Welcome and why regional universities deserve a closer look

Rob: Welcome to the National Virtual Expo. I'm Rob Malicki, coming to you today from Garigal land in Sydney. Welcome to this session on Books by the Beach: studying in regional Australia. Having travelled to all of the Australian universities, I'm persistently, consistently blown away by just how many extraordinary opportunities there are to study outside our capital cities, and I'm going to be exploring that in this session with our colleagues from Southern Cross University.

Rob: If you've got questions as we go, you can ask them in the chat. If you're watching on social media, you can ask in the comments, or right in the session hub if that's where you're watching today. And if you are watching this on the replay, you can join the Discord -- details are below. Parents, we have a Facebook community just for you as well, where you can ask any questions you've got, no matter how specific about your particular case or how broad. Anything you want to know about going to uni -- don't suffer in silence. Make sure you ask. Let's jump into this session on Books by the Beach: studying in regional Australia.

Guest: Thanks, Rob, and welcome everybody to Southern Cross University's presentation. My name is Sam and today I'm going to be speaking to you about studying at a regional university in Australia. Let's get started straight into it.

Challenging the big-city campus image of university

Guest: When people imagine university, they often picture large city campuses. I want you to, just for a moment, stop and imagine what you think university is like: busy lecture theatres, thousands of students, long hallways where you don't really know anyone. That's definitely what I imagined. I remember planning for university and thinking this is going to be massive, intimidating, very serious. I've seen all the movies where someone walks into a lecture theatre and there are hundreds of students staring back at them, and honestly, that's exactly what I thought uni was going to be.

Guest: Don't get me wrong -- for some people that idea is exciting. They love the buzz. They like the idea of being surrounded by thousands of people. But for a lot of students, especially those just starting out, returning to study, or balancing work, sport, or family commitments, that picture can feel overwhelming. I want to say this very clearly: that feeling is incredibly common. It's a feeling I had myself.

Guest: More and more students are choosing regional universities not because they had fewer options, but because they wanted more of the right things. Those things include more support, more connection, more balance, and more chances to be seen, known, and supported. Whether you're finishing school, coming back to study after time away, or planning to study online, regional universities offer something really valuable: a learning environment where you're not invisible, where people know your name, where support is normal, and you're not expected to figure everything out on your own.

What regional universities actually offer day to day

Guest: Regional universities are about smaller class sizes -- and when I say smaller, I mean sometimes 5 to 10 students, even fewer in a classroom. They offer close relationships with academics, which is something I truly value and something I think is very underappreciated. The more connected you are to your lecturers, the easier university becomes. We also have stronger community ties, and that matters: community connection helps you find friends, clubs, sporting teams, part-time work, and importantly, industry opportunities. Flexible study options are built in because life happens -- work, family, sport, health -- and at Southern Cross University, flexibility isn't an exception, it's built into the model. All of this, while earning a nationally and internationally recognised degree.

Guest: So today we're going to explore what actually makes regional universities different, what the experience feels like day to day, why regional universities work so well for so many students, and how choosing a regional university can shape your future.

Guest: Before we go any further, I really want to challenge a belief that many students carry: that the best university experience is the biggest, the busiest, and the most competitive one. Some people think if you're not overwhelmed, stressed, or struggling silently, you're somehow not doing uni properly. But success at university isn't about being busy. It's about staying enrolled. You'll be surprised to hear how many students stop attending university after just one semester. Success is about staying motivated, building confidence, and finishing what you started. Most students don't leave university because the content is too hard. They leave because they feel disconnected, unsupported, overwhelmed, or invisible. Regional universities quietly get this right. They don't just ask how many students can we teach -- they ask how do we help students succeed.

Connection and belonging: what smaller classes really mean

Guest: One of the biggest differences students notice almost immediately is connection. At regional universities, classes are smaller, and discussions are encouraged. Yes, this can feel daunting at first, but the benefits of engaging are incredible. Lecturers know your name -- and while that sounds simple, it's actually rare at a large city university. Staff notice when you're missing or struggling, and that personal approach can completely change someone's university journey.

Guest: Instead of sitting in a crowd and feeling like part of a number, students feel comfortable asking questions. They feel noticed. They feel like they matter, which is truly important. I've spoken to many students who moved from big cities or far from home, and within their first week at university they were already on a first-name basis with their lecturers. Not because they were special, but because the lecturers had time for them. They stayed after class, they followed up, they checked in. That conversation -- which at school feels normal but at university often disappears -- at regional universities, it doesn't disappear. That sense of belonging matters, especially in your first year. That's where the foundations are laid.

Guest: If you're the first in your family to go to university -- something I relate to deeply -- you may not have previous stories to rely on or previous experiences to draw from. You have to find your own way. So it was really important for me to go to a university where I knew the people around me. Regional universities prioritise people, not just performance metrics.

Personalised support and strong academic relationships

Guest: Let's move on to personalised support and strong academic relationships. At regional universities, support isn't something you hunt for -- it's already built into the experience. Students often have direct access to lecturers and tutors, which once again may surprise you, but for some universities this isn't common. That's not to blame those lecturers; they simply have too many students to look after. From that direct access, you get real conversations, not just long email threads, and clearer feedback that comes from personal, face-to-face interactions.

Guest: We also have early intervention. There's a saying you may have heard before: prevention is better than cure. That's something regional universities take seriously. If something's off -- workload, assessments, your wellbeing -- staff step in early, and not when it's too late. Instead of slipping under the radar, someone notices, and that matters because university isn't just an academic challenge, it's a life adjustment.

Guest: This support especially benefits first-in-family students, school leavers transitioning to independent study, mature-age students, students balancing work or caring responsibilities, and even online students who still want that connection. Regional universities take a student-first teaching approach. Teaching quality isn't an afterthought -- it's the priority.

Guest: One of the most valuable skills university teaches isn't academic at all. I want you to listen in: it's learning how to ask for help. Through that, students learn who to talk to -- whether it's other students, tutors, or university staff -- and when to reach out, because timing is so important. And students learn that asking for help is not a failure. That skill stays with you long after you graduate, in workplaces, in leadership roles, and in life.

Online study at regional universities: not what you might expect

Guest: One of the biggest misconceptions about regional universities is that they only suit people who live nearby. That's not true. In fact, many regional universities are leaders in online education. Online students benefit from the same strengths as on-campus students: smaller cohorts, personal support, and direct access to academics. Everything I just described for on-campus students applies to online students too.

Guest: This isn't just recorded lectures and silence. Courses are designed to be interactive and discussion-based, led by real teaching staff connected to real-world practice. It doesn't matter where you are. You can be studying in rural Victoria, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, overseas, or even down south in Tasmania. Where you live does not limit where you study. If you think geography might restrict you, I want you to change that thought right now. It is possible, and Southern Cross University is certainly an option for you.

Lifestyle, community, and cost of living in regional Australia

Guest: Let's talk about lifestyle, community, and cost of living -- because these things matter. Regional study often means less congestion, shorter commutes, more affordable housing compared to the big cities, a strong community feel, and -- my personal favourite -- access to nature. All three of our main campuses are either surrounded by forest or within walking distance of the beach, which is incredible. I've spoken to so many students who are part of run clubs next to the beach, swim clubs, coffee groups with an ocean view, and there are even some incredible stories of students in a classroom watching whales jumping out of the water. The views and the scenery on our campuses are truly breathtaking, and I recommend everyone listening to go and have a look.

Guest: This has a huge impact on wellbeing. Less commuting, less financial pressure, more breathing room -- metaphorically and literally. That environment shapes your experience more than you realise. Regional doesn't mean disconnected. It means connection locally, regionally, and globally.

Real-world opportunities and industry connections

Guest: Regional universities are deeply connected to their communities, and because of that, students often get access to local placements and internships, community-based projects, hands-on learning, and smaller but meaningful professional networks. Knowledge is important, but experience is just as valuable. Your professional network starts while you're studying, and that's critically important in fields like health, education, science, engineering, business, and community services. Employers know the university. They know the students. They trust the training.

Southern Cross University's campuses: from the rainforest to the coast

Guest: Now let's bring it back home a little and talk about our own campuses. Southern Cross University is a strong example of a modern regional university done well. We have our Lismore campus, surrounded by subtropical forest in northern New South Wales, known for its natural beauty and creative culture. We have our Coffs Harbour campus, about an hour and a half south of Lismore, which is home to the Marine Science Centre, just 100 metres from the beach. It would be hard to justify studying marine science if the centre were eight hours from the water, but our students are learning in the very environment they're studying. And we have the Gold Coast campus, where I'm located right now, a short five-minute walk to the beach -- some of the best beaches in Australia.

Guest: For those of you who like the idea of a regional university but also want the option of a city, we do have metro campuses in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth. And we have a large online student community as well. We offer smaller, interactive classes, strong academic relationships, and dedicated first-year advisors. From day one, you have someone you can contact any time you need help, whether you call, email, or text, dedicated to supporting you through your first year of study. That is truly something you won't always find in the workforce.

The Southern Cross six-week block model explained

Guest: Let's talk about the Southern Cross model. You don't have to find the help -- it finds you. The six-week block model reduces overload. Think of it like juggling tennis balls. In a typical 12-week university term, you might have four subjects running simultaneously. Let's replace those four subjects with four tennis balls, and replace 12 weeks with 12 minutes. If I asked you to juggle four tennis balls for 12 minutes, that seems pretty tough -- unless you're a professional juggler.

Guest: But what if instead of four tennis balls for 12 minutes, you juggled two tennis balls for six minutes? It's still a little difficult, but it's a lot easier by comparison. That's exactly what the Southern Cross model is. We're juggling a smaller number of subjects for a shorter block of time, focusing in on those two subjects, then taking a short break and going again. The total workload is the same as any other university -- at the end of the year, you study the same amount -- but it's just less at once. And it works. This isn't just my opinion. We have a 91% student success rate for students passing subjects since the model was introduced.

Quality, research, reputation, and facilities

Guest: Choosing regional does not mean compromising on quality. I'll say that again: choosing regional does not mean compromising on quality. Southern Cross University is internationally recognised for teaching. In Australia, we received a score of 75.7% for teaching quality. In research, we are one of the leaders in the country. We have conducted research looking to build houses using 3D printers and recycled plastic -- and the plastic we can test right now is viable for construction. We have also conducted research aimed at making clouds in the sky brighter, to block sunlight from bleaching coral. Our research facilities are truly extraordinary, and we're looking to constantly build on that, with impact locally, regionally, and internationally.

Guest: We offer courses across health, education, science, engineering, business, IT, law, environmental science, naval science, and more. Our facilities include specialist labs, nursing simulation labs, motion detection cameras for exercise science students, and force plates that can measure how much force an individual puts on each leg. We have health and wellbeing clinics on campus that members of the public can attend, and our students can work with them and practise in their field. I'll say that again: students are working in real clinical environments, not just sitting at a desk writing papers and essays. We have modern libraries with 24-hour access, equipment available for loan, and quiet study spaces. We also have tech-enabled learning spaces with computers and technology services throughout campuses so that all students have an equal opportunity.

Accommodation, lifestyle perks, and campus accessibility

Guest: We do have on-campus accommodation in Lismore and Coffs Harbour for any students looking to move away from home. For the Gold Coast campus, although we don't have accommodation on site, we partner with Uni Stays, who are there to help students find accommodation on the coast. You are not limited at all when it comes to living on the Gold Coast -- we work closely with students to find suitable housing. We also have gyms and heated pools on campus. And there's free parking. This may not seem significant to some, but there are universities that charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year for parking, so having that included is a genuine bonus.

Guest: Another thing worth mentioning is that our campuses are located close to major airports, especially the Gold Coast -- I'm a two-minute walk from the airport and the beach right now. So those two-week breaks between blocks make it very easy to travel and make the most of your time.

Choosing the university experience that fits your life

Guest: Choosing where to study is about more than location. It's about asking: will I feel supported here? Will my lecturers know me? At a regional university, the answer to those questions is yes. It's also about asking: will this fit my life? That's different for everyone, and you get to know it better while you're at university. But many students find that regional universities offer the perfect balance of quality, connection -- with friends, clubs, and industry -- as well as flexibility and support. Whether it's trips you want to take, work, or other commitments, we build flexibility into the experience here at Southern Cross University. And don't forget the first-year advisors. Southern Cross University provides an environment where students are known, not lost.

Guest: I'll just say that it reminds me every time I hear our students' stories: sometimes choosing regional isn't choosing less. It's choosing more of what matters for you. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you learned a few things, and if you have any questions about Southern Cross University, please feel free to reach out.

A student's story: from struggling at school to a high distinction

When I got my first grade at uni, I just laughed out loud. It wasn't just a pass -- I actually got a high distinction. I'd always done terribly at school. I did the pathway course at Southern Cross University, which gave me the foundations of what you need to be able to study at uni. I didn't fail. I got good grades. So I thought, hey, keep going. I studied a Bachelor of Psychology, did all right, so I kept going, got into honours, and now I'm writing a thesis. Getting that first grade was the first time I felt like I can actually do this. And it has led me to where I am now. I'm really grateful for it.