The Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC) proudly celebrated the achievements of 43 graduating students at a formal ceremony held at Queens Park Theatre last night. Surrounded by family, friends, and the wider GUC community, the graduates marked the culmination of their hard work and dedication.
This year’s graduates completed studies in a diverse range of disciplines, including Accounting, Business/Commerce, Digital Media, Education, Human Services, Nursing, and Psychological Science. These programs were delivered in partnership with CQUniversity, UniSQ and Curtin University.
The keynote address was delivered by GUC Board Chair, Jody Beven. Mr Beven spoke of the community values that underpin the GUC – community, aspiration, partnership, and equity.
“The Geraldton Universities Centre was born out of our community’s belief in aspiration, partnership and equity — a belief that every young person should be able to access higher education right here where they live,” Mr Beven said. “Through our partnerships with CQUniversity, UniSQ and Curtin University, we’re turning that vision into reality.”
“You can’t be what you can’t see, which is why the GUC works hand‑in‑hand with local schools, the VET sector, and our university partners to build aspiration and opportunity,” he said. “With up to 40 per cent of our students from low socio‑economic backgrounds, a third the first in their family to attend university, and 8 per cent Aboriginal, equity isn’t just a value — it’s central to what we do.”
Graduate speakers on the night shared how, in today’s student experience, balancing full‑time work with study has become the norm—and how this allowed them to see their learning applied in practice.
Bachelor of Nursing graduate Clancy Huggins said, “Studying while continuing to work wasn’t easy — it came with late nights, plenty of self‑doubt, and constant juggling — but it proved that with the right support and determination, it is possible to build your career while furthering your education.”
Bachelor of Accounting graduate Liyamaria Thomas said, “Working in industry while completing my degree gave real meaning to what we learned in the classroom. Seeing theory translate into real‑world practice not only strengthened my skills but confirmed that I was exactly where I was meant to be.”
With this latest graduation, GUC’s alumni network now proudly stands at 648 graduates, each making meaningful contributions to our local community.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!