Major investment for Suburban University Study Hub for Fairfield

The Albanese Labor Government is bringing university closer for students in Western Sydney with a $3.2 million investment to expand and upgrade the existing Fairfield Connect Site.

The Site which was established by Western Sydney University in 2024 will receive a commonwealth funding boost for the first time, transforming it into a dedicated space for students.

Nearly half of young people in their 20s and 30s in Australia have a degree but not in the outer suburbs. In Fairfield, only around 25 per cent of young people have a degree.

The Study Hub will help more students study for a university degree closer to home.  

The Hub will be open to all students no matter which university they attend or which course they’re studying.

It will provide around 220 study spaces with group areas, large training rooms and videoconferencing facilities.

Support will be available for students with staff on site providing academic guidance and technical assistance to students.

The Hub, located on Smart Street will be able to support up to 2,000 students.

During semester, the Hub will be open from 7am until 11pm on weekdays and 8am until 7pm on weekends.

The Fairfield Connect University Study Hub is part of the Albanese Government’s $66.9 million investment to more than double the number of University Study Hubs across the country.  

It is the fourth Suburban University Study Hub to open in New South Wales, following launches at Kurri Kurri, Macquarie Fields and Mt Druitt/Emerton, with Liverpool still to come.

For more information: Suburban University Study Hubs - Department of Education, Australian Government

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Jason Clare:

“Almost one in two young people in their 20s and their 30s have a university degree today. But not everywhere, and not in Fairfield.  

“Young people in Fairfield go to university at half the rate of the rest of the country. 

“There are invisible barriers which stop people from going to university. We need to break down those barriers.

“Now for the first time, we are putting these University Study Hubs in the outer suburbs.

“I know growing up in Western Sydney, a lot of my friends felt like university was somewhere else for someone else.

“I want to change that, and that means bringing university closer to where more people live.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Member for McMahon, Chris Bowen:

“Study hubs provide student support and study facilities for students who are studying a university or TAFE course without them having to leave their community.

“Whether you are studying at TAFE or university, I encourage all local students to utilise the facilities at the new Fairfield Connect University Study Hub.

“Study Hubs remove barriers that can stop people from attaining a tertiary qualification.”