Abby Barnett is one of 11 nursing students who recently graduated from Charles Sturt University with support from Taree Universities Campus.

Funded through the Australian Government’s Regional University Study Hubs program, Taree Universities Campus has supported the local regional community to produce critical healthcare workers. Abby and the other graduates are now employed at the Mid Coast’s Manning Base and Gloucester Soldiers Memorial hospitals.

Abby shared her experience studying at a Regional University Study Hub:

Why did you decide to study at a Regional University Study Hub? How did studying at the Hub in Taree help you achieve your academic goals?

My first year of university I studied full time on campus while living an hour away. This was during the start of COVID, and the majority of my classes were moved to online, with minimal support.

In my second year, I was working as an Assistant in Nursing at my local hospital, Manning Base and a nurse mentioned the Taree Universities Campus to me and suggested that I join. This Study Hub was close to home and allowed a quiet space for me to get my studies done and provided computer and printing facilities if needed.

Would you recommend studying at a Regional University Study Hub to other students? What are the great things about it?

I already recommend studying at a Regional University Study Hub to other students that I work with or who I know are doing their nursing degree.

The great things are:

The support from staff who work in these Hubs
Having a quiet learning space with computers and general comfort measures (kitchens and lounge areas) to help with studies
The general support that you get overall at these Study Hubs
Having a campus that is close to home.

How did studying at a Regional University Study Hub help you gain your current role?

I’m now working as a Registered Nurse at Manning Base hospital, undertaking a new graduate position. During my time at the Taree Universities Campus, I had two facilitators named Bec and Shannon who helped organise local placements for me.

This was great as it allowed me to work within multiple different areas at Manning Base (which was the hospital I knew I wanted to work at) and get more of a background on what speciality I wanted to go into.

What was your favourite part about studying at a Regional University Study Hub?

My favourite part about studying at a Regional University Study Hub was being 15 minutes away from home. In my first year of uni, I spent 6+ hours a week just in travelling to campus which was not sustainable, particularly with the price of fuel and the workload of trying to earn money, but also studying and having a life outside of all this.

I didn’t have to move away from my husband or family and friends, as that was never going to be an option for me. Having this Study Hub allowed for me to both physically and mentally strive to the best of my ability with my study and everyday life.

This story originally appeared on the Australian Government’s Department of Education Website - click here to view