News

Kurt Burger-Trudgett, Cornwell Pearson and Zach Curtis are three young Indigenous football players switching between books and footy boots, with support from QUT's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support unit and Elite Athlete Program.

All three young men have entered QUT through the Oodgeroo Unit's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centralised Assessment Selection Program (CASP) which is designed to increase opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prospective students into a variety of degrees that QUT have to offer.

Zach, a first-year Bachelor of Exercise Physiology student, said watching a mate's long recovery after being diagnosed with bone cancer prompted him to go to university.

"Regardless of what happens with my football career I want to finish my degree," he said.

"I watched my mate go through rehabilitation and I thought 'that's something I could do - help people to recover from something like that'."

Holding positions in the South Queensland and Border Districts touch football teams and the under 20's Queensland and Australian squads as well as playing rugby union for Brothers in the Premier Colts Team, he admits the hours are long, but steering clear of alcohol has helped him to keep his focus.

Kurt, also from the Gold Coast and Cornwell, a Poruma man from Coconut Island in the Torres Strait, both play in feeder teams for the NRL while studying.

Kurt, a first year in a Bachelor of Education (secondary) plays for the North Devils, a feeder team for the Brisbane Broncos, while Cornwell, a second year Bachelor of Education (Primary) student plays for the Ipswich Jets, a feeder team for the Gold Coast Titans.

Kurt said he was looking to strike a balance between study, football and working to support himself.

"I've been playing footy for a long time and it is important to me to be able to keep playing," he said.

"I had a great teacher in high-school who taught health. I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do after school and a coordinator suggested teaching.

"I would like to have a similar influence in promoting healthy lifestyles to young people."

The QUT Elite Athlete program provides student athletes with the same opportunity to excel in their studies as normal students, while also training, something the three men said had been key in helping them achieve their goals both on and off the field.

"We go away a lot as well as having to be training most of the week so we do need a level of self-discipline," Kurt said.

"Having the support means we can study as well not having to give up footy."

For more information on the QUT Elite Athlete Program visit:
http://www.careers.qut.edu.au/student/elite/index.jsp