Applications are now open for expressions of interest to establish one of 4 new hubs in key target areas.
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Following the initial round of Suburban University Study Hubs, the Department of Education identified key target areas which remain underrepresented based on the outcomes of the initial round:
- Southern Brisbane and Western Brisbane
- Western Sydney and South-western Sydney
- Southeast Melbourne, Western Melbourne and Southwest of Melbourne including Geelong.
This targeted application round aims to establish up to 4 new hubs in these areas identified for their population density, community need, geographic spread and their potential to improve access to higher education.
Successful applicants are expected to finalise Conditions of Grant with the Department in early 2025 and become operational in the second half of 2025.
Applications open
Applications are now open for expressions of interest to establish one of 4 new hubs in the key target areas.
Applications will close at 12pm noon (AEDT) Friday 20 December 2024.
All applications must be submitted via the online form.
Who can apply?
Body corporates, or organisations who can become body corporates, and Table A and Table B providers listed in the Higher Education Support Act (2003) are eligible to apply for funding under this Program.
Identified areas
The targeted round will support up to 4 applications for hubs located in an eligible SA2 within one of the seven identified clusters. A full list of identified SA2s can be found in Appendix A of the Targeted Round Application Guide.
These areas can be viewed in detail on the Map of Eligible Locations. It is important to note that not all locations eligible under the Suburban University Study Hub program will be considered for this targeted round.
Proposed hubs must be located in an identified SA2 as listed in the Application Guide.
Application process
Applicants should ensure they read the Program Guidelines and 2024 Targeted Round Application Guide, which contains detailed information on the application and assessment process, prior to submitting their application.
The application process consists of two stages.
Applicants can amend applications via the online form at any time prior to the closure of the application period. If you have submitted your application and need to make changes, please contact suburbanhubs@education.gov.au.
Stage 1:
Submit an online Expression of Interest (EoI) which includes responding to questions regarding hub details and eligibility criteria and uploading:
- a budget proposal using the 2024 Targeted Round Budget Proposal Excel template
- uploading a short hub proposal summary, and
- uploading supporting documents.
Stage 2:
Presentation and Q&A session:
Eligible applicants will be invited to provide a presentation (online) to the Panel.
Presentation sessions will be allocated for 30 minutes, which includes 15 minutes presentation time, plus the option for the Panel to ask clarifying questions to substantiate claims.
Financial Viability and Credential Check
The department will provide details via email to those applicants required to provide a Financial Viability and Credential form.
Table A providers under section 16-15 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and those who have previously applied for funding under this program will not be required to undertake a financial viability and credential check.
Suburban University Study Hubs applications will maintain the same 5 key assessment considerations used in the initial round:
- Community need
- Community involvement
- Readiness to operate
- Appropriate and sustainable budget
- Geographical Spread
Applicants can amend applications via the online form at any time prior to the closure of the application period. If you have submitted your application and need to make changes, please contact suburbanhubs@education.gov.au.
Available funding
The Government approved $32.5 million to support the establishment of up to 14 Suburban University Study Hubs, with some funding already allocated through a previous competitive application process. For the targeted round, the Commonwealth will use the remaining funds from this commitment to support up to 4 additional hubs.
In drafting budget proposals, applicants should pay particular attention to value for money and ongoing sustainability of the project. The panel is seeking evidence of co-contribution and additional funding sources in their assessment of applications.
Information sessions and Frequently Asked Questions
An information session which explains the application process will be available online soon.
A question and answer session will be held at 1:00pm AEDT on Tuesday 3 December 2024.
Please register online to attend this session.
Further sessions may be considered upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions are available and will be updated if required following the Q&A session.
Only technical queries about the submission of the application will be accepted after 13 December 2024.
Contact information
If you have any additional questions, please contact suburbanhubs@education.gov.au.
Map of eligible locations
The eligibility of a potential Suburban University Study Hub location can be determined using the interactive map below. For this targeted round, proposed hubs must also be located in an identified SA2 as listed in the Application Guide.
To use the map, zoom in to a desired area or click on the magnifying glass in the lower left-hand corner to search for a known address or location.
The proposed location of the hub must fall within both:
- an eligible Statistical Area Level 2 (Quintile 1 or 2 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage) (shown in blue outline), and
- an eligible geographic classification of ‘Major Cities of Australia’ (shaded orange) or ‘Greater Hobart’/‘Greater Darwin’ (shaded red). Please note some SA2s have sections of the SA2 which fall outside of ‘Major Cities of Australia’ or ‘Greater Hobart’/‘Greater Darwin’. These areas which are not shaded will not be considered eligible locations for placement of a hub within the SA2.
Please email suburbanhubs@education.gov.au if you experience issues using the map or have any questions about the eligibility of a certain location for a proposed Suburban University Study Hub.