$830,000 Federal funding boost to help Goulburn Uni Centre reach out to more students

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has announced a Federal funding injection of $830,000 for the Goulburn University Centre to boost the centre’s staffing and technology resources to attract more students.

The funding is part of a $7.5 million commitment announced this week by the Federal Government to support 16 Regional Study Hubs, including Goulburn’s Country Universities Centre (CUC) based on site at the TAFE campus.

Mr Taylor confirmed the funding for Goulburn University Centre would be used to attract students from a broader area around Goulburn.

“I am backing this centre a hundred per cent and have been since its inception. It’s an excellent resource for uni students and I’m delighted to be announcing this funding to help the centre expand,” Mr Taylor said.

Goulburn University Centre has 89 students currently registered, who access the centre’s study spaces, internet, video conferencing, administrative and academic support.

Centre Manager Ashlee Jones said students travelled from as far away as Braidwood and Yass to use the uni centre, as well as the Southern Highlands and across the Upper Lachlan.

“We really want to push out to a broader region, to let uni students know they can come in to Goulburn and jump on remotely to their own university system, instead of driving all the way to Canberra, Sydney or Wollongong,” Ms Jones said.

Centre committee chair Guy Milson welcomed the Federal Government’s funding support.

“Getting our message out there is very important and the staff here are doing a lot of work with local schools, asking students ‘Have you thought of this as an option?’

25 year old Goulburn student Hannah Webster has just completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree through the University of Canberra, spending up to 15 hours a week at the Goulburn University Centre.

“It’s a designated space that’s always quiet. You have access to the computers and the really fast internet. I’ve been in here three or four days a week and only travelling to Canberra once a week,” Ms Webster said.

Any student enrolled at an Australian university, who is studying a bachelor level or above, is eligible to study at the Goulburn University Centre.

Caption: Welcoming Federal funding for the Goulburn Uni Centre is Committee chair Guy Milson, student Hannah Webster, Staff member Cathy McNiven and Angus Taylor MP.