Employability Award activities guide

There is a set of program requirements that must be completed before you can submit an application to be considered for the Award. On this page, you will find a list of suggested Award activities for each category as well as some information to consider when planning your activities.

Things to consider

When planning, please consider the following information:

This list is not exclusive and you are encouraged to find your own unique experiences as well.
Plan ahead because access to some activities can be limited due to a competitive application process or specific discipline/study-related requirements.
To ensure the activities you complete are eligible, make sure you read the Program Requirements and Eligible Activities sections within the conditions of participation. You can also contact employability@uq.edu.au to have someone check the eligibility.
Regularly visit the UQ StudentHub Jobs Portal to peruse the advertised opportunities.

Important information about external services

UQ may refer students to external websites or services operated by third parties that are not affiliated with The University of Queensland (UQ). UQ does not endorse, approve, recommend, monitor or partner with these services and has no control over their content, availability, security or privacy practices. Any reference to these services is provided for information only. UQ makes no representations about the quality, safety, accuracy or suitability of these services and is not responsible for their content or for how personal information is collected, stored or used by the provider. Students who choose to use these services do so at their own discretion and should take reasonable precautions, including reviewing the provider’s terms of use and privacy policies before creating an account or sharing personal information.

Important Notice

Supplementary Activity Update: As of Semester 2, 2024, to achieve the Employability Award, all students are required to complete My Career Adviser (MCA) as a compulsory supplementary activity, alongside their four remaining activities. You will not be able to submit a final application for the award until your completion of the MCA is submitted into your workflow. Students will be automatically enrolled into the EA-MCA site within a week of registration during semesters. If unsure, you can review the EA-MCA Guidance and Support session recording or email employability@uq.edu.au.

This Activities Guide is always available to help you plan and complete activities that are eligible towards the Award.

Work Experience Category

Work Experience activities are those performed in the workplace or virtually, which support the day - to - day running of the organisation to meet their business objectives. These can be paid or unpaid.

Activity type

Activity description

Further information

Paid Work Experience

This includes Casual, Part-time and Full-time employment undertaken at UQ or with an external organisation.

Employment held during your studies provides an excellent opportunity for you to gain important skills, such as the ability to work well within a team, customer service skills and time management. This can include a wide range of work experience, for example working in a cafe, tutoring at UQ, or casual work with the Student Relations Network.

Unpaid Work Experience

This includes unpaid work experience in a field relevant to your studies.

If you are looking to undertake unpaid work experience outside of your required coursework , you and the host organisation must enter into an Unpaid Work Experience Arrangement. You may like to look into applying for the Summer and Winter Research Program which is classified as unpaid work experience and has opportunities across most fields.

To understand more about this type of work, visit the Unpaid Work Experience webpage.

Internships

There a variety of domestic, virtual and global internships organised through UQ.

Internships allow you to apply and contextualise your studies in an organisational environment and gain a competitive edge in the job market. For the purpose of the Employability Award, internships must be extra-curricular and not for credit.

View current opportunities or check with your faculty and school for opportunities relevant to your discipline.

External Internship Programs

A variety of external organisations host student internships.

Visit StudentHub to start searching for your next opportunity.

UQ Ambassador Programs

There are various ambassador programs offered within UQ. Check with your faculty or school for opportunities.

UQ Ambassador Programs provide an excellent opportunity for current undergraduate students to share their knowledge and experiences with others. Student Ambassadors are essentially the face of UQ and are therefore required to have a working knowledge of their study area, the campuses and the facilities available to students.

Types of programs include:

Volunteering Category

Volunteering activities can be defined as those that are undertaken for the main purpose of benefiting someone else, such as a church, sporting club, government school, charity, or community organisation, for which you do not receive payment.

Activity type

Activity Description

Further information

UQ community

Get Involved at UQ

Get Involved at UQ is the place to find a variety of volunteering, mentoring and student representation roles within UQ. To discover and sign up for these types of opportunities, simply visit the Get Involved Portal.

UQ Faculty and School Volunteers

There may be specific volunteering opportunities offered by your faculty or school.

Examples of programs include:

UQ Colleges Residential Assistant

As a Residential Assistant, you will be a role model to other residents by providing pastoral care and general support. In doing so, this role also provides an opportunity to develop your leadership skills. You must be a resident of a UQ college to apply.

Volunteer for a UQ research study

Volunteers make our game-changing research possible. To view the current volunteer opportunities click on the research units below:

External community

Not-for-profit and charity volunteering

UQ strongly encourages students to get involved in international or Australian volunteering opportunities and make a difference. To count towards the Award, organisations must be a charity or not-for-profit that is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, or the international equivalent.

Find opportunities through:

University of Queensland Union (UQU)

This includes:

UQU Event Volunteers
UQ APS Volunteers
UQ Student Club or Society Volunteers

Volunteer at UQU Events to make new friends, up-skill, support other students and contribute to a better campus and community.

UQ Ambassador Programs

There are various ambassador programs offered within UQ. Check with your faculty or school for opportunities.

Types of programs include:

Supplementary Category

Supplementary activities can be defined as those that are purely for the development of both your personal and professional skills or attributes. Note: There are 14 Activity types listed below, you must complete five (5) different activity types to be eligible to progress with the Award.

Important Reminders

Supplementary Activity Update: As of Semester 2, 2024, to achieve the Employability Award, all students are required to complete My Career Adviser (MCA) as a compulsory supplementary activity, alongside their four remaining activities. You will not be able to submit a final application for the award until your completion of the MCA is submitted into your workflow. Students will be auto-enrolled into the EA-MCA on a weekly basis during semesters and periodically during breaks. If unsure, you can review the EA-MCA Guidance and Support session recording or email employability@uq.edu.au.

Please read the below activity type to understand the requirements.

Activity type

Activity Description

Further information

My Career Adviser
(Compulsory Supplementary Activity)

Includes your successful completion of the self-paced My Career Adviser resource through UQ Blackboard

My Career Adviser (MCA) is an online learning resource that includes diverse topics on resumes and job applications, interviews, networking, professional identity, managing your online profile, and career action planning, amongst other areas.

Students will be auto-enrolled into the EA-MCA on a weekly basis during semesters and periodically during breaks. You will gain access to the blackboard site and review all modules and assessments successfully. The completion of the MCA will help to prepare you for your final application for the Employability Award. You can review the EA-MCA Guidance and Support session recording to understand this element.

It is recommended to allow yourself 30 - 40 hours to complete all required assessments. Please review the MCA Get Started Guide.

Career enhancement

Includes your involvement in and completion of any other experience that will enhance your employability either internal or external of the UQ community.

Examples of programs include, but aren't limited to:

Career Enhancement Program
HASS Portfolio Projects
Toastmasters International
UQ Science Leaders Award
UQ Employability Week*
*Requires attendance for a minimum of five (5) hours, which cannot be accrued accross multiple years. You will be required to list which events you attend.

Career Mentoring Program (Mentee)

Includes your involvement as a mentee in a structured career mentoring program either internal or external to the UQ community.

Engage in a structured career mentoring program where you are matched to a person (usually from industry) who provides you with advice, support, and coaching related to your career goals. This may be a reciprocal relationship where you discuss a variety of subjects that help develop your personal and/or professional capabilities. It does not include peer mentoring programs.

Examples of career mentoring programs include, but aren't limited to:

Competitions

Includes your participation as a competitor whether it be in an academic or industry competition internal or external of the UQ community.

Consider checking with your faculty, school or club/society for opportunities specific to your discipline.

Examples of competitions include but aren't limited to:

TC Beirne School of Law Mooting Competition
Australian University Rocket Competition
Ventures Industry Challenge
UQCS Hackathon or other club/society competitions
FABA Hackathon (August 2025 by Ventures)

Conferences and Scholarly works
(Academic and Professional)

Includes any conferences you have attended (2 days minimum), or presented at, whether it be internal or external of the UQ community.

Also includes the writing and publishing of scholarly works.

Academic and Professional Conferences:

This may include your involvement as:

a presenter at the conference
a participant or delegate (minimum 2 days attendance)

For the purpose of the Employability Award, a conference is defined as a formal meeting of people with a shared interest that takes place over one or more days (includes in-person or virtual conferences). Please consider searching online for available conferences. Examples of conferences include, but aren't limited to:

Scholarly works:

This may include writing and publishing of scholarly work for journals, or articles for research related news outlets such as 'The Conversation'.

Courses

Includes any professional development courses (not-for-credit) you have completed, whether it be internal or external of the UQ community.

Courses include both online and face-to-face options. The course must be ≥ five (5) hours in duration and must not be for course credit.

Examples of courses include, but aren't limited to:

Health Communication Essentials
Advanced Immunology Course (full course)
Academic Communication Skills
UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Core Cultural Learning Modules 1-5 (inclusive)
UQx: Working in Teams: A Practical Guide
Language courses
Diversity & Inclusion course
Coaching courses

Entrepreneurship and Innovation programs

Includes your involvement in and completion of entrepreneurship/innovation programs.

Examples of programs include, but aren't limited to:

Ventures Programs

Executive Member of Board/Committee/Advisory group/Club or Society

Includes your involvement in an executive member position of a board/committee/advisory group/club or society whether it be internal or external of the UQ community.

Examples of elected/appointed leadership positions include:

President/Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary/Assistant Secretary
Media/Communications
Event Coordinator

This does not include General Membership.

Global Experiences

Travel abroad whilst studying at UQ and gain a different perspective on your studies, meet new people, and explore new places.

You must demonstrate that you have traveled overseas for study or career enhancement purposes whilst enrolled at UQ. Examples of Global Experiences:

Student Exchange program
Short-Term study options (for-credit)
Global Internships
Global Experience for Volunteering (not-for-credit only)
Shakespeare Summer School (Europe) - for information on the programme, email Dr Victoria Bladen, v.bladen@uq.edu.au

Leadership Development Program or Course

Includes completion of a Leadership Development Program or Course whether it be internal or external to the UQ community.

Leadership development is the process that helps expand the capacity of individuals to perform in leadership roles within organisations.

Examples of leadership development programs at UQ include, but aren't limited to:

Reconciliation

Includes your involvement in and completion of activities that contribute to reconciliation at UQ through the UQ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Network. Students will be required to join the RAP Network at the Friend membership level.

To qualify as a RAP Friend, students must:

Complete Core Cultural Learning Modules 1–3
Participate in the RAP Network community
Attend at least two (2) UQ RAP Network meetings per year
Volunteer in at least one (1) reconciliation-related activity or event per year

Through RAP Network membership, students will have the opportunity to deepen their cultural learning journey, engage with reconciliation initiatives across UQ, and contribute to building a culturally respectful university community.

Research experiences

Includes your participation in a not-for-credit research experience program whether it be internal or external of the UQ community.

Consider checking with your faculty or school for opportunities specific to your discipline.

Examples of programs include:

Sports Representative

Includes your involvement in competitive sport at a representative level, for a UQ or an external sporting club.

Sports represenatation includes:

UQ College Sport Tournaments
Intervarsity/Elite Sporting Competitions
Voluntarily coaching or managing an external sporting team

Excludes social sport competitions and personal recreation activities.

Student-Staff Partnership Projects

Includes the completion of a student-staff partnership project at UQ.

This program seeks to empower Student and Staff Partners to effect positive change within the teaching and learning, student experience and governance/strategy environments at UQ.