Students living in regional Queensland will now have their higher education opportunities expanded after the official openings of Cassowary Coast University Centre and Country Universities Centre (CUC) Mount Isa.
The study hubs are funded through the Australian Government’s Regional University Study Hubs program.
Cassowary Coast University Centre officially opened on 18 October. The hub is available for student access from 5am to 11pm, seven days a week and provides students with a range of support services, including computers, high speed internet, breakout spaces, dedicated student mentoring, as well as academic skills and administrative support.
Cassowary Coast University Centre is the second hub being delivered by community-owned organisation Vocational Partnerships Group in Far North Queensland, following the official opening of Tablelands University Centre at Atherton in June last year.
The hub is one of 12 Regional University Study Hubs announced earlier this year as part of the government’s commitment to double the number of university study hubs across Australia.
Tara Larsen, who was the first student to register at Cassowary Coast University Centre, is loving the benefits of studying at the hub.
“Studying remotely has definitely had its challenges,” Tara said.
“It can be pretty lonely and isolating at times, and I also struggle with poor internet access at home.
“Having the CCUC means I will now have the freedom of being able to come here on my own time and have a space to learn with no distractions.
“I’m also really looking forward to being able to study around other people.”
CUC Mount Isa officially opened on 2 October and currently supports 50 students who have access to the hub seven days a week from 6am to 12am.
The hub is anticipated to play a strong role in supporting local First Nations students to access and complete tertiary study, with 21.5 per cent of Mount Isa’s population identifying as First Nations.
CUC Mount Isa student Susan Lafele believes the hub is having a positive impact on her studies.
“I love having quiet spaces to come and study and also getting to meet other students,” Susan said.
“I am more excited to study now that the CUC is in Mount Isa.”
There are 46 study hubs located across Australia, with 41 currently open and operating. The remaining hubs are due to be operational by Semester 1, 2025.
In early 2024, nearly 4,400 students were being supported by the 33 hubs that were operating, an increase of 29 per cent compared to the same time last year.
Of the students being supported by Hubs, 11 per cent identified as First Nations and 42 per cent reported being the first in their family to attend university.
When asked as part of a 2021 Program Evaluation, 93 per cent of students supported by the hubs reported positively about the quality of their experience.
Watch our student testimonial videos to find out about the benefits of studying at a Regional University Study Hub.
To find out more, visit Regional University Study Hubs.