Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As a member of the federal Labor government, I understand the power that education can have to positively shape the future of Australians and the opportunities that open through furthering tertiary education. It was with tremendous honour that I had the privilege to officially open, alongside my local, state and federal counterparts, including the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, the new University of Newcastle Gosford campus.

This transformative new educational facility in the heart of the Gosford CBD will provide new learning and study opportunities to thousands of local students. It will also mean that more students living on the Central Coast will be able to study closer to home without having to travel to Newcastle to complete their degrees. The collaboration that occurred between the federal and state governments, along with the university, underscores what we can achieve when we work together. The project was funded through $18 million from both the Australian and New South Wales governments, with the University of Newcastle contributing $31.1 million towards the campus development.

The University of Newcastle Gosford campus will offer several degrees in critical sectors where there are skills shortages, including health care and education, and provide enabling courses for those looking to access tertiary education. Since officially opening its doors, there are currently 1,200 students undertaking their degrees at the campus, with further capacity to grow. It is truly exciting, and it's an exciting time for the University of Newcastle and its presence on the Central Coast, with the recent announcement that it has purchased the old council chambers in Gosford to convert them into student accommodation. Once fully refurbished and brought up to standard, the new student accommodation tower in Gosford will be home to 127 students, representing another phenomenal investment in education, infrastructure and services on the Central Coast.

I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, for supporting the opening of this fantastic new learning space and for his exceptional remarks on the day recognising the power of education in changing people's lives. I also thank Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Newcastle, for all his contributions in supporting this project from its early days right up to the opening—Professor Zelinsky is a huge advocate for the Central Coast—and for improving access to education in the region. Lastly, I thank the Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM, chancellor of the University of Newcastle, for her commitment to the new Gosford campus and for her continuing support for increasing educational opportunities for the people of the Central Coast.

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