Enabling people to 'see what they can be'… : the Community Aspirations Program (CAP-ED)

The Community Aspirations Program in Education (CAP-ED) was developed by CQUniversity’s Office of Indigenous Engagement to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student participation in higher education. CAP-ED was developed in consultation with six Central Queensland communities, to form a localised and flexible pathway to higher education. The program’s development included extensive consultation with Traditional Owners, Elders, community members and key stakeholders. The resulting program included an information session, five short workshops (named CQU and Me) and community networking lunches. The CAP-ED program focuses on identity, culture and aspirations, to support participants in recognising their potential to participate in higher education. Important aspects of CAP-ED include extensive engagement during program development, flexible delivery to accommodate the needs and practices of each community, and face-to-face engagement between community members and university staff. The elements of the program work together to help participants ‘see what they can be’ (Wilks & Wilson, 2014), and then recognise that they have the ability to take a step along the path towards what they see.