Gippsland East Study Hub’s Outreach Centres recently had electronic locking systems installed, allowing students to access the facilities during extended hours.
The Gippsland East Study Hubs provide study spaces, access to high-speed internet and computer facilities in Yarram, Heyfield, Omeo, Orbost, Mallacoota, Sale and Bairnsdale.
Our students’ most commonly requested service, however, is simply somewhere quiet with good internet to study after hours away from home and work. As one of our students said, “I come to the Study Hub to study. I cannot study at home or at work.”
Study Skills support is available either in-person or online – please refer to the www.gestudyhub.org website for details.
For many regional students access to post-secondary education is difficult.
With most distance and part-time courses being online, many parts of our region still have limited or no internet access.
The Commonwealth Department of Education funds Study Hubs across regional and remote areas of Australia to help redress the disadvantage created by lack of access to further education.
There are currently 56 Study Hubs across Australia in locations varying from King Island to Arnhem Land, with more due to open soon. In addition to the Gippsland East Study Hubs, Victoria has Study Hubs in Wonthaggi, Swan Hill, Wangaratta, Corryong and Mansfield.
The Study Hub in Bairnsdale recently achieved a significant milestone, with over 500 students having registered since it opened to students in 2020. This year our Gippsland East Study Hubs are assisting students undertake 69 different courses from 49 different education providers.
Qualifications vary from single Units of Competency through to Doctorates.
The Gippsland East Study Hubs are run by Gippsland East Local Learning and Employment Network (Gippsland East LLEN), one of 31 LLENs across Victoria. The Local Learning and Employment Networks were established in 2002 to assist the transition from school to employment or further education.
Gippsland East LLEN extends this purpose by also managing The Hub in Bairnsdale, where community and other groups meet and/or learn, and the Gippsland East Study Hubs to support students undertaking post-secondary school studies.
Gippsland East LLEN’s executive officer, Neeta D’Souza commented, “Gippsland East LLEN has been supporting our East Gippsland and Wellington Shire communities for nearly 25 years. This program is one of our flagship initiatives and is designed with a clear purpose of upskilling our communities which is a major step in developing local economies. With access to technology, remote learning platforms, and expert guidance, we are positioning our Outer Gippsland region as a place where learning is not just accessible, but adaptable to the needs of every individual.”
If you are studying, or about to commence, and would like further information, please visit our website www.gestudyhub.org for details on our locations and how to register.
