25/3/03
A unique education campus in Mandurah looks set for expansion with the inclusion of a multi-million-dollar university learning centre.
Education Minister Alan Carpenter today witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the City of Mandurah and Murdoch University to provide for the new centre as part of the Peel Education and TAFE Campus.
"The MoU is a significant agreement that focuses on a collaborative approach between its signatories and the community to help establish a Murdoch University Learning Centre, together with a South-West ICT knowledge link by 2005," Mr Carpenter said.
Local MLA David Templeman said the presence of a university in the region would encourage local professionals to remain in the area, enhance access to university programs and, most importantly, offer greater educational and training opportunities for the Peel community.
Mr Carpenter said in the past, the Peel region had been one of significant social need with low youth and adult employment rates, lower than national average weekly income, low school retention rates and one of the State's lowest lifelong learning indicators.
"The Peel Education and TAFE Campus offers a comprehensive range of education and skills development opportunities to a broad spectrum of this regional community," he said.
"People of all ages can see a clear learning pathway, which is flexible, relevant and can be tailored to meet needs specific to the individual and to the region."
The Minister said the Peel Education and TAFE Campus was the first of its type in Western Australia, with the co-location and multi-partnered campus comprising school, TAFE and university sectors.
"The campus currently incorporates Mandurah Senior College (Years 11 and 12), Challenger TAFE's Peel Campus and Murdoch University facilities and services," he said.
"The campus offers students increased education, training and employment opportunities - a concept which is creating the future and possibly changing the face of education in WA."
Mr Carpenter said the Peel Education and TAFE Campus provided opportunities for seamless learning through its Pathways for Learning concept, which enabled secondary students to access TAFE or university units in their final year of schooling.
"Challenger TAFE students also benefit because their studies are recognised by Murdoch University, while Murdoch University students can access specific skills training from Challenger TAFE," he said.
"It is a one-stop shop which is already bringing enormous benefits to the Peel region."
The Minister said the MoU also detailed Murdoch University's bid to the Commonwealth for additional funding to increase university places at the campus, a bid he strongly supported.
"Too many WA students are being denied a university education - particularly in the areas of nursing and teaching - thanks to an inadequate Commonwealth Government funding formula, which ensures WA is about 1,200 university places short of the national average Commonwealth allocations," he said.
Mr Carpenter said the Federal Education and Training Minister, Brendan Nelson, had admitted the Commonwealth's need to meet the growing demand for regional university education across Australia and had publicly highlighted the Peel region as an area of need.
"The Commonwealth has already pledged $2.5million towards the construction of the university learning centre in Mandurah," he said.
"However, Dr Nelson needs to back up his commitment to WA and to the State's regions with additional funding for university places.
"There is a real danger that unless the Commonwealth accepts the existing disadvantage of WA and acts upon it accordingly, the situation will become even more difficult for our young people, particularly those in regional areas to gain a university place and continue their education."
Minister's office: 9213 6800
