Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon joined staff and students from the University of Newcastle to announce the Labor party's plans to invest $750,000 into student enabling programs both locally and nationally.
"The University of Newcastle is a national leader in enabling programs, having provided more than 60,000 students with an experience of university, resulting in many becoming the first in their family to go to university," said Ms Claydon.
The funding boost is earmarked for two programs designed to increase participation in higher education.
$500,000 of the funding will go towards the development of an online 'navigator resource' aimed at smoothing the prospective students' transition into university life.
"This four-week online navigator resource will be available nationally to give prospective students from a diverse range of backgrounds information about these alternative pathways to university,"
"It will allow people considering higher education to understand the pathways available in order to improve the access, retention and educational outcomes of diverse cohorts of people."
The remaining $250,000 is committed to supporting a pilot program offering students additional time with staff and support for regional students across the Hunter region.
"It can be hard for students in rural and regional communities to manage the challenges of study, work and family life when they live so far from campus," said Sharon Claydon.
"The funding will boost student outcomes by allowing them to engage face-to-face with university staff closer to home."
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| Dr. Anna Bennett, Luka Bungaree, MP Sharon Claydon, Katelin Smith, David Parsons. Image: Catherine Allen/2NURFM News |
