Tertiary students in Melbourne’s outer north now have access to greater education with the opening of the Northern Study Hub in Broadmeadows.
Launched by Education Minister Jason Clare on Wednesday, August 13, the hub is led by La Trobe University with the support of the federal government, Hume and Whittlesea councils, Melbourne Polytechnic, Whittlesea Community Connections, Broadmeadows Kangan Institute and NORTH Link.
“Almost one in two young people in their 20s and their 30s have a university degree today. But not everywhere. Not in our outer suburbs and not in regional Australia. That’s why we are doubling the number of University Study Hubs, to bring university closer to them,” Mr Clare said.
“I want this to change, and that means bringing university closer to where people live such as in Broadmeadows.”
The new hub has been in the works for the past year, with La Trobe University vice chancellor Theo Farrell highlighting a need for the study hub in the area.
“The federal government launched this suburban study hub scheme to basically open these hubs for people studying at university and TAFE to come to a place and do their studies,” he said.
“The essence of the idea is to bring learning opportunities to those people. It’s going to limit their travel time and bring down the costs.”
La Trobe university student Tori Foster has been using the new study hub for two weeks. She said it helps with her concentration.
“I know why I’m here and it can help me easily set goals to study,” she said.
“Because La Trobe has opened a study hub in Broadmeadows, they’re acknowledging that there are students here. It feels like my university wants me to study.”
