University welcomes $5.2 million funding boost

Southern Cross University has welcomed the $5.2 million in one-off funding announced in this week’s Federal Budget.

“This unexpected announcement is very timely. We have a number of capital projects already under way and a number of other projects that we will now be able to bring forward as a result of this new injection of funds,” the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Clark, said.

“This is evidence that the Rudd Government understands the importance of higher education, both to the regions they serve and to the national economy.”

The $5.2m was announced as part of an extra $500 million to help Australian universities rebuild their infrastructure. The funding is available for infrastructure in the areas of information and communications technology, laboratories, libraries and student study spaces, teaching spaces and student amenities.

Professor Clark said the funding would be used for a number of key projects, including expanding and refurbishing the clinical and laboratory teaching spaces at the Lismore campus.

“We already have a large-scale capital works project planned with the new Gold Coast campus, and we are planning further expansion at the Coffs Harbour campus,” Professor Clark said.

“We will be looking closely at all our priorities to see how these funds can be best utilised.”

Professor Clark said the new Education Investment Fund, which now incorporates the Higher Education Endowment Fund, would provide further opportunities for attracting substantial funding for capital works.