of Queensland and to the INIHKD officials for offering this invaluable educational experience.”
Another volunteer journalism student Ashleigh Weidmann said learning about different cultures' wellbeing and traditions had allowed her to gain firsthand experience.
“Interviewing, editing, researching and working with fellow students and teachers have made me realise my passion for journalism,” Ashleigh said.
“I am extremely grateful for having had this opportunity."
The project is part of the School’s ongoing commitment to working with and engaging Indigenous communities.
