Stopping the brain drain to the city will be a priority in the Maranoa region when the Country University Centre (CUC) Roma opens, Maranoa MP David Littleproud said today.
“The Country University Centre (CUC) Maranoa gives our people – young and mature-age students and those looking to gain new skills – a chance to study locally, close to the support of their family and community,” Mr Littleproud said.
“This is going to change the lives of many people in the Bush. CUC Maranoa will be fitted out with study spaces, internet access, top-notch IT capability and academic support.
“CUC Maranoa cannot come soon enough – 45% of young people in Roma are leaving the region and this Centre will give them the support they need to stay closer to home and hopefully pursue opportunities more locally.
“Digital connectivity has become a big part of study and with 26% of households in Roma without internet access, this Centre will be crucial in giving more people more access to tertiary qualifications.
“This initiative is going to keep our younger generations in the Bush, contributing to the local economy and playing their part in the community.
“Increasing the number of skilled professionals in the Maranoa region is going to open doors and pave the way for more business opportunities in the future.
“This is an exciting development for Roma and people in the greater south-west region – I look forward to seeing future generations armed with degrees finding jobs in the Bush.
“We’re starting to get our fair share and gain access to services that people in the city have at their fingertips.
“CUC Maranoa will be set up at Roma TAFE and is going to boost access to learning methods, support and inject a new level of confidence and enthusiasm in gaining skills.”
Regional Education Minister Andrew Gee said the new Centres will provide opportunities for students in regional and remote Australia to gain a tertiary qualification without leaving their local community and support networks.
“This is about equality of opportunity for country people and giving them the same access to education as their city cousins.”
In Maranoa, two Regional University Centres will be opened, with the other being the Balonne Universities Centre in St George and Dirranbandi.
The Roma and Balonne Centres are two of nine new Centres being established across Australia, bolstering the 16 already embedded in all states and the Northern Territory under the Government’s $53.2 million Regional University Centres program.
With study spaces, IT and internet access, administrative and academic support services and pastoral support, the Centres provide a place for students to engage with learning and achieve a tertiary qualification.
More information about Regional University Centres can be found at: https://www.dese.gov.au/regional-university-centres
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