Northern Study Hub opens at Melbourne Polytechnic Epping campus

Tertiary students in Melbourne’s outer north have greater access to learning closer to home with the official opening of the Northern Study Hub in Epping.  

It is an initiative led by La Trobe University, with support from the Australian Government and local community partners.  

Located within the Melbourne Polytechnic Library, the Epping site joins Broadmeadows under the Northern Study Hub umbrella, which was Victoria’s first study hub launched in August this year. 

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said the Hub reflected the University’s mission to expand access to higher education and strengthen local partnerships. 

“To meet the tertiary education needs of Melbourne’s rapidly expanding northern suburbs, La Trobe is committed to working with community partners, like Melbourne Polytechnic, to enable young people to participate, grow and succeed in higher education,” Professor Farrell said. 

The Northern Study Hub is situated in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, with Melbourne’s outer north projected to accommodate an additional 102,000 homes or about 318,000 people by 2060. 

Professor Farrell said the Northern Study Hub in Epping and Broadmeadows will play a vital role in helping achieve the goal of doubling higher education participation and attainment by 2050, as outlined in the Universities Accord. 

Federal Minister for Skills and Training and local Member for Scullin Andrew Giles highlighted the importance of the Hub for the community. 

“The Epping Study Hub will open up learning opportunities and new pathways, including for students who might be the first in their family to pursue tertiary education,” Minister Giles said. 

“It means more students – younger students and mature-age students too – from the northern suburbs can attend university or TAFE to gain the skills, training and confidence they need to succeed in their future careers.” 

Melbourne Polytechnic’s Chief Executive Frances Coppolillo said "Melbourne Polytechnic is an organisation inspired by learning. Together with La Trobe University and partners, we look forward to providing a welcoming space where students can access the educational support they need to thrive in their studies and career."   

The Hub sites are designed to meet the needs of today’s tertiary learners by offering campus-style study spaces with administrative, academic and wellbeing support. 

The sites are open to local students enrolled at any Australian university or public tertiary education provider. 

About 200 students are now registered at the Epping and Broadmeadows Study Hub sites, with 76 per cent studying at undergraduate or diploma levels offering pathways into tertiary studies. 

The Northern Study Hub is led by La Trobe University, with the support of the Australian Government and local partners including Melbourne Polytechnic, City of Whittlesea, Whittlesea Community Connections, Hume City Council, Broadmeadows Kangan Institute and NORTH Link. 

To access the Northern Study Hub sites, students can either register online or in person.