Today the Treasurer and Assistant Minister for Education launched a new Regional University Study Hub in Longreach, funded by the Albanese Labor Government.
This is all about helping more young people get a great education closer to home, so they can secure a well-paid and rewarding job and get ahead.
The Longreach space will serve as a central study hub for students across the state's Central West at Barcaldine, Blackall, Winton, Boulia, Bedourie, Birdsville and Jundah.
The new de-centralised model, which has been made possible through a partnership between the Australian Government, Country Universities Centres (CUC) and the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD), will adopt a multi-site approach with each connected site tailored to the needs of its local community.
This new model will provide a range of support services to students so they can stay in their community, including study spaces, computers, high speed internet access and wellbeing support.
Nearly half of young people in Australia have a university qualification, but not in regional and remote areas, with only 23 per cent of young people holding a degree in the Longreach area alone.
Regional University Study Hubs were identified in the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report as an effective way to change this trend, with evidence showing towns with a hub recording an increase in university participation.
The Longreach hub is located in the town's old Pastoral College site, with the other sites under the new model expected to open by Semester 1, 2025, to align with the commencement of the 2025 academic year.
This new hub is part of the Albanese Government's $66.9 million investment to double the number of University Study Hubs across Australia, and builds on the recent announcement of the first 10 Suburban University Study Hubs, located in outer metropolitan areas.
