Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said local students could live at home and work locally while also studying a tertiary qualification at a new Regional University Centre to be established on the Bass Coast.
Mr Broadbent welcomed the Coalition Government’s commitment to tertiary education in the region and said the centre would boost opportunities for local students to gain skills and qualifications.
“The Bass Coast University Centre will be established in Wonthaggi and will service towns in shires from Cowes to Foster to Grantville. It will attract new students looking to enter current and emerging industries to support growth and development, and increase employment opportunities in our region,” Mr Broadbent said.
“Regional University Centres provide study spaces, academic support, video conferencing and other support for students studying via distance at partner universities.
“This centre opens up more opportunities for people in our region to study than ever before, without having to leave our local community and their support networks.”
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Bass Coast Centre was one of nine new centres being established across regional Australia under the Coalition Government’s $53.2 million Regional University Centres program.
“Our Government made a commitment at the last election to establish more Regional University Centres as part of our plan to better support education in regional Australia,” Mr Tehan said.
“We are keeping our promise to regional Australia by delivering nine new centres. We believe every Australian, no matter where they live, should be able to attend university.
“Our Government is putting regional and rural students at the centre of our focus.
“Since 2016, we have invested more than $600 million to improve support for regional and remote higher education.”
More information about the Regional University Centres is at https://www.dese.gov.au/regional-university-centres.
