Regional Study Hubs are now an ongoing component for further education in regional Australia.
Gippsland East Study Hub’s recent four-year extension of its contract with the Commonwealth Department of Education signals an ongoing commitment by the government to assisting regional communities access learning and skills beyond secondary school.
The Gippsland East Study Hub is managed by GELLEN, and is within The Hub at the Old High School on Dalmahoy Street in Bairnsdale.
Services are free to students and provide a safe, and quiet place to study away from the distractions of the home or workplace, complete with laptop docking stations and reliable high-speed internet.
Students over 18 have 24-hour access allowing them to study at any time that suits them and not be worried about closing times.
Study support is available for those who need a hand in basic study skills, including time management, breaking down assessment questions, referencing and citations.
There are enormous range of courses available to study online, allowing students to learn and gain qualifications without leaving their homes or communities.
An increasing range of on-campus courses are also being either held online or have their lectures recorded, allowing them to be accessed when and where it suits the student.
This allows the local community of all ages to access further studies at any level without the expense and dislocation of moving to the big smoke.
A “Uni Your Way” Open Day is being held on August 5 from 12pm to 6.30pm.
Participants can learn about the range of distance education courses available, explore the free student support facilities and services, discover pathways, learning opportunities and career support, and explore creativity with science and technology through a STEAM Lab (including virtual reality and robotics).
Last year GELLEN, through the Gippsland East Study Hubs supported more than 150 students across Wellington and East Gippsland Shires, undertaking 126 different courses from 56 different providers.
Courses varied from a range of Certificate IIIs at TAFE through to post graduate doctorates, with students varying in age from 16 to 77.
The Study Hub is provider neutral and open to any student undertaking (or considering) post-secondary school courses, and final year VCE students.
There are also Study Hubs operating in Yarram, Mallacoota, Heyfield, Omeo and Orbost.
Gippsland East Study Hubs are supported by the Australian Government through the Regional University Study Hubs Program.
Study Hubs are a highly successful and innovative national initiative focussing on helping communities in regional/remote Australia to access further education.
Currently there are 56 Study Hubs throughout regional Australia.
