How six councils joined forces to bring higher education closer to home

For decades, young people across the Murraylands, Riverland and Fleurieu regions have faced the same impossible choice: stay close to the community they love or move away to study and build a future. It was a decision that shaped lives - and too often, left businesses struggling to find skilled workers.

But a bold collaboration between six councils has flipped that narrative on its head.

Celebrated as one of two winners of the Excellence in Cross Council Collaboration Award at the 2025 LG Professionals SA Leadership Excellence Awards, the Murray River & Fleurieu Study Hub Program - a partnership between Alexandrina Council, Berri Barmera Council, City of Victor Harbor, Coorong District Council, District Council of Yankalilla and the Rural City of Murray Bridge - is creating life-changing opportunities for students of all ages.

A regional solution driven by regional voices

The story behind the Study Hub network is grounded in one truth: regional people deserve access to the same opportunities as anyone else.

“For a long time, local young people felt they had to leave to build a future,” says project lead Vanessa Leigh, Manager Economic Development at the Rural City of Murray Bridge. “We knew something needed to change. So, we rolled up our sleeves with neighbouring councils and built a pathway that let people stay connected to home and still chase their dreams.”

The first Study Hubs were established in Murray Bridge in 2019 and Berri in 2020, with the Victor Harbor site opening in 2024 - each shaped by its own community. What worked in one town didn’t always translate to the next, and instead of pushing a one-size-fits-all model, the team leaned into local nuance.

“It’s a place-based program,” Vanessa says. “Designed with locals, for locals.”

And it’s growing. A new Study Hub will open on Kangaroo Island this November, expanding the model across four regions and eleven thousand square kilometres.

Transforming confidence, careers and community futures

The numbers are compelling:

• 730+ locals supported
• 343 completions across university, VET and professional development
• 200+ secondary students guided through future planning

But as Vanessa puts it, “The magic is in the stories.”

There’s Chris, who arrived feeling unsure and left declaring, “I am worthy and confident.”

Or the Year 12 student who trialled a university subject through the hub, discovered they were capable, and is now thriving in a physiotherapy honours degree.

Parents returning to study after raising families. School leavers discovering new pathways. Workers retraining for industries that desperately need skills.

“These are the moments that stay with you,” Vanessa says. “When someone realises they can - and that they don’t have to leave home to chase their goals.”

Collaboration at its strongest

Behind the scenes is a partnership that exemplifies what cross-council collaboration can achieve.

An Executive Steering Committee brings together CEOs, general managers, TAFE SA executives, and Regional Development Australia leaders. On the ground, Study Hub coordinators and advisors across the Murraylands, Riverland, Fleurieu and soon Kangaroo Island guide students through every step of the journey.

“It’s a network of passionate locals who believe in regional opportunity,” Vanessa says. “Everyone - from councils to TAFE SA to RDA - brings something vital to the table.”

This shared effort has also unlocked significant funding: $3.7 million since 2018, enabling the hubs to grow, adapt and innovate.

More than a win - it's a message

For the team, winning the Excellence in Cross Council Collaboration Award is a proud moment - but more than that, it’s a message to regional communities:

“You matter. Your future matters. And you don’t have to leave home to build something extraordinary.”

“This win belongs to every student who backed themselves, every council that said ‘yes’, and every regional family who dreams big,” Vanessa says. “It’s given our whole team such a lift.”

What’s next? A bigger, bolder future.

The expansion continues, with Kangaroo Island joining the network in November. The team is also exploring new ways to strengthen the model, support more learners, and collaborate with additional councils who want to bring the opportunity to their region.

“This model works because it listens,” Vanessa says. “It adapts. And most importantly, it keeps people at the centre.”

Her advice for next year’s nominees?

“Do it. Local government delivers extraordinary work every day, and it deserves to be celebrated. You never know who you’ll inspire.”

With six councils leading the charge - and hundreds of stories of transformation already written - the Murray River & Fleurieu Study Hub is more than an education initiative. It’s a generational shift, reshaping regional futures from the ground up.

Thank you to our partner AM Consulting for sponsoring the Excellence in Cross Council Collaboration Award.

GIF: Features a variety of images from the Murray River & Fleurieu Study Hub Program, and those representing the project at the LG Professionals SA Leadership Excellence Awards Gala Dinner.