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Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme

The GUMURRII Student Support Unit facilitates the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme for Indigenous students at Griffith University. ITAS is an academic support initiative of the Department of Education, Science and Training, which aims to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous Australian students. DEST funding covers the costs associated with providing tutors, and there is no charge to the students themselves.

Eligibility:

A student must
  • Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
  • Identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  • Be accepted as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which he/she lives or has lived
  • Be enrolled in full time or part time formal study leading to a degree or other qualifications at Griffith University; or
  • Be accepted for enrolment in a course that commences within one month of lodging an application for assistance

Application:

Students are required to complete the Student Application Form. Applications are also available from any GUMURRII Student Support Unit across the 5 campuses or directly from the ITAS coordinator. Applications are submitted directly to the Learning Assistance Officer in the GUMURRII Student Support Unit on your respective campus.

How it works:

Once the application has been lodged, an assessment is made of your needs. This is done by the Learning Assistance Officers.

Successful applicants are then matched, by the Learning Assistance Officers, with tutors who have skills, knowledge and expertise of the chosen discipline in which tutoring is required.

The LAOs then arrange a meeting between the student and tutor; when meeting face-to-face is not possible, telephone and email are used for tutor/student communication. In the first meeting, timetables will be organised, aims and objectives discussed and the outcomes desired by the student.

The LAO will maintain constant contact with both student and tutor to gather progress updates and feedback. Any concerns that students or tutors may have, should be raised with the LAO.

Please remember:

ITAS has been established to assist Indigenous students in achieving the best possible outcomes in their courses. Students often think tutoring support is only there to be used when they are really struggling with their studies, but in fact, it is available to all Indigenous Australian students enrolled at the University, at any stage of their course, whether they are studying part-time, full-time or on a reduced load.

Blue Card application form

All tutors and potential tutors are required to obtain a Blue Card or fill out and submit the Blue Card application form (PDF 254k) prior to ITAS contracts being approved.

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