New Regional University Hub opens in Warwick

A new Regional University Study Hub officially opened today in Warwick, bringing university closer in Queensland’s Southern Downs region.

Nearly half of young people in Australia have a degree but not in regional and remote Australia. In Warwick, only around 13 per cent of young people have a degree.

The evidence shows that where Regional University Study Hubs are, university participation goes up.

The new Regional University Study Hub, known as the Country Universities Centre (CUC) Southern Downs, is co-located on TAFE Queensland’s Warwick campus and will provide student support and facilities for students who are studying a university or VET course without them having to leave their community.

The new CUC Southern Downs is part of the Australian Government’s $66.9 million investment to more than double the number of University Study Hubs across the country.

This is one of the ways the Albanese Labor Government is helping more people get a crack at going to TAFE or university, including:
•    cutting 20 per cent off of all student loans, wiping around $17 billion in student debt for three million Australians
•    fixing the indexation formula and wiping a further $3 billion in student debt, combined this will cut close to $20 billion in student debt
•    introducing a Commonwealth prac payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students
•    making free TAFE permanent.

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

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Today, almost one in two young people have a university degree. But not everywhere. Not in the outer suburbs and not in regional Australia.

“In the years ahead more jobs will require more skills.

“The Government has set a target that by 2050, 80 per cent of workers will have a TAFE or university qualification.

“To hit that target we have to break down that invisible barrier that stops a lot of people from the bush getting a crack at going to university.

“The evidence is that where University Study Hubs are, university participation goes up. That’s why we are doubling the number of Hubs across the country.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“Each time we’ve opened a new study hub, just like this one in Warwick, we’ve removed educational barriers that can stop people from attaining a tertiary qualification.

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

“Around 44 per cent of students who are registered at the existing regional hubs across the country are the first in their family to attend university, which is fantastic to see.”