Regional and remote students learning centre
University Centre in Cooktown
In its last splash of cash before voters hit the booths to decide the next Government of Australia the Federal Government will establish a new Regional University Centre in Cooktown to offer local students the support they need to undertake tertiary education without having to leave the area.
They also promise modern facilities that it’s hoped will remove barriers for regional and remote students to access quality education opportunities.
Federal Regional Education Minister Bridget McKenzie said the new centre was an exciting development for Cooktown and Far North Queensland. “This centre will significantly boost higher education outcomes for current and future students in Cooktown and the surrounding region,” Ms McKenzie said.
She went on to say that once this centre is up and running, local students won’t have to leave home and relocate to study. The new centre has the potential to change education outcomes in areas like Cooktown and possibly even the Douglas Shire. On the eve of the Federal Election Ms McKenzie was keen to compare the Libs and Labor when it comes to higher education. “Our government is investing almost $20 billion in higher education in 2022, this is 32 per cent higher than under Labor” she said.
Warren says it’s a smart move
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch welcomed the announcement and has told Newsport the centre is a key element, in what he says is his government’s commitment to improving higher education participation and accomplishment in regional and remote Australia.
“Our local rural and regional students only deserve the very best when it comes to their own education, and it’s great initiatives like this one that will ensure that students can study closer to home without having to leave their communities and that can only be a good thing” Mr Entsch said.
The centre is expected to be open in October 2022 and be operated by Country Universities Centre and Cook Shire Council. The new centre will complement the existing 26 centres currently operating in all Australian states and the Northern Territory under the $102 million Regional University Centres program.
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