Tara Murray
Hume council is advocating for a university to be built in the northern part of the municipality.
In the council’s federal budget wish list sent by the council to local MPs, the council listed a university in Hume among its priorities.
The wish list, which was included in the last council meeting agenda, said the council is calling for the university to be built in the federal seat of Caldwell and the state electorate of Kalkallo.
The council is asking for funding to support the establishment of a university campus, working in collaboration with the state government.
Hume mayor Naim Kurt said Hume is advocating for a tertiary education facility that will offer improved pathways for our residents closer to home.
“As it stands our municipality has the lowest attainment of tertiary education in metro Melbourne,” he said.
“The proposal for a tertiary facility in Hume is one of council’s pre-budget submission items for inclusion in the federal budget in which we hope to achieve collaboratively with the state government.
“Education is the key to breaking cycles of disadvantage, and through better access to improved educational qualifications our residents will be positioned to secure jobs to support their families and assist in the transformation and progression of their local community.
“Additionally, the establishment of a tertiary provider in Hume’s north will also provide much-needed local job opportunities, partnerships for workforce development and the next generation of industry leaders.”
Hume has been without a university since Victoria University closed its Sunbury campus in 2009.
The closest universities are in Bundoora with RMIT and La Trobe and Victoria University’s Sunshine and St Albans campuses.
A new TAFE campus is being built in Sunbury by the state government and will be operated by Kangan, which also has a Broadmeadows campus.
The federal government has primary responsibility for higher education.
The federal government was contacted for comment.
Community-owned organisations are eligible to apply for the regional university study hubs program funding, which may include representatives from local government.
A state government spokesperson said since 2015, the government has invested more than $4 billion in training, skills and higher education.
“Victorians have a wide variety of high-quality training options to choose from, right across the state, including university courses and TAFE and training through private providers.”
