The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional Queensland after completing its fifth annual Regional Tour, strengthening partnerships, exploring local priorities, and inspiring the next generation through education and STEM engagement.
Led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Mazerolle, the tour visited Roma, Chinchilla, Kingaroy, and Dalby, continuing the University's commitment to engaging directly with regional communities to strengthen partnerships, support local priorities and expand education opportunities.
Professor Mazerolle said the week emphasised the importance of listening to regional communities and ensuring the University remained responsive to their needs.
"The theme of being stronger together resonated throughout every conversation," Professor Mazerolle said.
"Regional communities want a university that listens, engages and works alongside them to create opportunities.
"That commitment has always been central to UniSQ, and this tour reaffirmed just how important those partnerships are."
Across the week, UniSQ representatives met with community leaders, educators, government representatives and industry partners through executive luncheons, networking events and site visits, discussing regional priorities, workforce challenges and opportunities to strengthen education pathways.
Visits to schools in each community reinforced the importance of accessible higher education, while tours of the Country Universities Centres in Roma and Chinchilla highlighted the role regional study hubs play in enabling students to remain connected to their communities while pursuing university study.
UniSQ also visited the Southern Queensland Rural Health aged care education hub, showcasing innovative approaches to developing the regional health workforce.
Professor Mazerolle said improving access to higher education remained a key priority.
"Communities consistently spoke about the challenges of distance and affordability when it comes to university study," he said.
"Flexible learning, online education and regional study hubs help remove those barriers and create opportunities for more people to access higher education close to home."
The tour also reinforced the University's role beyond education.
"Universities create opportunities through education, research, partnerships and community engagement," Professor Mazerolle said.
"We have to be relevant to the community. That means we have to be engaged, we have to listen, we have to learn, because we're stronger together."
A highlight throughout the week was the Missions Operations Centre (MOC), which travelled with the Regional Tour to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.
Developed through the iLAuNCH Trailblazer program in partnership with CSIRO and supported by the Australian Government's Trailblazer Universities Program, the mobile facility welcomed more than 1,400 students, teachers and parents across the four communities, with many young visitors returning for multiple sessions.
"The enthusiasm we saw from young people stepping inside the Missions Operations Centre was incredible," Professor Mazerolle said.
"Experiences like these spark curiosity, inspire future careers and demonstrate the exciting opportunities that exist in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
Professor Mazerolle said the Regional Tour was about building relationships that extended well beyond a single week.
"Our regional communities are at the heart of who we are as a university," he said.
"The conversations we've had throughout this tour will help shape future partnerships and initiatives as we continue working together to create opportunities and make a meaningful difference across regional Queensland."
