Press Release Tuesday, 9 June 2009  Text Fresh Initiative sees Marketing, IT, Accounting, Psychology, Law and Engineering students heading into regional roles A program designed to bridge the city/country divide is gaining momentum, with a broad spectrum of early participants figuratively crossing the great divide. Launched on October 6 last year and now with a presence in 10 universities across Australia, ‘The Brolga Project' links students needing work experience with under-staffed businesses, non-profit agencies and government departments in regional and rural Australia. Among the placements, an engineering student from Queensland's Sunshine Coast is going to a Western NSW council later in the year; law students from the University of New South Wales and the University of New England are travelling to the South Burnett area in Queensland to do work experience with a Child Safety Service, while marketing students Katie Adams and Jade Sciberras (pictured) are heading to Byron Bay. Excited at the range of opportunities presented by the Brolga Project, both young women want to build their work experience profile. "I found the project on my university's career website," said Ms Sciberras, "it seemed to be the only one offering this type of work experience, so I thought it was worth a try. "And here we are!" she laughed. Both women agreed they are fans of the regional lifestyle and would consider regional positions if they were offered after university. "The way I see it, the company's that give us work experience are doing us a huge favour," said Ms Adams. "Because I don't have any extensive experience, doing this is going to build on my knowledge, help me get a career, and give me a great experience," Ms Adams added. The Brolga Project is receiving about two enquiries a day from students across 27 different courses, and project manager Mr Richard Cowley is hoping that positive stories like these will lead to more regional businesses participation. "It's a great opportunity for government departments, regional development organisations, family companies and the like, to tap into a huge pool of potential employees, offer them work experience, then hopefully the students will take up jobs in regional areas once they've experienced the lifestyle," he said. ...ends For more information please contact: Richard Cowley, Manager, The Brolga Project., 07 3366 1005 E richard@brolgaproject.com.au  or Aki Tobe, Database Manager, The Brolga Project, 0412 189 787 E aki@brolgaproject.com.au   For Hi-Res image please email richard@brolgaproject.com.au