Cutting the ribbon at the Tumut facility are (from left) Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain, CUC Snowy Valleys centre manager Janette Wilson, Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and CUC Snowy Valleys chair Hugh Packard. Photo: Supplied.
Two remote learning centres aimed at helping Riverina residents gain tertiary qualifications without leaving their home town opened last week.
Country Universities Centre (CUC) branches were opened in Hay and Tumut, which do not have a university. The closest to Hay is Wagga’s Charles Sturt, a three-hour drive away.
The CUC is a hub for such towns, providing academic advisers, mentorship, computers, photocopiers and internet access — assisting students to complete both degrees and vocational qualifications from several affiliated institutes around Australia. A similar facility has operated in Griffith for the past six years.
The Hay CUC is located alongside TAFE NSW’s Connected Learning Centre and next to Hay War Memorial High School.
Hay Mayor Carol Oataway said it would be a huge boost for her town.
“There’s a lot of people in Hay that don’t go to university because they can’t afford it, or their parents can’t afford it,” she said.
“They need to take a gap year to get the allowance, where they can be independent. A lot take the gap year and don’t go on to do the tertiary education.
“There are people who have their lives set in Hay who can’t just up stumps and move somewhere else for four years to get their accreditation. This [new hub] opens up a world of opportunity. It’s a game-changer for our town.”
Sharon De Valentin obtained a counselling diploma with the help of the Griffith CUC. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The new centre is part of a growing network that has supported about 7000 students across NSW since 2017. The students are enrolled in more than 616 courses through 171 tertiary providers. The NSW Government says most graduates go on to live and work in regional communities — helping address local workforce shortages.
The Tumut facility is named CUC Snowy Valleys and is aimed at also helping those in nearby towns, such as Adelong. CUC CEO Dr Lou Conway said the new centre would help build the region’s workforce involved in renewable energy projects.
“CUC Snowy Valleys means local people can build qualifications, careers and futures in their backyard that can contribute not just to the growing needs of their community and local industries, but also to nation-building projects like Snowy 2.0,” Dr Conway said.
Dr Conway said opening two centres on the same day was symbolic of the momentum building behind community‑led higher education.
“These openings are about much more than buildings,” he said. ”They represent confidence in regional communities, belief in local leadership, and a commitment to ensuring talent can thrive no matter where someone lives.
“We know that when students don’t have to choose between education and community, they are far more likely to succeed, and far more likely to stay and contribute locally.”
Both centres are funded under the Federal Government’s Regional University Study Hub program, which gives any student enrolled in any higher education course access to quiet study spaces, digital connectivity, academic support and an onsite learning community.
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
