Choices takes out Community Engagement Award at Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards
The Choices Applied Theatre Project (known fondly as Choices), which is joint partnership between Central Queensland University, local and state government departments and Mackay Crime Prevention Unit, was awarded the Community Engagement Award at the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards in Sydney last night.
Nicole Thomson, Kim MacKenzie, Sergeant Nigel Dalton, Professor Judith Brown, CQU Dean of School of Education and the Arts Professor Bill Blayney and Professor Helen Huntly
Choices is an applied theatre project which has been assisting in educating school leavers over the last 17 years. Choices reaches over 3000 year 12 students from Townsville to Rockhampton each year with safety messages around alcohol, drugs and sexual activity before they go to Schoolies Week.
There are many who contribute to the success of this project and it was wonderful to join staff from CQU in Sydney last night to receive the award.
Thanks should be given to many who make this project successful and I fear I may leave some out so I will try to be general in content.
Thanks goes to…
- All past CQU Conservatorium students who have performed in Choices
- All CQU staff for their support
- All police and VIPs who have supported the project
- All Whitsunday Regional Council staff for their continued support
- All members of Queenland Health who have given support and guidance the years
- The awesome Red Frogs
- Department of Communities
- For all High school staff who allow us to come to their schools, interrupt their timetable to perform a musical play that is designed to keep them safe after leaving school.
Choices 2017 is due to hit the road again in late October and schools in Rockhampton, Townsville and Mackay will be hosting a total of 28 shows. Twenty CQU students will be volunteering their time over the two weeks on tour to help keep the next generation safe at Schoolies and beyond.
Source: Mackay Crime Alert
