Press Release – OUTthere 15 January 2007

Contact: Meredith Wills

Ph: (08) 9920 4402; Mob: 0427 103 505

Geraldton is the best place in the West to live, work and study – just ask any local!

Geraldton is not only a family-friendly place but it also has a booming economy, with major infrastructure development and future growth. Chief Executive of the Mid West Development Commission Steve Douglas says Geraldton is the service centre of the booming Mid West and is an exciting place to live.

“Building approval records show investment in new residential and commercial buildings in the greater Geraldton area have almost doubled in the past two years, with more than $30m of building approvals issued in the 2006 September quarter,” Mr Douglas said.

"The mining and petroleum industry is rapidly growing, in particular it is estimated the iron ore export industry could generate about $7.5 billion each year by 2013, with a significant amount of that money flowing directly into the local Mid West community.

“Should proposed major iron ore projects occur as anticipated, major economic and social infrastructure will need to be developed including a new deep water port and industrial estate at Oakajee and a heavy gauge rail linked to them. These developments will create significant local employment opportunities and contribute to strong population growth. With economic figures like these and the relaxed regional and coastal lifestyle it is easy to see why we describe the Mid West as a great place to live, work and invest.”

The emergence of the Geraldton Universities Centre takes this one step further: Geraldton is a great place to live, work, invest and study.

Geraldton combines a near-perfect lifestyle, a mild Mediterranean climate and major city facilities with the benefits of a relaxed country lifestyle. Working and living in Geraldton does not mean isolation from medical, sporting, cultural, retail, recreation and educational facilities and services.

First class health, medical and aged care services; excellent sporting facilities producing state and national achievers; a passionate visual and performing arts community; a city beachfront with an array of landscaped parks, walkways and businesses overlooking the shorefront, great shopping, a wide variety of quality restaurant, cafe and resort amenities, plus a comprehensive education system are all located just 4½ hours drive or a 55 minute Skywest flight from Perth.

The region’s strong commitment to serving the community is illustrated in the establishment of the Geraldton Universities Centre. An important issue to emerge from a regional community forum in 1999 was the lack of university education opportunities in the Mid West. The Geraldton University Access Group formed and successfully lobbied the Federal government to allocate university places to their region. In 2002 the Geraldton Universities Centre began delivering degree programs for the University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology and Edith Cowan University. This unique partnership has already been cited as a successful model by other regional centres in Australia.

In 2006 the Universities Centre moved to its own purpose built facility. By this time student numbers had grown from 20 places to 150 enrolled students undertaking degrees in Education, Nursing, Visual Arts and Aquaculture, all at the same standard as their metropolitan university partners.

Tony Brooker of the Geraldton University Access Group proudly states that “... the new building is a testament to the determination and collaboration of the Mid West community to increase the participation in higher education in the region and to offer an alternative to relocating to Perth for university studies. As student numbers grow, so will the range of degree courses we offer in the region.”

The Geraldton Universities Centre works closely with Central West TAFE to liaise with Geraldton’s secondary schools – the Senior College, Grammar School, Nagle Catholic College and Strathalbyn Christian College. Between them they provide flexible study options and pathways between school, TAFE and university programs. These pathways are relevant to the growth of the Mid West, Gascoyne & Murchison Regions, and also provide entry to other professions and degrees. It makes a difference to the community that there are local people looking after local people.

Local residents have been vocal in their praise of the Geraldton Universities Centre: “From a financial point of view it’s an absolute bonus, and doesn’t break the family up. Studying locally means my daughter can also keep her part-time job”; “The GUC has enabled me to study something I’m passionate about in my home town”; “The support of my family and friends is a big thing, and because I’m a country boy remaining in the country is very important to me ... it also means I can stay with my footy club”; and “Studying locally has allowed me to fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. With a husband and three children, if I didn’t study in Geraldton then I would not have been able to get my degree. Financially going back to one wage and studying locally makes it so much easier.”

Regional scholarships also assist students in the Mid West to participate in tertiary studies that enrich and add value to the region. Megan Forbes, a Bachelor of Education student, had many reasons to smile having been awarded the prestigious Mid West Development Commission scholarship that will help pay for her studies. “The regional university offers many attractive incentives which have contributed to my commitment to successfully complete my degree, and the GUC prides itself on its professional and supportive lecturers”.

The networks within a regional centre mean that partnerships with a common aim emerge naturally. The Geraldton Universities Centre, Combined Centre for Rural Health and Central West TAFE have formed such a partnership with the aim of finding ways of supporting postgraduate and others involved in study or research, regardless of their university affiliation. With a community of post graduate and practitioner students in Geraldton and the Mid West this partnership provides a place to study, to meet other like minded people, to share ideas and to participate in workshops and seminars.

Geraldton and the Mid West welcomes the influx of people coming to invest in the future of the region. It offers a thriving regional city, extensive job opportunities, an abundance of affordable coastal housing and an environment conducive to living and learning. The educational opportunities and partnerships within the region certainly mean that people can “Live, work and study locally”.

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Photographs:

• Tony Brooker (Chair, Geraldton University Access Group), Megan Forbes (B.Ed student and MWDC scholarship recipient) and Steve Douglas (CEO of Mid West Development Commission)
• Geraldton Universities Centre building external
• Geraldton Universities Centre building internal
  Plus
• Perhaps a generic photograph of Geraldton would complement the story. We can assist in sourcing photo if necessary.
  
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Press Release – Mid West Times 15 January 2007

Contact: Meredith Wills
Ph: (08) 9920 4402; Mob: 0427 103 505

We already know Geraldton is the best place in the West to live and work, but now its also a great place to go to University. Just ask our locals:

“From a financial point of view it’s an absolute bonus, doesn’t break the family up, and means my daughter can keep her part-time job”; “The support of family and friends is a big thing. I’m a country boy so remaining in the country is important ... and I can stay with my footy club”; “Studying locally means I’ve fulfilled my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. With a husband and family, if I didn’t study in Geraldton I couldn’t get my degree, and financially going back to one wage made it much easier.”

The Geraldton Universities Centre works closely with Central West TAFE to liaise with Geraldton’s secondary schools. Between them they provide flexible study options and pathways between school, TAFE and university and provide entry to other professions and degrees.

Regional scholarships also assist local students to participate in tertiary studies. Applications are now open for the Mid West Development Commission $3,000 award, and the City of Geraldton and the Shire of Northampton $500 awards for new undergraduate students.

For school leavers and for mature aged people who would like to start university, Edith Cowan’s University Preparation Course meets minimum entry requirements for selected degree programs at Edith Cowan, Curtin, Murdoch and Notre Dame Universities.

The educational opportunities and partnerships within our region certainly mean that people can “Live, work and study locally”. For further information visit GUC on Onslow Street or phone 9920 4400.
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