The Albanese Government has announced the locations of the first 10 Suburban University Study Hubs (SUSHs) across the country, bringing university closer to where people live in the outer suburbs.
A recommendation of the Universities Accord, the Suburban University Study Hubs will help more people from the outer suburbs get a crack at going to university.
The 10 SUSHs will be located in:
- Broadmeadows and Epping, Victoria
- Melton, Victoria
- Macquarie Fields, NSW
- Kurri Kurri, NSW
- Elizabeth, South Australia
- Strathpine, Queensland
- Sorrell, Tasmania
- Armadale, Western Australia
- Ellenbrook, Western Australia
- Mandurah, Western Australia
A further round for four additional Suburban University Study Hubs opens on Monday and will target areas with low university attainment in the outer suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Study Hubs provide student support and campus-style facilities for students who are studying a university or TAFE course without having to leave their community.
There are now 46 Regional University Study Hubs located across the country. 41 of these Hubs are open with the other 5 Hubs expected to open by Semester 1, 2025.
The evidence shows that where they are, university participation goes up.
The Albanese Government is doubling the number of University Study Hubs across the country with the newest 10 Regional University Study Hubs s located in:
- East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
- Victor Harbor, South Australia
- Warwick, Queensland
- Chinchilla, Queensland
- Innisfail, Queensland
- King Island, Tasmania
- Katanning, Western Australia
- The Pilbara (Tom Price and Onslow), Western Australia
- Central Western Queensland (Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Winton, Boulia, Bedourie, Birdsville and Jundah)
- East Gippsland (Mallacoota, Orbost, Omeo, Heyfield and Yarram), Victoria
The locations of another 10 Regional University Study Hubs will be announced early in the new year and are expected to start operating from mid-2025.
In total, the Albanese Government is investing $66.9 million to establish 20 more Regional University Study Hubs, and 14 new Suburban University Study Hubs in the outer suburbs of our major cities.
The Suburban University Study Hubs are expected to be operational by mid-2025. The 10 locations were chosen following a competitive application process.
The Albanese Government is also delivering a range of further reforms for students in higher education and vocational education, including:
- Fixing HECS indexation and wiping $3 billion in student debt from around 3 million Australians
- Introducing a Commonwealth prac payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students
- Expanding Fee-Free University Ready courses
- Committing to cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debts, wiping around $16 billion in student debt for around 3 million Australians from 1 June next year
- Committing to raise the minimum repayment threshold for student loans and cutting repayment rates to make the repayment system fairer for all Australians with a student debt by 1 July next year.
For more details visit the Australian Government Department of Education website.
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. Not in our outer suburbs and not in regional Australia.
"That's why we are doubling the number of University Study Hubs, to bring university closer to them.
"We know they work. The evidence is they increase the number of people going to uni and finishing a uni degree.
"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 this to change, and that means bringing university closer to where people live."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm:
"Where you live shouldn't decide whether or not you can get a degree. As someone who was the first in their family to attend university, I know just how important it is that we expand tertiary education services to every part of our cities and across regional areas.
"Following the success of our Regional University Study Hubs, these suburban hubs will give students living in our outer suburbs a place to focus on their studies, saving them from needing to commute or move away from their families and into our city centres.
"We know these Study Hubs work, over 4,500 students have used Regional Study Hubs to further their studies and now we're bringing them to some of our fastest growing suburban areas.
"Our government has an ambitious education agenda that focuses on supporting students outside of our major cities attain the best education possible for their futures and for their communities."
