Community network: Lumen Wheatbelt Regional University Centre opens Narrogin study hub

A big crowd gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Narrogin Lumen Wheatbelt Regional University Centre study hub at Federal Street by WA Labor Senator Sue Lines on May 3. The Narrogin hub completes Lumen’s Wheatbelt learning network including centres in York, Merredin and Wongan Hills. There are 27 students enrolled with Lumen across the Wheatbelt with six enrolled in Narrogin. Director of Lumen WRUC Elise Woods said the centres would support students by offering reliable internet, free printing and access to a student support officer. “We will have dedicated workspaces for up to eight students to study at once here in Narrogin,” she said. “We’re setting up the support framework for the students so they can be studying at any university, TAFE or RTO across Australia, whenever they need a place that is quiet and has good facilities we’ll be the place to go.” Lumen WRUC is one of eight new Regional University Centres being rolled out nationally by the Federal Department of Education. The aim of the centres is to help country towns thrive and grow by reducing the need for students at any stage of learning to relocate for study, keeping valuable people and skills in regional areas. “We’ve got issues with unemployment and not having enough workers and housing across Australia,” Ms Lines said. “But when you see innovation like this, I think we can do anything when we put our minds to it and a bit of funding behind it.” The centres also lessen the impact of studying on the lives of country students by removing the challenges of long-distance commutes and relocation. Lumen WRUC chair Wendy Newman joined Ms Lines in cutting an imaginary ribbon with finger scissors to open the Narrogin hub officially. “Education is really the driver of economic and social opportunities,” Ms Newman said. “We see these hubs as playing a really important role in creating that social support.” Representatives from the Shire of Narrogin, WA Government and Community Resource Centres celebrated the opening into the afternoon. “It’s been a really amazing collaborative effort between RDA Wheatbelt, local governments, Community Resource Centres and private business,” Ms Woods said. “We really look forward to developing partnerships with communities, universities and the learning sector as we grow.”