Country Universities Centre Goulburn gets share of $27.9 million in funding over four years

Regional students’ studies will be supported with high-speed internet, internships and wellbeing support after a $27.9 million funding boost was pledged.

The Coalition Government has promised that Country Universities Centre Goulburn will receive four more years of funding, which will continue to allow regional students to be supported in their university studies.

Country Universities Centre Goulburn is one of 16 regional university centres, covering 24 sites around Australia, that will receive a share of up to $27.9 million over four years.

The community-led, non-profit organisation has supported 380 students in Goulburn since opening in 2018.

Centre manager and learning skills advisor Isabella Lesslie said it had gone from “strength to strength.”

“In the first four years the aim was to get to 70 students, and now we are supporting 120 students each semester,” Ms Lesslie said.

Federal member for Hume, Angus Taylor, with team leader Ashlee Jones who works for CUC Central (left) and one of the student ambassadors, Di Whittle.

She said it aimed to advocate for the students given one in two of them were the first in their family to attend university and that there was a high dropout risk in the first semester.

People in regional Australia are also less than half as likely to complete a university degree compared with people in cities.

Regional Education Minister Bridget McKenzie said the funding extension would enable the Country Universities Centre in Goulburn to continue supporting its students and the broader community until June 2026.

“We are extremely proud of the Regional University Centre program, which enables aspiring students from regional Australia to be supported while undertaking study by distance with any Australian tertiary provider,” she said.

“These centres make a real difference to our students, as they no longer have to leave their friends and families to pursue further education and can remain at home while studying, where their skills can boost local communities and economies, which is part of our plan for a strong economy and a stronger future.

“Our government is investing almost $20 billion in higher education in 2022 – this is 32 per cent higher than under Labor.”

Hume federal Liberal MP Angus Taylor welcomed the announcement for the Goulburn Country Universities Centre.

“The centre is a fantastic local resource for uni students providing them with access to high-speed internet, dedicated study spaces, computer facilities and importantly, administrative and academic skills, as well as supporting their wellbeing,” Mr Taylor said.

The latest Country Universities Centre Goulburn graduates with Centre Coordinator, Cathy McNiven (left), and Centre Manager Isabella Lesslie (right).

“All Australians, no matter where they live, deserve access to high-quality education and these centres offer the facilities and support local students need to access a tertiary education, which helps to level the playing field with their city counterparts.”

Ms Lesslie said the centre was “very student focused.”

“We allow students to bring the course they want to study to the centre and we support them in that, whether that’s nursing, teaching mental health – which is what our area is really crying out for,’’ she said.

The centre runs outreach programs to schools, programs for early entry to university, help through the enrolments process and advice on timetable management. Internships and cadetships are also carried out.