Rudd Labor invests in Western Australian Students and Researchers
Jun 9, 2010
Four Western Australian institutions have successfully secured funding from the Rudd Labor Government’s Education Investment Fund.
The University of Western Australia and the CSIRO will receive funding to build infrastructure to support world-class research in areas that are critical to Australia’s future.
Pilbara TAFE and Central TAFE in Perth will build projects designed to help students gain the skills and knowledge they need to participate in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Minister for Education Julia Gillard and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr said the funding would improve the quality and diversity of the courses offered to Western Australia’s tertiary students and cement the state’s position as a hub for marine science and astronomy.
Ms Gillard said hard work and strong fiscal policies had seen the nation emerge from the global financial crisis with the one of the lowest deficits of the major advanced economies.
We now want to make sure the rewards of today’s strong economy continue to have long-lasting effects for generations to follow.
These projects will boost participation in tertiary education so that more Western Australians can get the skills and education they need to fill the jobs of the future and deepen the nation’s research capability.
Senator Carr said $105.5 million had been allocated to the four Western Australian projects in Round 3 and the Sustainability Round of the Education Investment Fund.
The projects are:
- CSIRO’s Sustainable Energy for SKA, which will build geothermal and solar power generation and distribution infrastructure at the Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory and the Pawsey High Performance Computing Centre in Perth – both critical to Australia’s bid to host the world’s largest radio-telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
- Construction of a new Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre at the University of Western Australia, which will be home to 240 researchers who will apply their knowledge of ocean science and engineering to the challenges of resource development and ecosystem management off Australia’s north-west coast.
- A major redevelopment of Pilbara TAFE’s Pundulmurra Campus at South Hedland to build on its reputation as the preferred provider of culturally-appropriate, industry-relevant training for Indigenous people. This investment will increase the institute’s capacity by up to 100 Indigenous students a year.
- A new Green Skills Training Centre at Central TAFE in Perth designed to provide green training for engineers, builders, plumbers, painters and environmental, water and renewable energy technicians. The project will fill a major gap in Western Australian skills training.
“The Government has decided to extend the funding for this round to include an additional $200 million for projects that focus on teaching and research, particularly the areas of climate change and sustainability,” Senator Carr said.
This brings the Government’s total investment in Round 3 and the Sustainability Round to $550 million, with the successful projects in other states to be announced in coming weeks.
This additional investment is in line with the Rudd Labor Government’s commitment to advancing Australia’s green research capabilities.
“Investing in the quality and diversity of our tertiary education system will also reinforce our reputation as a world leader in innovation and research,” Senator Carr said.
For further information on the Education Investment Fund, visit www.deewr.gov.au/eif.
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office: 02 6277 7758
Minister Carr’s Office: Aban Contractor 0457 989 842
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