Central Murray Region

•Swan Hill Rural City •Gannawarra Shire • • Shire •Buloke Shire

•42,000 people in region.

•8 secondary colleges

•2 TAFE’s

•3 Learning Centres, 1 Distant Education Centre The Issues •2nd most disadvantaged region in Victoria due to location • One of the lowest socio economic regions in Victoria and NSW. • Low to very low computer use at home (31.4%) and internet use in the region (27.8%) - 2001 census • 8 % under represented in formal qualifications from rest of Victoria/NSW • Ageing population (17.8% over 65 compared to 12.8% of population of Victoria) • 27% retention rate of Koorie students over age 15 The Issues

• 38% of students referred to On Track left the region because training not supplied in region. • Our students offered university places are deferring at 3 times the state average(6%). Swan Hill College 15% and MacKillop College 17 % (2004) • Cost of sending a kid to / to University estimated to be $15,000 p.a with HECS fees on top of this. $60,000 for a 4 year degree??????? • To send one student to university costs more than 50% of the annual income of over one third of the families across the region. The Issues

• Massive economic growth in region. • $844 million proposed investment next 2 to 3 years. • Research potential huge and untapped. Mid Murray Higher Education Working Party

• Murray Mallee LLEN auspiced working party • 3 reps SHRCC, 2 Gannawara, 2 Wakool, 1 Buloke and 1 Balranald. • Nominated by each LGA • Charged with increasing university presence in the region; both undergraduate and post graduate and research Progress So Far

• Community organizations financial contributions. $43,000 raised. • Report commissioned on demand, priority courses, model of delivery and strategy. • Report handed down on 13/7/05. • Expressions of Interest for University partner. • Strong local political support. • Strong media profiling. The Report

• Confirmed demand. • Established priority courses. • Recommended establishing Central Murray University Centre. • Recommended establishing University partner. • New university places. The Demand

• Interested in study locally (51%) • First year of courses (18%). • Continuing students/Mature aged. • Up to 150 in 5 years. • Education (Primary, secondary and preschool). •Nursing • Business Management • Accounting. • Social Work • Local ‘niche’ courses (Natural Resource Management / Local Govt) The Model

• Central Murray Universities Centre (similar to that operating within the Geraldton area of Western ). • Centre to provide local management and support. • Partner University to deliver programs. • Study and tutorials delivered locally. • Utilizing existing infrastructure eg Tafe new Swan Hill campus, MacKillop College, KODE campus, Swan Hill College, Kerang Learning Centre, Balranald Central School and others. The Programs

A significant focus will be programs which have direct relevance to needs or opportunities within the region.

• undergraduate and post graduate courses, providing full and part Degree programs based on demand and viability. • first year transfer courses. • pathways and partnerships with TAFE, secondary and private providers. • research and post graduate projects across the region, including partnerships with industry, research and other relevant agencies. • support services for students engaged in practicum placements or enrolled in external studies. • Local practicums. The University Centre

• Local skills based Board of Management. • managed by a Facilitator. Additional staff appointed as become established. • “shopfront” presence within Swan Hill. • Kerang Learning Centre to provide a presence in Kerang? • funded by federally funded new university places through the partner University (approx $11,000 each). • or reallocated existing places by partner University. The University Centre

• independent of the University/s delivering the programs. • Able to change focus according to local demand and course availability. • provide management services and administrative support for the students. • information resource to assist the enrolment of students in courses delivered into the region by universities. • brokering service to facilitate and co-ordinate access to university studies in the region. The Benefits

• Greater priority by Universities to region. • Local, relevant studies. • Reduced costs of study to families and region. • Reduce loss of youth. • Increased local education aspirations. • Broader range of local courses (articulation). • Local research. • REMPLAN (Latrobe Uni) suggests multiplying effect is 4 times that of uni spend. 75 EFTSU’s places at about $11,000 each, approximates to $850,000 available to uni’s. Hence $3.4 million p.a in economic activity in Central Murray region Media Profiling

• AGE major feature Sept 14th • Australian article Sept 22nd • 5 live interviews SMART F.M. • 10 live interviews ABC Mildura / Swan Hill • 1 interview ABC Statewide (radio) • Herald Sun Statewide article 24/11/04 • 26 articles local press in region • 5 lead News items WIN TV • 1 interview Jon Faine 7/10/05 • 1 Regional ABC interview Penny Johnstone 26/10/05

Critical Timelines

2005

• August - Preferred model adopted. • October - Establishment of University Partner • October/November - Submission for Innovation and Structural Reform Funding by University Partner. • December/February - Development of refined model of delivery, priority courses Critical Timelines

2006

• February/March - Submission for funded university places to the federal government by the University Partner • Mid year - Allocation of places by federal government • August - Establishment of Universities Centre Board of Management • September - Engagement of Universities Centre facilitator • September - Establishment of Universities Centre facility in Swan Hill (and Kerang) • November - Advertisement of courses available Critical Timelines

2007

• January - Enrolment of students

• January - Engagement of local tutors and staff required by the university

• February/March - Commencement of university studies within region UPDATE

• Working with preferred University partner Dec 2005 • Negotiating with 3 other Universities about other niche courses that could be delivered out of the Central Murray Universities Centre • University partner to make 3rd visit to Swan Hill shortly.