Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has said the decision by the Federal Government to back the Upper Spencer Gulf Regional Study Hub (USGRSH) will provide unprecedented access for regional students to study closer to home and slash the cost of tertiary access.
“I have advocated for years to bring about better access for regional students and the $1.9m will provide an operating budget for the start-up facility for the first four years. It comes on top of the $1.1m I was able to secure through the Regional Jobs and Investment Package for the Upper Spencer back in April. That grant has enabled the USGRSH the ability to secure property and undertake the capital works so they can begin first thing next year,” he said.
“It was the government’s intention to establish 8 hubs Across Australia and I knew the competition would be tight, but when the Minister Simon Birmingham informed me he had secured extra funds to double the investment, I became increasingly confident of success. It really is another of the rewards we are reaping for running a healthy economy.
”Subsequently the Morrison Government is providing an additional $7.5 million for our Regional Study Hubs initiative.
“Our hub will start in Port Pirie from 2019 and another node will be established in Port Augusta due to open in 2020,” Mr Ramsey said. ”It will provide study spaces, internet access, video conferencing, administrative, pastoral and academic support for regional students studying via distance with our education partners at Flinders University, Central University of Qld, TAFE SA, and Adelaide University.
“This is a very exciting project modelled on the outstanding success of similar facilities in Geraldton and Cooma and I congratulate those who have worked hard to get the project to this stage.
“The Regional Study Hubs will mean local students can take up higher education and training opportunities without having to relocate to the city or travel long distances from home.”
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Morrison Government was providing $24.2 million over four years to help establish or expand 16 Regional Study Hubs covering 22 locations throughout Australia.
“More funding for Regional Study Hubs was part of the Morrison Government’s additional $134.8 million commitment to regional and rural higher education, bringing the total additional new funding for regional higher education to $400 million over five years,” Mr Tehan said.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744
November 12, 2018
