Education Initiative
The Purpose and Plan
In 2016, the RDA Great Southern Committee determined to contribute to the development of the Education sector in the Great Southern Region by forming an Education Subcommittee to identify and work with key stakeholders on the economic potential and growth strategies in the education sector. This grew from initiatives linked to the concern of population growth and attracting students to the region, meeting both the tertiary education needs of local students, as well as considering intrastate, interstate and international opportunities. The tertiary sector was seen as a key driver for economic and social development in the region.
Taking a leadership role, the RDA Great Southern facilitated education industry sector round table meetings, hosted industry specialists to the region, and engaged with industry partners to broaden awareness and opportunities.
The Great Southern Tertiary Education Environmental Scan, commissioned by RDA Great Southern, was produced in June 2019. One of the recommendations of this report was to determine and explore the structures needed to support community driven models, including Commonwealth funded and defined, Regional University Centres (RUC). RUC’s help regional and remote online students to stay connected with family, friends and employment while enabling them to gain new qualifications that benefit them as well as their community and their local economy.
Following broad consultation and support, RDA Great Southern was successful in its application to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment for the second round of Regional University Centres funding. The third Centre in WA, the Great Southern Universities Centre was officially opened in Albany by the Hon Nola Marino MP, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, on 6 October 2021.
What does the Great Southern Universities Centre provide?
The Great Southern Universities Centre (GS-Uni Centre) provides a dedicated study space for those who are studying any course at any Australian university! The university centre is designed for regional students, who wish to remain in their local community, while still studying their preferred course. The GS-Uni Centre makes external and online study easier, by providing campus-style facilities, a purpose designed environment and student study support.
Students can access:
- 24hr secure study hub
- Wi-Fi, printing and computer facilities
- Free access to all facilities and services
- Face-to-face and online academic support
- Student advice
- Opportunity to engage with peers
- Pastoral care guidance
- Exposure to career, industry and networking events.
Who is eligible?
Everyone undertaking post-secondary education at a diploma or higher level, study with an Australian University/Study provider, and who resides in the Great Southern, can take advantage of this purpose-built study facility. Whether a student is in their first year or fourth year, under or postgraduate, studying online or onsite, part or full-time, the GS-Uni Centre provides a fit for purpose Hub for students.
Onsite student support can help navigate students through their learning and they can find help when needed.
Does it cost to study there?
There is no cost for registered students to use this facility.
The GS-Uni Centre is run by Regional Development Australia Great Southern and is supported by the Australian Government, Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Benefits
Benefits for students include the choice to stay and study in the region, close to home, family, work and play, a dedicated facility engineered to optimise their study experience, access to in-house and academic support, opportunities to build industry connections, access to subject matter experts, mentor-ships, masterclasses and an opportunity to build a community of students in the region.
It reduces the time and cost of commuting, removes the cost and hassle of relocating closer to a University whilst trying to get into the rhythm of study. Students undertaking online courses often find it difficult to remain focused and on task. The GS-Uni Centre makes it easier with a space designed for students, with other students doing the same thing.
Registration
All students and visitors to the GS-UniCentre must register and/or sign in on entry. Online registrations are available here. link to https://www.gsunicentre.edu.au/registration
Find out more
For more information, contact:
What does the Great Southern Universities Centre provide?
The Great Southern Universities Centre (GS-Uni Centre) provides a dedicated study space for those who are studying any course at any Australian university! The university centre is designed for regional students, who wish to remain in their local community, while still studying their preferred course. The GS-Uni Centre makes external and online study easier, by providing campus-style facilities, a purpose designed environment and student study support.
Students can access:
- 24hr secure study hub
- Wi-Fi, printing and computer facilities
- Free access to all facilities and services
- Face-to-face and online academic support
- Student advice
- Opportunity to engage with peers
- Pastoral care guidance
- Exposure to career, industry and networking events.
Who is eligible?
Everyone undertaking post-secondary education at a diploma or higher level, study with an Australian University/Study provider, and who resides in the Great Southern, can take advantage of this purpose-built study facility. Whether a student is in their first year or fourth year, under or postgraduate, studying online or onsite, part or full-time, the GS-Uni Centre provides a fit for purpose Hub for students.
Onsite student support can help navigate students through their learning and they can find help when needed.
Does it cost to study there?
There is no cost for registered students to use this facility.
The GS-Uni Centre is run by Regional Development Australia Great Southern and is supported by the Australian Government, Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Benefits
Benefits for students include the choice to stay and study in the region, close to home, family, work and play, a dedicated facility engineered to optimise their study experience, access to in-house and academic support, opportunities to build industry connections, access to subject matter experts, mentor-ships, masterclasses and an opportunity to build a community of students in the region.
It reduces the time and cost of commuting, removes the cost and hassle of relocating closer to a University whilst trying to get into the rhythm of study. Students undertaking online courses often find it difficult to remain focused and on task. The GS-Uni Centre makes it easier with a space designed for students, with other students doing the same thing.
Registration
All students and visitors to the GS-UniCentre must register and/or sign in on entry. Online registrations are available here. link to https://www.gsunicentre.edu.au/registration
Find out more
For more information, contact:
Strategic Planning
RDA Great Southern is part of a national network of Committees, funded by the Australian Government, which has an active and facilitative role in their communities. RDAs focus on working with key regional stakeholders, community groups and business to maximising opportunities that achieve sustainable and prosperity aspirations.
The Regional Development Australia Charter includes the requirement to coordinate the development of a strategic regional plan, or work with suitable existing regional plans that will align with the Commonwealth’s regional priorities. The Australian Government priorities are:
- Connectivity and Infrastructure incorporating digital connectivity, transport links, and freight and supply chain infrastructure
- Human Capital and Skills to provide skilled and adaptable workforces, Regional Universities and training, and schooling
- Regional Employment and Business to develop regional businesses and industry, local R&D and innovation and a strategic regional vision
- Leadership and Collaboration by investing in regional leadership, capable local government and the Indigenous community
- Amenity and Liveability providing services, facilities and liveability, and support for local priorities
- Sustainable Natural Resources to build future resilience, ensure sustainable foundations and provide economic opportunities and jobs
RDA Great Southern determined to develop a new strategic regional plan in 2021/2022 and has undertaken considerable consultation with key stakeholders, along with desk top research of the Great Southern regions Strategic and Corporate Plans. Further consultation is proposed once the draft Plan is prepared. It is hoped to publish RDA Great Southern’s Strategic Regional Plan 2022-2026 in August/September 2022.
Housing and Accommodation / Resident Migration
The RDA Great Southern Committee is working with relevant stakeholders to understand the impact and assist in the development of population growth strategies in the Great Southern Region.
The Committee is working to:
- Identify and analyse the strategies and initiatives that directly or indirectly affect population growth in the Great Southern Region
- Housing and accommodation – Investigate housing affordability, including to buy, or rent
- Social housing and liveability
- Quality employee housing
- Participate in and initiate relevant activities such as research, statistical and issues analysis, economic and social trends that help in understanding population dynamics and growth factors
- Liaise with key stakeholders to help develop awareness of factors including government policy that influence population dynamics and economic development.
COVID has provided a push factor with many people to move to the regions, and this has revealed a host of issues. RDA Great Southern will continue to work to develop a facilitation delivery model. Examples of successful programs include ‘Evocities Regional Living’ and RDA Riverina’s ‘Country Change’.
The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) has developed the ‘Move to More’ campaign to make those living in capital cities around the country more aware of the possibilities that come with life in a regional town or city.
Regional Infrastructure
Communications
In 2020, RDA Great Southern commissioned a Communication Capacity Audit to better understand the availability and level of telecommunications service infrastructure in the Great Southern.
The aim of the Audit was to provide a snapshot of existing regional digital connectivity, provide an understanding of the availability and the extent to which the community rely on that connectivity, and provide some insight into its capacity to support industries and populations in the region both now and in the future.
The Committee identified that communications technology sits at the heart of business and social life in contemporary times and, moreover, that the need to understand this position and to acknowledge its primacy has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic which has fundamentally changed our attitudes towards physical movement and online communication.
The Communication Capacity Audit gives clear insight into the ‘digital divide’ which refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don’t or have restricted access. The digital divide is known to separate metropolitan and many regional communities and can, in general terms:
- Stifle regional economic and social development
- Provide inequitable access to services
- Diminish the ability to modernise business practices and to compete effectively in the digitised economy
- Contribute to declining regional populations
- Impact our regional standard of living, and in some emergency circumstances affect people’s health and safety
In August 2021, the Great Southern Communications Capacity Audit was completed and endorsed by the RDA Great Southern Committee. You can read the full report here.
Great Southern Road Network
The Committee will continue its participation on the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) Southern Zone, Roads Working Group which is investigating the general condition, priority rating and effectiveness of the region’s road networks.
The proposed review, yet to commence will develop a strategic roads plan and investment strategy to ensure a safe and fit for purpose road network capable of meeting the needs of all road users for the next 25 years. The Strategy will identify priority upgrades on major routes to accommodate significant increases in road freight for grain to and from CBH terminals to both the Albany and Bunbury Ports.
Great Southern Rail Network
RDA Great Southern believes the benefits of an upgraded freight service throughout the Great Southern region and resumption of a passenger rail service from Perth to Albany and would boost the economic and industrial development of the Great Southern and adjacent regions.
The rail service requires systematic upgrading of the existing infrastructure in terms of elimination of curves and steep grades and laying of some new track. In particular, as recent reports have indicated, a new East-West link from Narrogin or Mundijong to Kwinana is required to provide more efficient freight access to the developing Kwinana port and lay the groundwork for a restored and faster passenger/tourist service from Perth to Albany.
Up grading of existing track would have the added benefit of providing a more efficient service for bulk goods traffic to and from Albany and its port e.g. grain and wood chips, with associated potential industrial development. All of this would provide a large number of new jobs in the construction period, and substantial numbers of permanent jobs in the long term. Spin-off development in terms of tourism and other industries would be substantial throughout the Region.
The benefits of this project would offset its high capital cost and would be manifested in increased economic development and associated employment across many industries. Tourism traffic to Albany and Region and the promotion of centres along the route (e.g. Narrogin, Wagin, Katanning) have substantial growth potential. With the restoration of a passenger/tourist rail service, weekend and daily trips to Albany and surrounds would become more feasible for locals and interstate/international visitors. Business trips to and from Perth could be undertaken within the day, particularly if dining facilities were provided on board, as occurs with the Prospector train service Perth to Kalgoorlie.
Decreased car and truck traffic on Albany Highway would bring economic benefits such as reduced road maintenance and the need for continual road capacity increases. It would also yield environmental and safety benefits including increased air quality, decreased fossil fuel consumption and safer roads. Such benefits are seen to play a key role in rail improvements currently underway in other states and around the world. In WA, the State Government commitment to a reopening of the Kulin to Pinjarra third-tier line is a local example of this new approach.
Through faster and more efficient transport of goods, the project could also attract new industries to the Great Southern area, particularly once the planned gas pipeline from Bunbury to Albany is constructed. Processing and consequent value adding of raw materials shipped through Albany — such as grain and wood chips — at the port or in nearby industrial areas are strong possibilities.
In turn, this would take pressure off the continued growth of the Perth Metropolitan Area and facilitate some measure of decentralisation of development within the State (WA SPC 2015). Costs of traffic congestion and reduced air quality are increasing in Australian metropolitan areas as are the social costs of commuting and travel as they expand ever outwards. A report from Infrastructure Australia (2019) summed the situation up this way ‘there is the potential for some regional railways to play a bigger role in our transport networks’… particularly if they are faster and more frequent.
The Great Southern Rail Initiative Group consists of local government and community members from throughout the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions. Goals have been developed and are currently directed towards the commissioning of a discussion paper, using funds RDA Great Southern funds.
The discussion paper will articulate a concise vision of a vastly improved Great Southern rail network, and consider the future benefits of rail including social and environmental factors, and assess emerging technologies such as hydrogen and renewable-powered trains.
Productive Agricultural Sustainability
The Great Southern regional economy is predominantly supported by its primary industries which leverage productive farmland to support broadacre cropping, horticulture, livestock production and winemaking.
The RDA Great Southern Committee recognises the importance of the agricultural industry in the Great Southern region. A significant contributor to the Gross Regional Product in WA, the main agricultural industries include cropping, livestock, and wool, with horticulture and viticulture also important contributors.
The Committee purposes to contribute to the development of the Agriculture Sector by investigating potential activities and projects for RDA Great Southern to collaborate and partner with to help value add and develop positive outcomes in the sector.
The Survey of Food Production and Processing in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia project was an initiative developed by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) and RDA Great Southern, the two major funding partners. It was the first activity of DAFWA’s Specialised Food Centre, part of the Food Industry Innovation project funded by the state government’s Royalties for Regions Program. The final report can be downloaded here.