Albanese Government boosts higher education in the Spencer Gulf region

Today’s official opening of the Uni Hub Spencer Gulf Port Lincoln University Centre is a significant occasion and represents a great opportunity for more students in regional areas to access a tertiary education.

Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, said the Australian Government had provided funding for the Hub through the Regional University Centres program.

“The Uni Hub is a great example of how the Australian Government is working with universities and local communities to expand access to higher education in rural and regional communities,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“This facility opens more doors for Port Lincoln residents, regardless of background, socio-economic status or physical abilities, to access a tertiary education.”

The Hubs provide study spaces, video conferencing, computer facilities and stable internet access, as well as academic skills and wellbeing support for students studying remotely.

Assistant Minister Chisholm said the new facility currently has 26 registered students from the region.

“Sixteen of these students are enrolled in locally supported workforce programs or are undertaking school-based pathway courses into these degrees,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“The locally-supported degrees specifically address key areas of professional workforce shortages in the region such as in nursing, engineering, teaching, social work, business and accounting.  

“It is great to see local students getting the education and training they need for a better and brighter future for all in the Port Lincoln region.”

The Port Lincoln centre is operated by Uni Hub Spencer Gulf (Uni Hub) which operates four other Regional University Centre sites across South Australia including at Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Kadina and Roxby Downs.

More than 200 students are currently registered across all of Uni Hub’s South Australian sites.

This program has supported more than 500 students across South Australia’s Spencer Gulf region since the first Uni Hub opened at Port Pirie in 2019.

The Port Lincoln Uni Hub is one of eight new Regional University Centres expected to open nationally from 2023.

The new Centres are in addition to the 26 Centres already established in all other states and the Northern Territory.