More than 330 of Queensland’s smartest Year 11s and 12s are swapping school for university over their winter holidays to supercharge their future at the annual QUT Future You Summit in Brisbane.
The four-day summit runs from July 1 to 4 at QUT’s Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses, with 97 regional students also attending an orientation day on June 30 to settle into their boarding accommodation at Somerville House.
This year a record 338 high-achieving students have been selected to take part in the week. Nearly two-thirds (69 per cent) of those are female students.
The high schoolers are coming from around greater Brisbane, as well as across regional Queensland, northern New South Wales and even Norfolk Island (see full list below).
They will work with QUT researchers and students on projects in diverse fields including cybersecurity, privacy law, fashion, animation, astrophysics, climate science, mechanical engineering, sports technology and industrial design.
They’ll also hear from leading industry guest speakers over the week.
QUT Professor Rowena Barrett, QUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship and Regional Innovation), said the summit students represented the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.
“This is the 13th year of the QUT Future You Summit, which gives high school students the opportunity to expand their skill sets beyond the classroom, explore future career ambitions with like-minded peers, and experience the QUT community,” she said.
“We fund the summit as part of QUT’s commitment to investing in Australia’s future by shaping confident, innovative and forward-thinking leaders.”
Professor Barrett said the visiting Year 11s and 12s would attend workshops from their chosen study areas, and connect with QUT undergraduate students, academics and industry members to get insights for their future.
“It’s wonderful to see the connections that are made during the week and how excited the students are to be here and really get a taste of university life,” she said.
“And we get to see many of them again, once they finish high school.
“This year, we had 105 new first-year students who started at QUT after attending the Future You Summit when they were in Year 11 or 12.
“It really does gives them a chance to see their future and get a head start on their career goals”.
Local students attending the 2025 Summit include Year 11s and 12s from Anglican Church Grammar School, the Australian International Islamic College, Brisbane State High, Cleveland District State High, Ferny Grove State High, Grace Lutheran College (Caboolture), Hillbrook Anglican School, Indooroopilly State High, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, Kelvin Grove State College, Mitchelton State High, Mt Maria College, Moreton Bay College, Narangba Valley State High, North Lakes State High, Redcliffe State High, Somerville House, Sunnybank State High, The Gap State High, Villanova College, and Wavell State High.
The 338 students selected to attend the QUT Future You Summit represent 165 schools across Queensland, Northern NSW, and Norfolk Island:
- Brisbane and surrounds – 205 students from Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay and Redland.
- North Coast – 29 students from Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Gympie, Hervey Bay, Kilcoy, Maryborough and the Sunshine Coast.
- South-East Qld – 34 students from Logan, Gold Coast, and Scenic Rim.
- Central Qld – 28 students from Banana, Biloela, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, and Yeppoon.
- Darling Downs/South-West: 11 students from Goondiwindi, Kingaroy, Miles, Nanango, Oakey, Toowoomba and Warwick.
- Far North Qld: 9 students from Cairns, Daintree, Innisfail, and Tablelands.
- North Qld: 18 students from Bowen, Ingham, Mount Isa, Proserpine, and Townsville.
- Northern NSW and Norfolk Island: 4 students from Northern New South Wales and 3 students from Norfolk Island.
Professor Barrett said every student attending the Future You Summit would also receive a copy of Inspired Success – a book by QUT graduate Rashan Senanayake, who is CEO of Inspired Education Australia.
“Students will be encouraged to write their personal reflections directly in the book as they engage with concepts around purpose, mindset, and motivation,” Professor Barrett said.
“This ensures that all students – including those from regional or underrepresented backgrounds – leave not only with inspiration, but with a tangible resource to guide their next steps.”
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- After hours, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
