Ms Webster has just completed a nursing degree through the University of Canberra and spent up to 15 hours a week studying at the centre. 

And now it will benefit from a Federal Government funding injection of $830,000 to boost the centre’s staffing and technology resources to attract more students.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor announced the funding on November 13. 

The funding is part of a $7.5 million commitment announced this week by the Federal Government to support 16 Regional Study Hubs, including Goulburn’s Country Universities Centre (CUC) based at the Goulburn TAFE campus.

Ms Webster said the facility provided fast internet, so she could access her lectures at the centre.

“It’s a designated space that’s always quiet. You have access to the computers and the really fast internet,” she said, 

“I’ve been in here three or four days a week and only travelling to Canberra once a week.”

Ms Webster completed her practical work at Goulburn Base Hospital, where she is to be employed. 

So her skills will also be retained in the city as a result. 

Mr Taylor said the funding for Goulburn University Centre would be used to attract students from a broader area around Goulburn.

“I am backing this centre a 100 per cent and have been since its inception. It’s an excellent resource for uni students and I’m delighted to be announcing this funding to help the centre expand,” Mr Taylor said. 

The Goulburn University Centre currently has 89 students who access the centre’s study spaces, internet, video conferencing, administrative and academic support.

Centre Manager Ashlee Jones said students travelled from as far away as Braidwood and Yass to use the uni centre, as well as the Southern Highlands and across the Upper Lachlan.

“We really want to push out to a broader region, to let uni students know they can come in to Goulburn and jump on remotely to their own university system, instead of driving all the way to Canberra, Sydney or Wollongong,” Ms Jones said. 

Centre committee chair Guy Milson welcomed the Federal Government’s funding support.

“Getting our message out there is very important and the staff here are doing a lot of work with local schools, asking students ‘Have you thought of this as an option?’

Any student enrolled at an Australian university, who is studying a bachelor level or above, is eligible to study at the Goulburn University Centre.

For more information go to https://cucgoulburn.org.au/