FutureBound program kicks

Last week Country's University Centre Bass Coast delivered the FutureBound Program to Year 9 students at Newhaven College.

The program has been co- designed with Swinburne University and delivered in partnership with South Gippsland and Bass Coast Local Learning and Employment Network and is funded through the Federal Government's Regional Partnership's Program Pool.

The program aims to demystify the university experience for regional students - to teach young people the language around university through a series of practical and engaging activities. Participants meet and learn from current Swinburne University students, who have developed taster sessions across a range of disciplines including business and law, media, engineering, and communications.

Students can find out firsthand what it is like to go to university and learn about the different ways that higher education can work for you.

Centre Manager for Country Universities Centre, Sarah Bourke said "we know that people living in regional and rural parts of Australia are 50 per cent less likely to engage in higher education, and with 57 per cent of our currently registered students being the first in their families to go to university.

"FutureBound has been introduced as an outreach program for our schools in the region to nurture post-secondary aspirations for young people".

Head of careers at Newhaven College, Anthea Bennett said "the program fits well in our Year 9 program, and the earlier we can be having conversations with young people about potential career pathways the better. As a direct result of program participation, I have found that I am using university language and having broader conversations with Year 9 students that traditionally may not happen until later in secondary schooling."

The program is currently being delivered across South Gippsland and Bass Coast secondary schools free of charge, and to learn more about how your school may be involved please contact CUC Bass Coast.

CUC Bass Coast is a not-for-profit community driven enterprise established in 2020 with the aim of making higher education more accessible for students of all ages across the region. Currently with 154 registered students, the centre is open for access to these students seven days a week, providing high speed technology, academic support and network of like-minded students to create a community of learning environment. For more information, please visit www.cucbasscoast.edu.au