THE announcement of a University Hub for Tumut has brought excitement and a much-anticipated realisation to a project that has been in development for the past eight years.
Monday’s announcement that Tumut will have its own University Study Hub within the next year saw the culmination of years of work for a small working group of local people who have gained support for the facility – with backing from three major sponsors.
Chair of the Snowy Valleys Country University Centre, Hugh Packard, said on Tuesday he was thrilled when the announcement was made.
“It has been eight years for this working group to get a hub for this region,” Mr Packard said.
“The first university hub was opened in Cooma some 10 years ago and our group has visited there and spoken with students who gave us further insight into how these study hubs work and the benefits of having a study hub for local tertiary level students,” he said.
“We have seen the Governments come more on board each year for these hubs realising the benefits to students, both younger and mature age, who may not have been able to travel to bigger regional areas for study.”
These hubs have been well supported by both sides of the political fence,” he said.
The hub will be situated on the corner of Wynyard and Capper Streets and will occupy what was the former Tumut Shire Council building.
The building is currently occupied by the Community Transport group which will relocate to other premises.
Mr Packard said this building is most suitable for the study hub as it had one large meeting room (formerly the council chambers) and several smaller rooms which will be used as quiet and peaceful study rooms as well as administration.
“Council has generously resolved to lease the building to us at a very reasonable semi-commercial rate,” he said.
“This large building will accommodate all we need, but in its current state we will have to renovate areas, particularly the toilet facilities which will be funded by the seed donations totalling $500,000.
Mr Packard said the working group had been very grateful for three significant grants, the major and first one being from the Pratt Foundation – they have had a long term engagement with the working group and have committed $200,000 towards the capital set up costs; the local Blakeney-Miller Foundation who have a strong commitment to and record of supporting education, with a donation of $100,000, and more recently, the Hume Link East Partners (Acciona and Genus Infrastructure) with a further $200,000 commitment.
“These philanthropic commitments have been used as seed donations which quite possibly assisted the application for the hub to gain the government grants. For this significant support, we are extremely grateful,” Mr Packard said.
“This has been a project supported by and advocated for through Snowy Valley Council who have seen the benefits of having such a university study hub within its shire.
“We have had the full support and backing all the way from SVC,” he said.
“Although this building is quite old, the layout suits us for the hub and is very conveniently based next to the library; and is highly visible,” he said.
The study hub will be managed by a small board of directors made up from the current working group, with Mr Packard stating he hopes to remain as the chair.
“We will be employing a centre manager, and in time administration staff and other support workers for the students, hopefully having all in place for the beginning of the 2026 university year.”
“We also consciously settled on the name of the hub to be Snowy Valleys Country University Centre so as not to make it purely ‘Tumut’ alone as it will cater for students from the outlying areas.
“But eventually, some-time ahead in the medium-term, we are planning that this hub will be able to branch out to the likes of Tumbarumba and potentially other town with satellite hubs so students will not have to travel as far.
“Having a study hub in the country alleviates the necessity and costs for students to find accommodation and living expenses at the larger city centred universities and TAFE colleges,” Mr Packard said.
“These expenses often lead to the decision as to whether a student can afford to go on to further studies or not, so these hubs allow them to study while at home but still have the support and guidance they need to complete their studies.”
“We would like to see this hub up and fully operational by the end of 2025 and ready to open in early 2026 and operate as the main centre for this region accommodating younger and mature age people who wish to continue to gain qualifications in their chosen courses.”
The study hub will cater for students not only from university level but also in TAFE and other tertiary courses.
