Funded under the Australian Government's Suburban University Study Hubs program, the initiative is
supporting students across three locations in Western Sydney, Macquarie Fields, Mount Druitt and Emerton, and at two locations in Melbourne's north, Broadmeadows and Epping.
The hubs are designed to provide support to students by offering computer facilities, high-speed internet and study spaces, as well as staff to assist with academic skills, administrative and wellbeing support tailored to local needs.
Suburban University Study Hubs are not education providers but help build aspiration for tertiary study and reduce barriers so students can access and gain support to complete their studies closer to home.
Led by La Trobe University, the Northern Study Hub in Melbourne supports students from any university and any course, offering academic and wellbeing assistance in a local, accessible setting.
In Western Sydney, the Mt Druitt and Emerton University Study Hub is operated by the Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency (MECA), with over 35 years of experience supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Meanwhile, the Suburban Study Hub Macquarie Fields, operated by TAFE NSW, is strategically positioned to respond to the population growth in southwest Sydney and support students in emerging areas of need. It is well placed to foster connected pathways between the vocational education and training and higher education sectors.
Macquarie Fields students Mirna and Maryana said the hub's facilities are helping them through their higher education journeys.
"I come from a large family and home can be noisy. As a university student it's important for me to have a quiet place to focus on my studies and that's why the hub is important to me," Mirna said.
"The hub is a great space, and I like the design. I love the collaboration desks that we can use for group assignments and the smaller room with the large screen is good for working on presentations," Maryana said.
The new hubs are 3 of 15 hubs opening in outer metropolitan areas this year.
The following locations are also open and supporting students:
