Calls for more investment for Federation’s Berwick campus to improve university access for outer suburban students

Federation University Australia is urging the major federal political parties to back a $30 million investment in state-of-the-art STEM teaching laboratories at its Berwick campus, warning that without accessible, modern facilities for the Berwick community, many prospective students may bypass higher education altogether. The $30 million ask is one element of Federation’s 2025 Election and Policy Priorities released today.

Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) is one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions with aspirations that require Federation University to rapidly grow its engineering and STEM programs.

There are less than 30 engineering students enrolled at its Berwick campus, and Federation University says the much-needed investment would allow it to offer a more attractive, full practical-based engineering program in Berwick, the only one of its kind in Melbourne’s outer south-east region.

Federation University says without modern labs it can’t attract and train the number of learners it needs to keep the region growing.

“Investing in Federation Berwick’s STEM infrastructure isn’t just about labs: it’s about giving local students a real shot at high-skill jobs in their own community. This is a long-term win for GSEM and a key part of our vision for the future in the region,” said Professor Duncan Bentley, Vice-Chancellor and President of Federation University.

“The Commonwealth Government’s University Accord shows small regional and suburban campuses offering accessible education need support. Federation’s Berwick Campus and the impact on the Greater South East Metropolitan Region are an example of this gap in our higher education system.

“The GSEM region’s bold ambitions are stymied by the lack of modern STEM facilities in the area. It’s no surprise people feel confused about what local higher education institutions like Federation can offer.”

Professor Bentley said not investing in the region would leave aspiring learners who want STEM jobs needing to travel long distances, or give up on their plans altogether if they can’t attend an accessible, equity-focused university like Federation.

“Young people in the outer south eastern suburbs deserve the best university education, right here at home. We need the facilities to teach our students properly,” Professor Bentley said.

“If we don’t upgrade facilities, we risk failing to meet the needs of the region’s growing advanced manufacturing sector and unprecedent major infrastructure projects.”

“This is why our 2025 Election and Policy Priorities has a clear focus: let’s build strong partnerships to build the strongest business case for higher education investment,” said Professor Bentley.

“This approach recognises that every public dollar is precious and asking government to spend it must be grounded in real outcomes built and delivered with our partners.”

As Australia’s first full Co-operative education university, Federation’s ‘earn and learn’ model means every student completes structured paid industry placements with local employers that is fully credited.

“We already have more paid placement opportunities than students ready to fill them. “I support boosting post-secondary of attainment regional and outer suburban students and the value it brings them. But without modern labs, we can’t attract and train the number of learners we need to keep our region growing Professor Bentley said.

This proposal for Berwick Campus is one of Federation’s Election and Policy Priorities for 2025-28 for the regions it works in, which collectively is a united vision for:

· Strengthening local partnerships to create clear education-to-employment pathways.

· Co-designed diplomas and paid-placement incentives that align with local business needs.

· Shared investment from government and business to ensure a clear return to the community.

“I have worked closely with local community leaders on this partnership proposal to extract as much value from public money for our students,” Professor Bentley said. “I particularly want to thank the Member for Bruce, the Hon Julian Hill MP, for his ongoing support for Federation’s work during a very complex time in our sector.”

Further background

· Federation University has released its Election and Policy Priorities 2025–2028: Building education-to-jobs pathways across Ararat, Ballarat, Berwick, Horsham and Gippsland.

· Federation is seeking support to rapidly grow key programs by making post-secondary education more accessible and valuable to the local communities it serves while maintaining its core programs in education and health.

· In Federation University Australia’s last public reporting period of 2023, it had close to 500 nursing students but under 30 engineering students at its Berwick Campus.

· Federation University Australia’s Federation University’s Election and Policy Priorities 2025–2028 paper is available at: federation.edu.au by searching ‘election and policy priorities’.