The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP

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Media Release

UNIVERSITIES TO RECEIVE $42 MILLION FUNDING BOOST

3 Dec 2003, MIN 551/03

I am pleased to announce more than $42 million in capital grants funding for Australian universities to enable them to take full advantage of rapidly growing broadband communications infrastructure.

The Australian Government funding under the higher education Capital Development Pool (CDP) for 2006, will support electronic infrastructure projects leading to the provision of flexible, high quality services and campus developments in suburban growth areas and regional centres.

The large number of the ICT projects to be funded will enable universities to take full advantage of the Australian Research and Education Network (AREN) high bandwidth backbone currently being established across the nation.

These enhanced connections from their campuses to the AREN backbone will greatly improve universities’ ability to provide flexible, high quality on-line delivery of educational services with increased opportunities for collaboration.

Regional communities will benefit both from the building projects being funded at regional campuses and from the projects which will improve ICT infrastructure for regional campuses. These projects will enable regional campuses to communicate more rapidly and reliably with other institutions and to have greater access to on-line resources.

The CDP will also help to support the government’s policy to increase the numbers of health professionals in Australia through the allocation of funds for various health science facilities, such as Charles Sturt University’s School of Rural Health, and through funding to the three new medical schools at the Australian National University, Griffith University, and Notre Dame University.

A table setting out each state’s allocations for the 2004–2006 triennium is attached.

For further information:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Mark Giffard 0412 420 987

CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT POOL 2006 ALLOCATIONS BY STATE

NEW SOUTH WALES	$m
*Charles Sturt University*
School of Rural Health, Thurgoona Campus, Albury	2.000
*University of Newcastle*
Support an e-Learning Region	1.400
*University of Wollongong*
Virtual Learning Environments &Visualisation Institute (VLEVI)	1.000
*Australian Catholic University*
Enhanced ICT Infrastructure between Campuses	1.280
*University of New England*
ICT for Student Learning Resources	1.000
*University of Western Sydney*
improved communications infrastructure across a multi-campus university	2.000
Sub Total	8.680

VICTORIA
*Deakin University*
Development of e-Campus	1.000
*La Trobe University*
Enhanced ICT Connections to Regional Campuses	1.010
Upgrade of ICT Systems for Regional Campuses	0.488
*Monash University*
Enhanced ICT Connections Between Campuses	1.650
*University of Ballarat*
Enhanced ICT Infrastructure for Regional Campuses	0.995
*Victoria University of Technology*
Collaborative ICT Infrastructure Upgrade	1.363
*Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology*
Upgrade of ICT Systems for Regional Campuses	1.087
Sub Total	7.593

QUEENSLAND
*Griffith University*
Medical School, Gold Coast Campus	2.000
Academic Building 2, Logan Campus	2.000
*James Cook University*
IT Upgrade	2.000
*Queensland University of Technology*
ICT Link to Caboolture Community Centre	1.000
*University of Queensland*
ICT Upgrade at Gatton Campus	1.000
*University of Southern Queensland*
Wide Bay - ICT Infrastructure	1.210
Sub Total	9.210

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
*Murdoch University*
University Learning Centre, Mandurah (Peel Region)	2.000
*Edith Cowan University*
Indigenous Centre, Mount Lawley Campus	2.000
*University of Notre Dame Australia*
Medical School	2.000
Sub Total	6.000

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
*University of South Australia*
Mawson Lakes Campus Development	2.000
Electronic Delivery Infrastructure	0.700
*University of Adelaide*
Enhanced ICT Connections	2.000
Sub Total	4.700

TASMANIA
*University of Tasmania*
ICT Infrastructure Connections between Campuses	2.000
Sub Total	2.000

NORTHERN TERRITORY
*Charles Darwin University*
Alice Springs Higher Education Centre	2.000
Sub Total	2.000

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
*The Australian National University*
Medical School	2.000
Sub Total	2.000

TOTAL	42.183