Queensland independent agency group Rumbletown has launched a pioneering diversity and inclusion scholarship in partnership with Queensland University of Technology's QUT Business School.
Rumbletown funded the scholarship for BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) and mature-age students as a way of improving diversity across its own ranks and promoting industry dialogue about the severe lack of diversity within the marketing communications industry nationally.
Donna Kramer, co-founder of Rumbletown PR agency Aruga, says historically, the marketing communications industry failed when it came to diversity.
“Australia is among the most multicultural nations on the planet with more than 270 ancestries represented nationally, yet this rich diversity is not reflected in our agencies which are dominated by individuals from an Anglo-Celtic background across all levels,” Kramer says.
“It’s time we hit the re-set button and make proactive steps to change this.
“The Rumbletown Pathways Scholarship is designed to set up the building blocks for a promising and diverse future. It is about creating a pipeline of diverse talent at a graduate level.’’
The Rumbletown Pathways Scholarship provides one student per year with $12,000 financial scholarship along with access, experience and mentorship across four unique disciplines – advertising, digital, media and communications.
The chosen student will accelerate their learning as they undertake a 16-week full-time internship placement at Rumbletown agencies: advertising and creative Rumble Strategic Creative, PR and social media Aruga, creative and digital Romeo, media planning and buying Scout Frontier and SME brand consultants Edison.
The ongoing scholarship is open to QUT undergraduate or postgraduate students from backgrounds that are under-represented in these disciplines and professions.
Nancy Hartley, co-founder of Rumble with Remy Brassac and James Burchill, says creativity thrived in a diverse workplace.
“Really creative work environments always have the same elements - people from diverse backgrounds of differing ages, with varied perspectives on life,’’ Hartley says.
“Our long-term commitment to the Rumbletown Pathways Scholarship is about conscious advocacy and demonstrating a continued prioritisation of inclusion.”
Ingrid Larkin, associate director – work integrated learning in QUT Business School, says the partnership with Rumbletown was a natural fit, with many of the group’s employees QUT alumni and a successful internship program already in place.
“It is important for QUT to listen when an independent agency like Rumbletown acknowledges an industry issue like diversity and is prepared to do something about it,” Larkin says.
“Rumbletown came to us with the idea for the scholarship and at QUT Business School we saw it as a great opportunity to extend the existing partnership.
“This is an incredible opportunity for QUT students and a unique model nationally. Along with the financial support, the scholarship recipient will complete a 16-week internship placement, to gain experience across disciplines within five independent agencies, which will ultimately help them choose a career direction as they head towards graduation.”
The scholarship is open to individuals who identify as BIPoC; individuals or children of migrants or refugees; individuals from a non-English speaking background; mature-aged students; and individuals from an economically challenged background.
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