UNSW extends support for indigenous students

With the aim of easing indigenous students' transition to higher education, the UNSW Faculty of the Built Environment has launched the Built Environment Preparatory Program (BEPP).
In 2002, the initial four-week BEPP course will introduce 15 Indigenous students to university study, to the career options presented by the built environment and will give the students the opportunity to meet Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners.

The BEPP was initiated by Dr Michael Tawa, senior lecturer in architecture, in collaboration with UNSW's Aboriginal Education Program. Dr Tawa said that "Indigenous practitioners can make very important contributions to the built environment - not only for Indigenous communities in the city, country and remote areas, but also in the mainstream professions, helping to make the built environment more socially, culturally and environmentally sustainable."

Senator Aden Ridgeway, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Democrats, presented the keynote address at the BEPP launch.