Pilbara Universities Centre celebrates students at a graduation ceremony at Red Earth Arts Precinct

Students from the Pilbara Universities centre celebrated the completion of their courses at an annual graduation ceremony recently.

The graduation and celebration of education ceremony was held at the Red Earth Arts Precinct on August 26, with more than 100 guests including students, industry, university representatives and community members.

The centre, launched in 2019, has more than 250 students registered who are studying at 16 different institutions, five of which are their university partners including CQUniveristy, Charles Darwin University, University of Tasmania, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University.

The centre provides academic, pastoral and administrative support together with study facilities in the Karratha city centre, South Hedland Business Hub and are about to also open a third regional universities centre study hub in Broome.

There were nine students who graduated from CQU’s Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies.

CQU Professor Rob Brown awarded Roebourne’s Emma Jackson and Port Hedland’s Ayla Stewart with their recognition award.

Ms Jackson is pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing and Ms Stewart is pursuing an engineering pathway.

Central Queensland University Professor Brown also awarded Meagan Norton with her Nursing Graduate Certificate.

Local PUC nursing co-ordinator Marrissa Ralph said she was incredibly proud of her students and for the future of the PUC nursing program with some 60 students enrolled at the PUC regional nursing school through partner universities CQUniversity and Charles Darwin University.

Professor Brown also awarded Karratha local educator Rebecca O’Sullivan with her Master of Teaching.

PUC chief executive Susan Grylls said the skills shortage is prevalent in the Pilbara and throughout Australia.

“The PUC and the local community and helping provide a local solution to a national challenge,” she said.

“It is incredibly exciting and humbling to see the support and appetite from local students to access skills and educational opportunities that were previously unavailable due to having to leave their community to access them.”