THE HON JASON CLARE MP
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
THE HON PAT CONROY MP
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE PACIFIC
THE HON EMMA MCBRIDE MP
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR RURAL AND REGIONAL HEALTH
GORDON REID MP
MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON
MEDIA RELEASE
HELPING MORE COASTIES STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE
The University of Newcastle has been allocated 967 additional university places to train more teachers, nurses, and engineers across Newcastle and the Central Coast.
These additional places represent a funding injection of more than $28 million to train students from disadvantaged backgrounds in areas where there’s a skills shortage.
This is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to provide 20,000 extra university places across Australia for people studying bachelor and sub-bachelor courses, including education, nursing, health, IT, and engineering.
Across the country, higher education providers have been allocated places in the following areas:
- 4,036 in education, including 1,469 for teachers in early education,
- 2,600 in nursing,
- 2,275 in IT,
- 2,740 in health professions like pharmacists, health science and community health, and
- 1,738 in engineering.
The remaining courses will be offered in other areas where there are skills shortages.
The 20,000 additional places will be allocated to students who experience challenges when it comes to accessing education including those from poorer backgrounds, Indigenous Australians, and students from rural and remote Australia.
The extra places will mean more Australians can train to be teachers, nurses, health professionals and engineers starting next year and in 2024, with an investment of up to $485.5 million over the next four years.
Quotes attributable to Education Minister Jason Clare:
“This means more teachers, nurses and engineers and it means more Australians from poor families and rural and remote Australia doing these jobs. That’s life changing.”
Quotes attributable to Minister, Pat Conroy:
“This is a great announcement for young people across the Shortland electorate looking at studying at the University of Newcastle.”
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to ensuring more kids from rural and regionals areas, like the Hunter and Central Coast, get the opportunity to go to university to address the skill shortages left to us by the previous Government.”
“The Albanese Labor Government promised to deliver more university places in areas of skill shortages to support hospitals, schools and industry on the Central Coast and we are getting on with delivering what we promised.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister, Emma McBride:
“We have a skills crisis on the Coast and across Australia, particularly in health, and we want to encourage local students to upskill and train at a university level, so they can help build our workforce.”
“This announcement will help disadvantaged students on the Coast, so they can study nursing, teaching, podiatry or engineering at university and take up a rewarding career in these industries.”
Quotes attributable to Dr. Gordon Reid:
“The Albanese Government is delivering on our election commitment to fund additional university places to address the skills shortage and I’m pleased to see the University of Newcastle is one of the top five universities to receive the most funding.”
“This is a great opportunity for students across the Coast who would like to study nursing and midwifery, education, podiatry, and psychology.”
MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022
