CUC Snowy Monaro
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Carolyn Ewart

The journey of CUC began with a shared vision to bring equitable access to higher education for regional, rural and remote communities, that could also have long-lasting impacts on all industries and community development throughout the Snowy Monaro region and beyond.

Snowy Hydro has been an integral part of the Country Universities Centre (CUC) from its inception in 2013.They understood that by providing local access to tertiary education would empower an untapped workforce by providing a safe, well equipped learning space and access to professional support. This model allowed for educational possibilities never dreamt of before.

People could live, work and study in their own region, their postcode no longer determining their educational outcomes. The benefits in this model are many, supportive environment building belonging, less financial burden allowing students to stay in their community while pursuing higher education, upskilling, professional development or offering a study option for people moving into the region. This would not only improve opportunities for students but also strengthen the local workforce, retaining talent that would otherwise move to metropolitan areas. Snowy Hydro’s support was crucial in allowing the concept of CUC to grow, develop, and eventually secure NSW and Federal Government funding to continue providing the facilities and services to our local students.

The CUC model has now become the basis for over 20 other CUCs across Eastern Australia as well as other Government funded Regional University Study Hubs (RUSHs) across Australia. Today, CUC is entrenched in the Australian tertiary education landscape because of the support we received from Snowy Hydro in the beginning. They were with us when we were still a concept on paper, helping us lay the groundwork for what is now a thriving educational study centre. Because of their early investment and belief in the power of local education, the community now has access to a high-quality university and other tertiary education study facilities and services without having to leave the area.

Snowy Hydro’s forward-thinking approach and steadfast support have played a pivotal role in making CUC what it is today and ensuring a brighter future for our entire community.

 

David Hogan

Attracting and retaining high calibre employees is a persistent challenge for many industries and organisations, especially those in regional areas. In the early 2000s, Snowy Hydro Ltd. faced this challenge, while Cooma Monaro Shire Council grappled with a similar issue: the steady departure of young people who left Cooma for higher education and rarely returned. The lack of local university options also limited opportunities for mature-age students seeking career changes. These challenges became the catalyst for the creation of the Cooma University Centre (CUC).

The idea of establishing a university centre in Cooma emerged from discussions between Snowy Hydro’s then CEO, Terry Charlton, and then Mayor Dean Lynch. Both recognised that the absence of local tertiary education was depleting the community of skill, knowledge, and employable talent, negatively affecting local industry and the Region’s growth. Additionally, these issues aligned with Snowy Hydro’s commitment to supporting community projects. Their shared vision led to the conceptualisation of CUC, and a formal partnership was formed between the Council and Snowy Hydro to bring this idea to life. Snowy Hydro’s commitment to supporting community projects eventually saw CUC becoming a cornerstone of their Community Partnership Program.

As Snowy Hydro’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs at the time, I was tasked with leading this initiative. Richard Clarke, a promising young engineer, was appointed to manage the substantial project’s fit out and IT infrastructure at the Council managed building on Bombala Street. Snowy Hydro initially invested over $500,000 to complete the necessary work. Alongside this, the Snowy Hydro team developed a framework for the supported university centre, focusing on governance, marketing, and establishing partnerships with universities, while the Council engaged the community and garnered support.

To ensure the project’s success, the Snowy Hydro team visited a similar university centre in Geraldton, Western Australia. Key lessons learned included the importance of establishing a community board, avoiding reliance on a single university, and hiring a capable, enthusiastic manager.

Zoe Dawson was hired as the first manager, and her energy and commitment were vital to CUC’s early success. Within a year, enrolments grew from 12 to over 100, demonstrating the viability of regional tertiary education. Snowy Hydro was proud of the positive impact CUC had on the community, especially in helping attract and retain employees.
As the project evolved, a Board was established to lead the centre, with Duncan Taylor appointed as Chair. With his extensive experience in regional education, Duncan was the ideal choice to guide CUC forward. Other board members brought expertise in commercial acumen, education, and community engagement.

Under the new Board’s leadership, supported by Snowy Hydro, the NSW Government, the Federal Government, university partnerships, and the local community, CUC continued to thrive. It has since expanded into a network known as the Country Universities Centre, benefiting thousands across regional Australia.

The original CUC in Cooma stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, community commitment, and positive thinking, proving that even the most challenging ideas can become a reality.

 

Duncan Taylor

The journey of CUC began with a shared vision to bring equitable access to higher education for regional, rural and remote communities, that could also have long-lasting impacts on all industries and community development throughout the Snowy Monaro region and beyond. Snowy Hydro has been an integral part of the Country Universities Centre (CUC) since its inception in 2013. They understood that by providing local access to tertiary education would empower an untapped workforce by providing a safe, well equipped learning space and access to professional support.

This model allowed for educational possibilities never dreamt of before. People could live, work and study in their own region, their postcode no longer determining their educational outcomes. The benefits of this model are many, supportive environment building belonging, less financial burden allowing students to stay in their community while pursuing higher education, upskilling, professional development or offering a study option for people moving into the region.

This would not only improve opportunities for students but also strengthen the local workforce, retaining talent that would otherwise move to metropolitan areas. Snowy Hydro’s support was crucial in allowing the concept of CUC to grow, develop, and eventually secure NSW and Federal Government funding to continue providing the facilities and services to our local students. The CUC model has now become the basis for over 20 other CUCs across Eastern Australia as well as other government-funded Regional University Study Hubs (RUSHs) across Australia.

Today, CUC is entrenched in the Australian tertiary education landscape because of the support we received from Snowy Hydro in the beginning. They were with us when we were still a concept on paper, helping us lay the groundwork for what is now a thriving educational study centre. Because of their early investment and belief in the power of local education, the community now has access to a high-quality university and other tertiary education study facilities and services without having to leave the area. Snowy Hydro’s forward-thinking approach and steadfast support have played a pivotal role in making CUC what it is today and ensuring a brighter future for our entire community.