Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is calling on community-owned organisations across the Riverina and Central West to apply for funding to establish and operate a Regional University Study Hub.
Applications are currently open for the 2023 Application Round of the Regional University Study Hub Program, which will see up to 10 study hubs established across regional and remote Australia in 2024.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for university students in the Riverina and Central West’s smaller towns to benefit from a study hub, where distance students would be provided some of the same amenities and services that on-campus students enjoy,” Mr McCormack said.
“Many people living in regional areas would love to study at university but, typically, the only way to do that is via distance education and, unfortunately, the lack of support for distance students often acts as a significant deterrent.
“I’ve always said that your postcode should not determine your potential.
“These study hubs go a long way to reduce the city-country education divide by providing administrative and academic support services, study spaces and IT facilities, as well as providing a network for local students to connect and collaborate.”
The Riverina and Central West currently benefits from one Regional University Study Hub in Parkes.
“The study hub in Parkes has become a highly valued institution of the community, which now also collaborates with Charles Sturt University to provide training to allied health students undertaking placements in the Central West as part of a $1.87 million grant by the former Liberal and Nationals Government,” Mr McCormack said.
Applications for the program close at 5pm, 15th December 2023. More information can be found at https://www.education.gov.au/regional-university-study-hubs