The Australian Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, together with Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, and Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, have opened Southern Cross University’s new Gold Coast Airport Campus.

The Australian Government has contributed more than $7.7 million for the foundation building at the campus through the Capital Development Pool (CDP) program.

The Gold Coast Airport Campus will support students studying courses in business, tourism, law, health and allied health. By 2012, the campus will be home to about 2000 students and more than 130 staff.

Southern Cross University is now better placed to meet educational needs in a region experiencing significant growth.

The CDP provides funding to encourage development on new campuses or the building or major refurbishment of capital infrastructure for student amenities. It also focuses on the rebuilding or restoration of campus facilities and priorities for individual institutions.

21 Australian universities will share $71.5 million Capital Development Pool funding in 2010-11 to improve teaching and research facilities for students.

The CDP is in addition to the Government’s record $5.7 billion investment in higher education over four years as part of its post Bradley Review reforms.

This funding will help achieve the Government’s aim of increasing by 40 per cent the number of 25 to 34-year-olds to hold a Bachelor-level qualification or above by 2025.

To find out more about studying in Australia, read the latest i-studentadvisor Australia guide.