Study hub’s first graduate points towards ‘different future’ for Murray Bridge
After three years of study, and more than a decade of planning before that, the first student has completed a degree at the Murray River Study Hub.
After 15 years of planning, building and growing, Murray Bridge’s educational hub has passed a major milestone.
The Murray River Study Hub’s first graduate completed her university degree during November.
Emily DeMichele completed a Bachelor of Communication from CQ University, without ever having to leave her home town.
Studying online, with support from staff at the hub, allowed her to get a head start on an award-winning career and maintain her involvement with River Murray netball.
Study hub program manager Vanessa Leigh said she was overjoyed at Ms DeMichele’s success.
“(She) has received the rare opportunity to pursue tertiary education within her local region, and now she’s able to enter our workforce as a skilled professional,” Ms Leigh said.
“She was able to save money and avoid time commuting, with on-hand support from our student advisors and hub facilities.
“I hope aspiring students view this milestone as a driving reason to enrol, picturing themselves in Emily’s shoes.”
The Murray River Study Hub opened in 2019 to much fanfare, having been promoted as a way of stemming regional Australia's brain drain.
An earlier report into the idea had described it as something that would create “a different future” for Murray Bridge: one in which local incomes rose as more professionals and business owners chose to move to the rural city.
All post-secondary students are able to access support at the hub, regardless of where they are enrolled.
As well as providing a quiet, modern study space, the hub has student advisors on hand and local business connections those students can use.
- More information: www.murrayriverstudyhub.org.au.
Correction: An earlier version of this post did not correctly name the university at which Ms DeMichele completed her degree.
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