Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

University isn't for everyone, and it shouldn't have to be, but those for whom it unlocks a life-changing opportunity should have every opportunity to access it and every opportunity to succeed. For families in regional parts of South Australia, this presents special challenges. The costs involved in moving to Adelaide to study, not to mention the emotional burden and the social sacrifices of doing so, can simply be too high for South Australians from our regions. But, rather than changing our regional communities to fit the model, we need to change the model to fit our regional communities, namely through the delivery of our regional and suburban university study hubs.

These hubs enable more people to stay living within their respective communities amongst their family, their friends and their support networks while studying for a higher qualification. I've visited a number of these study hubs across South Australia and just recently had the privilege of opening a new one in Kingscote, on Kangaroo Island. Only 26.7 per cent of young people on Kangaroo Island have completed tertiary study, but, by late last year, already 26 islanders had registered to use the facility to further their education. From recent graduates to young mums, this study has the potential to be transformative for those enrolling. Our universities accord set a target for 80 per cent of the workforce to have a tertiary qualification by 2050, up from around 60 per cent, what it is today, and we are on our way to achieving that target. But, if we are to succeed, these numbers must include those living outside of our capital cities.

Labor has always been the party of education, and we are proudly hard at work to ensure that the benefits that higher education may bring are extended to all of those who seek it, including on Kangaroo Island, in my home state of South Australia.