A QUT program in which students support thousands of other students by helping develop skills in maths, science and IT has won the Australian Outstanding Peer Educator category of the Australasian Peer Leader Awards.
The award will be presented at the Australasian PASS and Peer Learning Conference in Melbourne on 29-30 September and accepted by members of the QUT STIMulate Student Executive who represent the 120 students putting in hundreds of hours each semester to lend a hand to others.
STIMulate Coordinator Ian Lightbody said the program was run by the QUT Library and its programs included study spaces, free drop-in assistance from trained and experienced student volunteers, online resources, and group support sessions for specific topics run by staff.
"The STIMulate Student Executive provides leadership and acts as a representative voice for the 120 student volunteers, as well as contributes significantly to the student learning experience and the peer learning culture within the university," Mr Lightbody said.
"In Semester 1 2015, the team contributed 2500 volunteer hours and assisted 1734 students. The five Executive members, who volunteered 240 hours, supported visiting students, and assisted staff with program coordination and delivery.
"They make a very significant contribution to the program's success and represent QUT at university-wide forums.
"While academic staff lead the STIMulate program, students have a very important role to play and those on the team receive training at the start of the semester. Students respond well to peer support and the program is university-wide.
"Whether a student is struggling or a high-flyer, the STIMulate program has something to offer them."
The STIMulate program began in 2013 as the amalgamation of three existing peer academic support programs from the Maths, Science and IT disciplines. It is now being used as a model for peer learning in other disciplines across QUT.
Mr Lightbody said the feedback from students for the program was testament to its success and wide reach.
"We have had students tells us they were thinking of dropping a subject until they had the benefit of support from other students doing the course via the STIMulate program," Mr Lightbody said.
"Others have said it has not just helped them with study but other aspects of university life and the making of friends."
The current STIMulate Student Executive members are 2015 QUT Volunteer of the Year winner Kristy Winter, Louis Van Dyke, Liam Spargo, Oliver McGrath and Kaitlyn Lyons.
The Australasian PASS and Peer Learning Conference is presented by the University of Wollongong.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
