The official opening of the Lumen Wheatbelt Regional University Centre today is an important step toward providing more students in the vast Wheatbelt area of WA with the opportunity to go to university.
Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, said funding for the centre had been provided through the Australian Government's Regional University Centres program, with community support.
"The Lumen Wheatbelt Regional University Centre is an innovative and unique model which includes four mini-hubs: in Merredin; Narrogin; Wongan Hills and York," Assistant Minister Chisholm said.
"It was designed to help meet the needs of the region which covers an area of more than 154,0000 square kilometres and is home to 75,000 people in over 200 communities.
"I'm pleased there are already 27 registered students studying a diverse range of courses including health and allied health related courses, education, agriculture, humanities and business."
Regional University Centres provide study spaces, video conferencing, stable internet access and wellbeing support for students studying via distance at any Australian university or vocational education and training provider.
Assistant Minister Chisholm said all Regional University Centres help support students from regional and remote areas to access higher education without having to leave their community or regions.
"The Australian Government firmly believes all Australians should have the same opportunities to access quality education. Regional University Centres are filling a demonstrated gap in higher education support in regional or remote areas across the country.
"Lumen is one of eight new Regional University Centres scheduled to open from this year, joining 26 Centres currently operating across Australia.
"The Regional University Centres program is an excellent initiative that currently supports more than 3200 students, who are studying more than 1000 courses through over 200 tertiary education providers around Australia."
