Uni Hub Spencer Gulf

Whether you live in a big bustling city, or a small regional town, everyone can agree there’s no place like home. Fourteen thousand people call Port Pirie home.

Nestled along the picturesque shores of the Spencer Gulf it serves as the main retail centre of the Mid North region of South Australia. While it is a significant industrial town, being South Australia’s second largest port, it also offers an idyllic waterfront lifestyle surrounded by stunning outback and coastal scenes. But for those who have just finished high school and wish to further their education, there is no university.

That all changed for the residents in 2019, when Uni Hub Spencer Gulf first opened its doors. Serving as a gateway to universities across Australia, Uni Hub provides a place for locals in Port Pirie to continue their education, without needing to leave home. Katina Athanasos, the current centre manager, knows all too well how important it is to provide for higher education in the regions, spending eight years in the city getting her degree and working.

‘I was born in Port Pirie and attended a local primary and high school. From there, I actually had to leave to get my Bachelor of Education.’

‘It’s been really great to see regional people accessing tertiary studies locally, allowing them to stay with their families, and study, within a supportive community environment.’ By providing easy access to tertiary education, students don’t need to leave home, thus keeping the community together.  

‘We’ve also noticed a significant increase in enrolments of students, studying across various universities that we are partnered with. This is helping our local workforce by ensuring that our community members are staying within the region and being part of our growing community.

Uni Hub Spencer Gulf doesn’t just operate in Port Pirie. It also has centres in Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Kadina, and an outreach centre in Roxby Downs. 

For these communities, having access to Uni Hub means that more young people will be able to remain in the workforce while studying instead of leaving . But, perhaps even more important, there’ll be more young people to keep the communities vibrant. 

Within each of the Hubs, students are provided with study spaces, computer equipment, and access to tutors, which allows them to complete an online course from a top university with all the tools they’ll need. And while they could study from home, having a place in town adds an extra level of support. Further to that, students are helped along with industry placements with local employers, mentoring and scholarships. They also are provided with exam supervisors, so they don’t need to travel to their university to take their exams.

For student Harper, who is studying physiotherapy, she wanted to stay close to family. ‘The environment that they’ve created here is welcoming. It’s important for me as I’m able to play netball on weekends. I’m able to stay close to my family. I’m able to work close to home. It’s been good.’

BHP is proud to support Uni Hub Spencer Gulf with funding for students across the regions.