The Morrison Government will establish a new Regional University Centre in Cooktown to offer local students the support and modern facilities they need to undertake tertiary education without needing to leave the area.
The Morrison Government’s Regional University Centres program removes barriers for regional and remote students to access quality education opportunities and is an important step towards changing the narrative for our students.
We strongly believe that all Australians should have access to a quality tertiary education, regardless of where they live.
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.
“People in regional Australia are less than half as likely to complete a university degree compared with people in cities. Regional University Centres are helping communities across Australia to reverse this trend.
“It is wonderful that once this centre is up and running, local students won’t need to leave home and relocate to study.
“They will be able to enrol in a university course and complete a degree or another tertiary qualification and their skills could stay in the region and help the community.
“The new centre has the potential to change education outcomes in Cooktown and surrounding regional areas for the benefit of future generations, which is part of the Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger future.
“Our government is investing almost $20 billion in higher education in 2022 – this is 32 per cent higher than under Labor.
“Regional University Centres supported more than 2400 students across Australia in 2021 to undertake further education, many of them who would never have considered this if it wasn’t for these facilities.”
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch welcomed the announcement and said the centre is a key component of the Morrison Government’s commitment to improving higher education participation and attainment in regional and remote Australia.
“Our local rural and regional students deserve the very best when it comes to their education, and it’s initiatives like this one that will ensure that students can study close to home without having to leave their communities,” Mr Entsch said.
The centre is expected to be open in October 2022.
It will be operated by Country Universities Centre and Cook Shire Council and is one of eight new centres that will be established around Australia as part of an investment of up to $14.8 million.
The new centres will complement the existing 26 centres currently operating in all Australian states and the Northern Territory under the $102 million Regional University Centres program.
Only the Coalition has a plan to continue delivering a strong economy and a stronger future for Queensland.
