Young adults in regional and remote communities encouraged to go to University

The Federal Government has announced new targeted outreach initiatives which will be rolled out in regional and remote communities across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria as part of a broader project to inspire young people from underrepresented backgrounds to consider a university pathway.

“This Government knows how important outreach and community engagement is for students who might not normally choose university as a pathway, allowing them to see the opportunities available to them,” Assistant Minister for Education and Regional Development Anthony Chisholm said.

The University of Technology Sydney-led project is one of two higher education outreach projects targeting regional and remote communities selected to share in $6.5 million funding from the Australian Government.

Over 30 universities and Regional University Centres will work together with communities to deliver a range of locally tailored initiatives across 2023 and 2024, aimed at inspiring young people from regional and remote areas to pursue a higher education.

The project will also focus on building local capacity to ensure participating communities have the resources they need to keep supporting local students to consider a university pathway going forward.

Activities involved in the broad reaching project include building academic and life skills, career exploration, and mentorship programs to support students to consider the higher education opportunities available to them.

“This project presents a unique opportunity to make a lasting impression on regional and remote students and ensure that where you live is not a barrier to pursuing a university education,” Senator Chisholm said.

The Eastern Australia Regional University Centre Partnership project is being funded under Phase 2 of the Government’s Regional Partnerships Project Pool Program, which aims to empower regional and remote students to aspire to higher education, and support universities and Regional University Centres to build sustainable partnerships with local communities.