Indigenous students

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The QUT Faculty of Law is committed to making its courses accessible to Indigenous students and assisting them in their transition to university.

The Faculty of Law has the highest representation of Indigenous students within QUT and one of the largest Indigenous student enrolments in an Australian law school.  The retention rate for the faculty’s Indigenous students exceeds the national rate and is comparable with the retention rate of non-Indigenous law students. 

Since 1999 the Faculty has offered a Pre-Law Bridging Program for commencing Indigenous students who have been accepted into the School of Law or the School of Justice. The three-day course is part of the Pre-Orientation Program and is run by in partnership with QUT Oodgeroo Unit. The course aims to give new Indigenous students at QUT a head start by ensuring they have the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for university studies and the successful completion of a law or justice studies degree. As well as teaching students the kind of critical reading and analysis skills necessary, the program includes an introduction to the Law library and QUT's information technology resources. 

In addition to the Pre-Law Bridging Program, the Faculty also provides the following financial support and assistance for its Indigenous students:

• equity-based scholarships and bursaries for undergraduate and postgraduate students
• free course materials and a text book loan scheme
• academic staff appointed to liaise with Indigenous students and the Oodgeroo Unit
• regular meetings with staff of the Oodgeroo Unit
• summer semester bursaries for undergraduate students
• placement in the Law School’s undergraduate internship unit
• representation on the QUT Law Students’ Association (QUOTALS)

The Faculty assists Indigenous students to strengthen networks with members of the legal profession through the Law Link Program and National Indigenous Cadetship Project.

The Faculty is proud of its strong links with its Indigenous students and with QUT’s Oodgeroo Unit.