1. Learning In Lithgow
If you haven’t been to Lithgow recently, it’s easy to think of the city as an old mining town with green
pastures, the Zig-Zag Railway and a chill factor unbeknown to most of Sydney. However, nestled be-
tween the Blue Mountains and a series of small towns sits a bohemian underground with a host of
blacksmiths, artists and performers, along with a massive Halloween festival and the famous Ironfest.
With such a diverse population, The College has had to work hard to uncover what the people of Lith-
gow want and need to enhance their life experience – in other words, what drives them, and how can
we help?
With a campus in the historical Charles Hoskins Memorial building near the Union Theatre, a small and
committed team have been offering locals Diplomas and Foundation Studies in Arts, Engineering, Nurs-
ing, and Health Science, along with literacy programs to suit demand, but future programs will cater
specifically to the needs of the community.
The Director of Profile, Partnerships and Engagement at The College, Julie Mcalpin, has utilised fund-
ing from the Higher Education Participation Program (HEPP) to run ‘Returning to Learning’ workshops
in Lithgow, with the help of the local government. The funding is part of an initiative to enable locals to
gain the confidence and skills they need to enter the next phase of their working, academic or home
If you’re interested in more information about The College in Lithgow, head to www.westernsydney.edu.au/thecollege
The workshop programs ran during November/December 2015. Two separate programs were delivered
to students from local and regional high schools and unemployed and disengaged youth. The College
also provided one-on-one careers counselling in an effort to generate and tailor further education op-
tions to participants’ aspirations and goals. Staff are also meeting with a series of educational providers
to analyse the findings and develop relevant course materials.
The College’s mission and values are rooted in the idea that everyone has the right to an education, re-
gardless of where they come from, and aims to give the people of Lithgow options that enable them to
learn and grow beyond what they thought they were capable of. Whether it’s becoming a nurse, turning
their art practice in to a small business, improving their reading and writing skills, or simply learning
something new – The College hopes to provide that opportunity.