ATTRACTING MORE STUDENTS TO BARKER

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said 22 scholarships would be available to international and domestic students to study in Barker next year.

Mr Pasin said tertiary education providers in Mount Gambier and the Riverland had been provided $1,254,000 over the forward estimates to offer the scholarships through the Coalition Government’s $93.7 million Destination Australia program.

Destination Australia provides scholarships worth $15,000 a year to students who study at a regional university or vocational education provider.

Flinders University Renmark campus will host eight domestic and four international students while Uni SA’s Mount Gambier campus will host ten domestic students.

“Our regions have a great story to tell and we can be an attractive destination for international and domestic students,” Mr Pasin said.

“That’s why I have worked with local providers and the Education Minister to secure these scholarships for our region.

“Attracting more students to study in Barker will be good for our community, good for local businesses and good for tourism.

“International students who study in regional Australia rate their living and learning experience higher than students based in metropolitan centres yet just three per cent of our 690,000 international students were enrolled in regional Australia last year.

“Our Government’s Destination Australia program is helping to attract more students to study in regional Australia and we can help by promoting our amazing Riverland and Limestone Coast as an attractive study destination because of our lifestyle, lower cost of living and smaller class sizes.”

Students can apply directly to institutions. Successful tertiary education providers can be found at www.education.gov.au/destination-australia.

Media contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8531 2466