The Brolga Project is an initiative which strives to place (mostly) metropolitan-based university students into rural and regional businesses for a period of work experience. The goal of the project is to introduce the students to the excellent quality lifestyle and career opportunities available in regional centres, and encourage them back to a full time regional career after they've graduated.

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Launched in October 2008 first into the Queensland University of Technology, the project has grown to have a presence in 24 universities across Australia, with over 1200 students on it's books. In a little under three years the project has placed 50 students into rural and regional businesses; about 6 of those have taken up full time or part time roles, so we're running at about 10 percent retention rate.

There's plenty of room to pick that rate up by closer nurturing of the placed students. That will happen as we continue to grow, the project is currently operating from a home-based office in Brisbane, and is looking to move to a regional centre as soon as possible. Ultimately there is nothing like face to face communication, and the sooner we can get into a regional centre and get more of our students out, the sooner the project will start to feed off itself and grow exponentially.

The students have a terrific time when they are on placement, and almost invariably comment to two extents: 1) the scope of exposure they receive on placement and 2) 'People are so friendly out there!!'

To participate in the project rural and regional businesses, please click here, students, please click here.