Despite years of determined community effort, supported by both Edward River Council and Berrigan Shire Council, the community group trying to get the format set up have repeatedly suffered funding setbacks.
The Deniliquin CUC proposal is shovel-ready, with suitable facilities already identified at local TAFE sites in Deniliquin and Finley.
Country University Centres have a strong track record across regional Australia, significantly improving access to higher education for students who would otherwise face major barriers.
“For years, Deniliquin has been doing everything asked of it, and more,” Mrs Milthorpe said.
“This is a project that is ready to go. The only thing missing is the funding.”
Deniliquin’s journey to secure a CUC has been marked by persistence and strong community backing.
The original proposal, developed in partnership with Murray, Hay and Berrigan Shires, aimed to utilise underused TAFE facilities to deliver a shared regional model.
However, the application was unsuccessful, with concerns raised about long-term sustainability and philanthropic support.
Since then, the Deniliquin community has stepped up.
“Local businesses, community groups and individuals have put their hands in their pockets and shown they believe in this project,” Mrs Milthorpe said.
“The level of financial commitment now on the table demonstrates that this community is not only ready, it is invested.”
A second application saw Hay pursue its own model and successfully secure a CUC through its Connected Learning Centre.
Deniliquin, however, was again left without funding.
More recently, the committee sought support through the Sustainable Communities Fund, only to be told the current round is restricted to infrastructure projects.
This leaves a proven education model without a pathway to funding.
“This is where the system is failing regional communities,” Mrs Milthorpe said.
“We have a project that meets a clear need, backed by evidence, supported by the community, and ready to go, but no appropriate funding stream available.
“In communities like Deniliquin, university participation rates are lower, distances to campuses are greater, and access to reliable connectivity is still a challenge.
“Without local support, many young people simply don’t get the opportunity to pursue further study.”
Mrs Milthorpe said the long-term benefits of a CUC extend well beyond education.
“If we are serious about addressing workforce shortages in regional Australia, we need to grow our own,” she said.
“A local CUC supports students to stay connected to their community while studying, and that’s how you build a pipeline of nurses, teachers, early childhood educators, accountants and other professionals our regions desperately need.”
Mrs Milthorpe confirmed she will be writing to Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, urging the government to prioritise funding for Deniliquin.
“This is not about asking for special treatment, it’s about fair access,” she said.
“Regional communities deserve the same opportunities as those in the cities.
“The Deniliquin community has done the work. Now it’s time for the government to meet them halfway.”
