October 2011     The Prime Minister has opened a $500 million fund to build world class education and training facilities for students in regional Australia.  The special Regional Priorities Round of the Education Investment Fund will provide a major boost to higher education institutions and vocational education and training (VET) providers across regional Australia.

The $500 million fund will ensure regional students have better quality education and training opportunities and this in turn will support increased participation in tertiary education.  This targeted investment will also contribute to economic growth and development in regional Australia by addressing the skills needs of regional communities.

Under the Regional Priorities Round, a total of $480 million will be allocated to higher education institutions and VET providers in a competitive round, while $20 million has been be earmarked as seed funding for a multi-partner campus on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

Higher education and VET providers will now be able to apply for the funding to construct new facilities or to refurbish and extend existing facilities.  They will also be able to access funding for technical equipment or information and communication technologies to support teaching and learning.

The Regional Priorities Round will involve a two-stage application process. Initial Expressions of Interest close on 4 November 2011. Applicants successful at the Expression of Interest stage will be invited to submit a full application in 2012.

Guidelines for the Regional Priorities Round of the Education Investment Fund can be found at www.deewr.gov.au/eifrpr

From information provided by the Prime Minister, 7 October, 2011.

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