Students in Adelaide's north will soon have a new place to study and connect close to home, with the launch of Uni Hub Playford in Elizabeth.
With modern study spaces, personalised academic support, career and wellbeing services, and a welcoming local environment, Uni Hub Playford is designed to remove barriers that many northern students face when pursuing university - such as long commutes, limited public transport, and feeling disconnected from campus life.
Recognising the need for improved access to higher education in the north, the City of Playford led the successful application for Uni Hub Playford through the Federal Government's Suburban University Study Hubs program, and will play a central role in co-delivering the service.
The service has been made possible through a strong partnership between Adelaide University, Flinders University, TAFE SA, the Northern Adelaide State Secondary Schools' Alliance (NASSSA), which are all committed to delivering meaningful change for students in northern Adelaide.
To ensure students can start benefiting from the hub as soon as possible, a temporary Uni Hub Playford site will open within the Playford Civic Centre Library at Elizabeth from mid-April. A permanent location is currently being developed at the TAFE SA Elizabeth campus and is scheduled to open in August 2025.
Today, a select group of local students, Matt Burnell MP and Senator Penny Wong, joined representatives from Adelaide University, Flinders University, TAFE SA and Northern Adelaide State Secondary Schools' Alliance (NASSSA) and previewed the site ahead of its operational opening from 14 April, 2025.
Mayor Glenn Docherty, The City of Playford
"For too long, young people and adult learners in Playford and the wider northern Adelaide region have faced real challenges in accessing higher education."
"Uni Hub Playford changes that. It brings opportunity closer to home and creates a supportive, local environment where people can study, grow and succeed. It helps people see that university is for them and that they belong. It breaks down barriers and builds belief. We know how transformational this will be. Not just for individual students, but for families, businesses, industry and our region as a whole."
"Uni Hub Playford is an investment in our people and our future. It's about building skills, opening doors, and creating pathways to employment, prosperity and a stronger northern economy. This is the kind of partnership that delivers real, lasting change, and we're proud to be part of it."
Professor David Lloyd and Professor Peter Høj AC, co-Vice Chancellors, Adelaide University
"Adelaide University is incredibly proud to be a primary partner of the Uni Hub Playford with a deep commitment to enabling meaningful pathways to higher education and lifelong learning.
"We are creating purposeful change that will help to address educational disadvantage in our community alongside local providers, industry and employers to transform access and engagement.
"Adelaide University will deliver preparatory studies, career planning and outreach programs to launch bright futures and make university a reality for more diverse and contemporary learners as a national leader for equity and access."
Professor Colin Stirling, Flinders University Vice-Chancellor
"Flinders University has a proud history of breaking down barriers to education, and as a primary partner, Uni Hub Playford is our bold promise to bring world-class learning directly to the heart of the northern suburbs."
"We know university isn't a one-size-fits-all journey. That's why our Foundation Studies program is building confidence, developing skills, and creating pathways for students ready to rewrite their future, no matter where they're starting from."
"Through strong connections with local industries, from defence and health to sport and community services, we're ensuring students can chase down their ambitions, gain qualifications, and build their futures - right here in their own backyard."
David Coltman, TAFE SA Chief Executive
TAFE SA Chief Executive David Coltman said that TAFE SA is pleased to be partnering with the City of Playford, universities and key stakeholders to deliver the very first city-based study hub in Australia."
"The Uni Hub Playford offers a new way to access skills and education, and the qualifications that are needed to take advantage of the jobs that are coming to the northern suburbs of Adelaide. The Uni Hub Playford will provide a much broader range of tertiary education opportunities to the people of Playford. They will have access to a study environment with educators to support their learning and because of the location it will allow people to balance other priorities including family and work commitments."
"TAFE SA is committed to increasing access to training and education opportunities across the state. We have loved supporting other study hubs set ups. We look forward to hosting the permanent site for the Uni Hub Playford which is scheduled for completion later this year."
