2020 and following years was a confusing and distressful chapter in Australia's history and there is no doubt that the COVID pandemic changed and is continuing to change the world. During this period WA's north west was cut off from Australia through not only its geographical isolation but also through state and national border closures.

In the education industry universities were closed, students sent home and regional students were left in limbo, isolated and far from home. However as is so often the case transformation under pressure can yield extraordinary results. When adversity forces us, we must adapt, think creatively and break free from conventional approaches.

The Pilbara Kimberley University Centres embraced the challenge of innovating through the pandemic and we believe that the hardships experienced during COVID unlocked a wellspring of ingenuity that underpins the resilient and innovative ethos and culture that governs the PKUC today.

This presentation will provide an overview of PKUC's innovative practices, courses and services that it created and developed to address the inequity of access to education and acute need for a skilled workforce in WA's remote north west - including PKUC's Community English Programme (a lifeline for migrants isolated and cut off during the pandemic; PKUC's Career Guidance programme which has developed into a collaboration with Curtin University and other stakeholders to provide customised and contextualised career advice and education counselling to Pilbara and Kimberley Students (from Year 7 right through to mature aged students); PKUC's STEM in Sport Project. PKUC's & CQUni's Bachelor of Nursing collaboration which in 2025 will see over 50 regional nurses graduate locally (where historically they had to travel over 1600kms to pursue their nursing aspirations0; home grown Reliability and Clean Energy Forums.

The PKUC is challenging and changing the higher education landscape in WA's North West!