There is 11 students from across the Upper Lachlan Shire who attend CUC.

With the premise of a well-resourced and technologically capable program this would certainly make the CUC more attractive to potential students, he said. 

The recent Federal Government funding injection of $830,000 will boost the CUC’s staffing and technology resource. The Federal Member for Hume, Angus Taylor, announced the funding on Tuesday, 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 CUC, based at the local TAFE campus.

Mr Joseph said, “Students in rural settings always have greater obstacles to overcome than students from larger cities in terms of attending university.” 

A less obvious issue is technology limitations – internet speed, availability and usability of conferencing and online learning technologies.

“This is where CUC can help restore some equity between rural and city students,” Mr Joseph said.  

The facility provided fast internet, so students could more easily access lectures at the centre.

Students from the ULS would still have to overcome the cost of running a car, and access to funds to drive to the centre in Goulburn the current lack of viable public transport. 

This can still make attending CUC an impediment, Mr Joseph said. However, he is confident that a resolution would be found, he added.

Mr Taylor said the funding for Goulburn’s CUC campus would be used to attract students from a broader area. “I am backing this centre a hundred per cent and have been since its inception.”

The Goulburn CUC presently has 89 students that access its resources.