Murdoch University has always seen itself as the University of the Southern Coastal Corridor and for the first half of its life had planned to extend its reach by building new regional campuses in Rockingham and Mandurah.
Everything went to plan and next year Rockingham Campus will celebrate its 10-year anniversary, while Mandurah Campus will mark its first year anniversary.
Murdoch’s Pro Vice Chancellor Regional Development Professor Kateryna Longley said both campuses had the clear aim of bringing the University to the people and of providing a local hub that would attract local students including many who might otherwise have not gone to university.
"At the Peel Campus in Mandurah, we successfully introduced a new Nursing degree, a first for Murdoch. It was purposely chosen because the community wanted it"
Professor Kateryna Longley
“We carefully examined what kind of courses were needed by students in these regions,” Professor Longley said, “and at the Peel campus in Mandurah, we successfully introduced a new Nursing degree, a first for Murdoch. It was purposely chosen because the community wanted it.“
“Murdoch has a close partnership with the regional hospital, the Peel Health Campus, where Nursing students complete essential practical work on site using hospital facilities and mixing with hospital staff.” In a major contribution to the Nursing course, the Peel Health Campus is providing funding for three years for a Professor of Nursing position, which has already attracted important new research activity to the region.
The City of Mandurah has also made a significant investment in the development of small business in the region through the funding of the inaugural City of Mandurah Professor of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation at Peel campus. Funded for three years, this new appointment will play a key role in linking the Murdoch Business School with the Peel business community.
Ann Fletcher - CEO - Peel Health Campus
“Murdoch has clearly demonstrated itself to be the Western Australian University of the South West having made a longterm commitment to the Peel region and we are proud to be a partner of the University through our sponsorship of the Peel Health Campus Chair in Nursing.”
At the Rockingham Campus the Teacher Education Course has proved an enormous success and provided certain careers for local people interested in teaching. The City of Rockingham has provided direct support with funding for three years for the City of Rockingham Chair in Education, a professorial position which focuses on educational needs in the area.
Also, a successful partnership between the City of Rockingham, Challenger TAFE and Murdoch culminated in the Rockingham Regional Library.
“The library has a real community focus and helps to remove the barriers between the local people and the University,” Professor Longley said.
“The overall vision for Murdoch is to increase the participation rates in higher education in these regions, and to expand relevant research by addressing issues identified by these areas,” Professor Longley said.
