KOORI STUDENTS NEEDED TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE

A program designed to encourage Koori students to study for degrees in areas such as architecture, town planning and urban design will be run at the University of New South Wales in January 2002. Late applications are now being invited.

The Built Environment Preparatory Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Students (BEPP) still has openings for people who have completed Year 10 or Year 12 and may be interested in studying for any of the courses offered through the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of New South Wales. Those courses are: architecture, landscape architecture, architectural computing, building construction management, industrial design, interior architecture and town planning.

The preparatory program is also open to mature age people. The four week preparatory program commences on 14 January 2002. It is free of charge to students and is an intensive full time program set within a culturally appropriate learning environment.

As well as meeting and learning with elders and practitioners, students will go on field trips, visit buildings, construction sites and design offices and study introductory courses such as Indigenous concepts of country, place and dwelling; design history and design practice.

The University will cover all travel and accommodation costs for students. In addition, students graduating from the program will have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship sponsored by Sutherland Shire Council. The scholarship will fund the student's study through a Bachelor of Town Planning as well as provide one year's employment as part of the work experience component of the degree.

For further information phone Rachel Hyles from the Aboriginal Education Program at the University of New South Wales on 9385 3805 or email hyles@unsw.edu.au or visit http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/courses/BEPP

MEDIA CONTACT DETAILS: Sarah Martin, tel. 9385 3192, email s.martin@unsw.edu.au