Port Macquarie-Hastings Higher Education Plan

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has adopted a vision for higher education that is aligned to the Federal Government's national objective. That is, to increase the number of 25 to 34 year olds with a bachelor degree or above to 40% by 2025. In order to achieve this in the Port Macquarie-Hastings and Mid Coast region, a collaborative approach will be needed and a thorough understanding of the regional labour market dynamics is required. Enhancing higher education options for residents also needs to consider the post qualification options for graduates. Therefore, efforts to achieve the above goal will require the linkage of courses and programs with identified employment opportunities within the region.

There are 821 (or 14.43%) Port Macquarie-Hastings residents aged 25 to 34 with a bachelor degree or above (ABS 2006). Regionally, this percentage is lower with 1604 (or 11.24%) residents in the Mid North Coast with a bachelor degree or above (ABS 2006). These figures are considerably lower than State and National averages and below other regions in Northern NSW that have a substantial University presence.

The Higher Education Industry Plan provides a framework to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in order to make improvements to building higher education aspirations, developing access to university courses and programs, and making available a range of courses that are linked to regional employment demands. The plan has been developed in close consultation with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Education and Skills Forum.

The Economic Development Section of Council collects data relating to population-to-employment ratios and monitors job vacancies on an ongoing basis to determine areas of regional skill shortages. The following seven disciplines have been identified as having shortages in skills that require higher education qualifications.

• Medical services, nursing and allied health
• Primary, secondary and early childhood teaching
• Social and community welfare
• Business services
• Accounting, financial planning, management, marketing, information technology
• Engineering
• Civil, electrical, environmental
• Hospitality and events management
• Construction management
• Estimator, project management

 Port Macquarie-Hastings Higher Education Plan.pdf (267KB)

Education and Skills Forum

The purpose of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Education and Skills Forum is to create opportunities to improve the impact of education on our community's social and economic wellbeing. The Forum is committed to generating outcomes for individuals, communities and businesses to have access to the 'skills and learning' they need for social and economic success and sustainability. The Forum values open communication, equity in educational outcomes and skills acquisition, making the best use of our community's VET and higher education infrastructure and working together to maximise opportunities and to minimise unproductive competition.

 ESF Autumn Newsletter 2011 (2.81MB)

 ESF Dec 10 Newsletter (1.09MB)

 ESF Aug 10 Newsletter.pdf (2.55MB)

 ESF Apr 10 Newsletter.pdf (210KB) 

 ESF Dec 09 Newsletter.pdf (251KB) 

Dedicated Higher Education Information website

The Mid Coast Uni Portal website provides a one stop information shop on tertiary study options and pathways, financial assistance, special entry schemes and scholarships available through the University of Newcastle, University of New England, Southern Cross University, Charles Sturt University, University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney and North Coast TAFE.
To visit the website, go to: www.midcoastuniportal.com.au

Federal Government Feasibility Study

A $150,000 funding agreement with the Federal Government has been awarded to Council to assist with the creation of extra education places. Creating these places for our youth could be the single most important social and economic outcome for the Port Macquarie-Hastings region.
   
Emphasis will be given to key discipline areas that are suffering from skill shortages. The provision of tertiary education places that are matched to regional employment demands is expected reduce the annual mass exodus of school leavers from the region. Every year, for the past five years, over 650 residents from Port Macquarie-Hastings leave the area to study at University. This exodus will continue unless local residents are provided improved access to higher education in the form of face-to-face programs that are closely linked to regional employment opportunities. 

Higher Education Plan in the National Press

The Higher Education Project continues to receive national attention from some of the major Australian print media. Click on the links below to read more.

 The Campus Review_16 May 2011 (46KB)

 The Australian_11 May 2011 (8KB)

 Australian Financial Review 15 November 2010 (382KB)

The Australian 27 October 2010

The Australian, 1 September 2010

 The Campus Review 7 June 2010 (44KB)

Study in Port Macquarie

The Port Macquarie Tertiary Education campus provides a variety of courses offered by North Coast TAFE and the University of Newcastle. The campus is situated at Widderson Street in Port Macquarie. The campus specialises in massage therapy, hospitality, tourism, fashion design, graphic design and electrical and electronics courses. Other vocational study areas available at the campus include general education, office administration, accounting and marketing, information technology, retail, community services, children's services, fashion, maritime, and assistant in nursing. A wide variety of training programs and TAFE-to-Uni degree pathways are offered at the Port Macquarie campus and at the Wauchope, Kempsey and Taree campusses all within 30-60 minutes of Port Macquarie.

The University of Newcastle's Port Macquarie campus offers Bachelor of Nursing and a dual degree Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts. Students can also study Open Foundation by Distance.

The University of New South Wales Rural Clinical School is located at 1-31 Wrights Road (entry via Highfield Circuit) Port Macquarie within the precinct of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Port Macquarie campus provides opportunities for extended study for medical students in Years 3 to 6. There is an extensive and varied medical workforce in Port Macquarie with over 100 doctors in the Division of General Practice supported by over 50 specialists covering all major disciplines. An enthusiastic team of specialists and general practitioners has been recruited to run the training program. Port Macquarie has many Community Health Clinics and two modern hospitals, which are extensively equipped with first-rate facilities and staff, giving students a chance to work in both private and public hospitals. Port Macquarie Base Hospital has 161 beds and is accredited for the training of Registrars and Residents in all major specialities, the private hospital has 84 beds.

(Photo insert - Sealing the deal on higher education: Federal Member for Lyne Robert Oakeshott, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council General Manager Andrew Roach.)