A new Regional University Study Hub (RUSH) has officially opened in St Helens, Tasmania, bringing university education closer to local residents who have historically faced significant barriers to higher education access.
The new Country Universities Centre (CUC) Eastern Tasmania is located at 48 Cecilia Street, St Helens, and will provide support services and study facilities for local students enrolled at any university or vocational education and training provider - without them having to leave their community.
The opening comes amid stark statistics about educational attainment in regional Australia. While nearly half of all young Australians hold a university degree, that figure drops sharply outside major cities. In St Helens, only around 17 per cent of young people have a degree, a gap the new hub is designed to help address.
Evidence from existing hubs around the country shows that university participation increases in areas where Regional University Study Hubs are established, making the St Helens opening a significant milestone for the local community.
The new St Helens location is part of the Australian Government's $66.9 million investment to more than double the number of University Study Hubs across the country, expanding access to higher education for regional and remote Australians.
Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles shares:
The opening of the St Helens Regional University Study Hub is a great opportunity for students in Tasmania’s East Coast to pursue their university or VET course while remaining connected to family, friends and their community.
Click here to read the official media release.
