More Tasmanians to be offered university places as new Sorell hub to open

Less than 28 per cent of Sorell residents have university degrees, but a groundbreaking new study hub aims to revolutionise tertiary education in the region.

New university hub at Sorell officially opening on Tuesday.

A new university hub at Sorell will be officially opened on Tuesday as the federal education minister announces more Tasmanians will be offered a place at university in 2026.

On a mission to make it easier for people to go to university, Education Minister, Jason Clare, says the federal government will allocate an extra 261 commencing domestic places to Tasmania next year – about four per cent up on this year.

Mr Clare and Labor member for Lyons, Rebecca White, will open the Southeast Tasmania Study Hub in Sorell which was last year chosen as one of 10 new university hubs across Australia aimed at making is easier for people to get a tertiary education closer to home.

“We’re creating more places at uni so more Tasmanians can go to uni,” Mr Clare said.

“More and more jobs require more and more skills.

Minister for Education, Jason Clare. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

“Opening the doors of our universities wider to more people from Tassie suburbs and regions isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s what we have to do.

“Nearly half of young people in their 20s and 30s in Australia have a degree but not in the outer suburbs and not in the regions.”

Mr Clare said less than 28 per cent of people living in Sorell had a university degree and it was vital to bring university closer to where people live.

“We know study hubs work,” he said.

“The evidence shows that where study hubs are, university participation goes up.”

The federal government has a target for 80 per cent of the workforce to have a tertiary qualification by 2050, up from around 60 per cent today.

A recommendation of the Universities Accord, the government says university study hubs will help more people from regional and remote Australia and outer suburbs and towns to study at university.

The Sorell study hub is the fourth to open in Tasmania with other hubs at Zeehan, St Helens and King Island.

The federal government is spending $66.9m to more than double the number of university study hubs in Australia.

Mr Clare also will meet UTAS students whose paid prac applications have been successful.

Paid prac is financial support for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students while they do their practical training.

Nearly 1300 Tasmanian students have successfully applied for paid prac since it started in July.

“We’re supporting the next generation of Tassie nurses, teachers and social workers with paid prac,” Mr Clare said.

“It gives people who have signed up to do some of the most important jobs in this country a bit of extra help to get the qualifications they need.

“It’s a bit of practical support for students while they do practical training.”

Originally published as More Tasmanians to be offered university places as new Sorell hub to open