Our History

The Regional University Study Hub (RUSH) program, formerly known as Regional University Centres, was established in November 2018 by the Federal Minister for Education to improve access to higher education for students in regional, rural and remote communities.

The program provides locally based study spaces and face to face support for students undertaking higher education courses online, helping to increase participation by removing the need to relocate. Since its inception, the RUSH network has expanded across five funding cohorts and included 56 hubs nationwide by the end of 2025.

As part of Cohort 1, the Pilbara Regional Study Hub Steering Committee secured funding to establish a Regional Universities Centre in Karratha and a smaller Study Hub in Port Hedland, with further funding support provided by the Pilbara Development Commission and the City of Karratha to establish the Hubs.

For the first time, Pilbara students would have access to high-quality tertiary education facilities and dedicated support services without the need to relocate from their local communities.

In 2019, Pilbara Universities Centre opened the Port Hedland Study Hub in the WEB Business Hub, followed by the opening of the purpose-built Karratha Study Hub at Level 1 The Quarter in 2020.

The strong uptake and positive impact of the Karratha and Port Hedland hubs within their local communities led to a successful Cohort 3 funding application, enabling the expansion of these services to support students studying in the Kimberley.  A change of name to Pilbara Kimberley University Centres was also completed to encompass all regions supported by the organisation.

In 2023, the Broome Study Hub opened in Dampier Terrace and students were quick to embrace the support provided by Hub staff.  Demand for services has grown considerably and in 2025, the Hub relocated to a larger premises in Short Street to accommodate larger student numbers. 

Cohort 4 funding was secured in 2024 to open new hubs in Onslow and Tom Price, further expanding PKUC’s Pilbara footprint.  Student numbers in both locations have increased quickly, and in 2025, the Onslow Study Hub added additional workstations within their location at The Onslow Hub and Tom Price Study Hub relocated from their initial location within Nintirri Centre to a dedicated premises on Stadium Road.

Continued growth in student participation at Port Hedland also led to the opening of the South Hedland Study Hub in July 2025, providing students in South Hedland with the opportunity to study closer to home.

In 2025, PKUC secured Cohort 5 funding to establish the Kununurra Study Hub, extending access to supported higher education across the East Kimberley. Fit-out of the new hub is currently underway, with the opening scheduled for early 2026.