South Australian universities have been allocated 1,645 additional university places to train more teachers, nurses and engineers by the Australian Government.

The additional places for South Australian universities represents an injection of funding of more than $48 million to train Australians underrepresented at university in areas of skills need.

This is part of delivering on the Albanese Government’s commitment to provide 20,000 extra university places to train more Australians.

The additional places have been allocated to the following universities:

• The University of Adelaide – 890 additional places
• University of South Australia – 600 additional places
• Flinders University – 155 additional places

The measure will provide extra places for people studying bachelor and sub-bachelor courses in areas of skills need like education, nursing, health, IT and engineering.

Across the country, higher education providers have been allocated places in the following areas:

• 4,036 places in education, including 1,469 for teachers in early education
• 2,600 places in nursing
• 2,275 in IT
• 2,740 in health professions like pharmacists, health science and community health
• 1,738 in engineering.

The remaining courses will be offered in other areas of skills shortage.

The 20,000 additional places will be allocated to students under-represented at Australian universities including those from poorer backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and students from rural and remote Australia.

The extra places will mean more Australians from these backgrounds training to be teachers, nurses, health professionals and engineers.

The additional places nationally will be for students starting next year and in 2024 with an investment of up to $485.5 million over the next four years.

Quotes attributable to Education Minister Jason Clare:

“This means more teachers, nurses and engineers and it means more Australians from poor families and rural and remote Australia doing these jobs. That’s life-changing.”

Quotes attributable to Matt Burnell MP:

“I strongly encourage aspiring students to consider a higher education pathway, many employment opportunities of the future will require tertiary qualifications.”

“Jobs in Education, Health and Technologies are calling out for professionals.”

“These types of jobs attract higher salaries and local people will spend locally helping the local economy and contribute to the place they live.”