Boost for students as Education Minister opens UNSW-managed Liverpool Study Hub

The new Suburban Study Hub offers local students free study spaces, tech facilities and in-person support.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has launched a free, dedicated study space to support students in South West Sydney. The Liverpool Study Hub will provide around 50 study spaces, computers, Wi-Fi, video conferencing facilities, meeting rooms and in-person community assistance to help learners stay connected and succeed. 

The Study Hub, located within the TAFE NSW Liverpool building, will be operated and managed by UNSW Sydney. The facility offers local support services for students enrolled at any university or vocational education and training (VET) provider and senior tertiary students.  

Education Minister Jason Clare said the Hub would make a meaningful difference for students in the region. “Almost one in two young people in their 20s and 30s have a university degree today. But not everywhere, and not in Western Sydney,” Minister Clare said. 

“That’s why we are doubling the number of University Study Hubs and for the first time putting them in the outer suburbs. I know growing up in Western Sydney, a lot of my friends felt like university was somewhere else for someone else. I want to change that, and that means bringing university closer to where more people live.”

The Liverpool Study Hub is part of the Suburban University Study Hubs program – a $66.9 million federally funded initiative, designed to address barriers to tertiary education for students living in outer metropolitan areas of Australia. In addition to providing physical study spaces, the Hubs offer in-person administrative, academic and wellbeing support for students undertaking tertiary study through any Australian public institution. 

The Government plans to significantly increase the number of university students from underrepresented groups. Liverpool is one of the most diverse regions in NSW, where more than 60% of residents speak a language other than English at home. 

The new Study Hub builds on UNSW’s 35-year presence in South West Sydney, strengthening partnerships with universities, TAFE, and local institutions to expand access to higher education and support the region’s thriving workforce. The initiative reflects the University’s dedication to supporting pathways to tertiary education, particularly for migrant groups, Indigenous people, students from low socio-economic backgrounds and those with disability. 

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said the Study Hub was designed to provide inclusive, accessible pathways to higher education. “Our priority is to increase options, create a sense of belonging and remove barriers for students,” Prof. Brungs said.

“The Liverpool Study Hub offers a safe, modern and welcoming place to study, especially for students who balance work, family commitments or long commutes. At UNSW, we pride ourselves not just on opening doors to all forms of higher education, but on knowing how to support students to complete their studies. This Study Hub draws on that experience to support students from all universities – an investment in success across the sector.” 

The Liverpool Study Hub will benefit students like Hilary Chap, a UNSW Gateway Ambassador and fourth year Food Science student living in Cecil Hills. She’s set to be the first in her family to graduate from university. 

“It’ll be so helpful for students living in the area since it is local and so easy to reach by public transport,” she said. “Most university campuses in Sydney are all located near the CBD, and students like me have to commute hours each week just to attend classes, sometimes up to four or more hours a day of travelling alone.” 

UNSW Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, Professor Verity Firth AM, said the Study Hub marked an important step in improving equitable access to higher education. 

“A space designed with and for the community, the Liverpool Study Hub is an investment that unlocks new opportunities for students who call South West Sydney home,” Prof. Firth said.  

“By bringing support services closer to home, UNSW is helping remove the structural barriers that can hold students back and strengthening pathways into higher education for future generations.”