The Gippsland East Study Hub is excited to announce that it has expanded and will now offer five new sites under the collective banner of the Gippsland East Study Hub Outreach.
Its success in the 2023 Regional University Study Hubs (RUSH) program provided more than $1 million in funding to provide free facilities and resources to help higher education students study locally.
The RUSH program – formerly the Regional University Centres program – works to improve access to tertiary education for regional and remote students.
The Gippsland East Study Hub Outreach will bring higher education closer to students living in the regional communities, increasing the participation of students from underrepresented groups.
Where regional university study hubs are located, university participation and completion increase.
The Gippsland East Local Learning and Employment Network (Gippsland East LLEN) administer the federal funding on behalf of communities spread across the region.
“Many modern students juggle work and family commitments alongside their higher education,” executive officer, Neeta D’Souza said.
“A well-resourced local learning space is essential for their success.
“Having access to facilities and technology close to home will significantly enhance course completion rates.”
Ms D’Souza added that the Outreach sites will help local students save on travel time and costs while benefiting from excellent educational resources.
“We are dedicated to providing top- notch facilities for East Gippsland and Wellington students in Bairnsdale, Heyfield, Mallacoota, Omeo, Orbost, Sale and Yarram,” she said.
“We will continue collaborating with our stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.”
The Gippsland East Study Hub and Gippsland East Study Hub Outreach offer quiet or group study spaces, high-speed internet, video conferencing and podcasting.
Students can sit external exams and access course and career guidance as well as disability, financial and scholarship information.
Site-specific appointments with Learning Skills Advisors are available to improve students’ research skills and essay writing.
Students also can meet new friends by participating in group study and social events.
With the ongoing support of Federation University, TAFE Gippsland, East Gippsland Shire Council, and Wellington Shire Council along with community partners including Mallacoota’s The Wilderness Collective, the Omeo Community Hall and Hub Committee, the Orbost Education Centre, the Heyfield Community Resource Centre, and the Yarram and District Progress Association, they will work together to support students and improve education results in the Gippsland region.
Students from across the East Gippsland and Wellington Shires who are enrolled in any Australian VCE, TAFE or university program are encouraged to access the facilities and services available at the Study Hub.
Anyone who is interested in pursuing higher education can join, from Certificate I to PhD and all studies in between.
