Bulletin

Issue: March 2006

News

Government funds Shepparton campus

The State Government has awarded a $2M Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) grant to La Trobe University for its new campus at Shepparton.

Minister for State and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby, announced the grant on the University’s Shepparton campus in February.

The $2 million follows Federal Government commitment of $1.5 million last year. The University is currently in the planning stages of its first Shepparton building, La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Stoddart, said plans for the campus reflect the University’s commitment to Shepparton and regional Victoria.

‘They will allow La Trobe to develop a stronger local program profile and to enhance teaching and research activities to better meet the needs and aspirations of students in the Goulburn Valley.

‘The Shepparton campus will also play an important role in our bid to set up a new regional medical school,’ Professor Stoddart said.

Mr Brumby said the new campus will form part of a planned ‘Shepparton Tertiary Education Precinct’ to meet increased demand in the region for access to university courses.

He said Shepparton’s population is expected to grow by a third over the next 25 years, to 80,000. ‘It is vital the city has this type of infrastructure to cope with the demands of a larger community. Industry and service providers within the Goulburn Valley are clamouring for access to tertiary qualified people.’

Since 1994, the La Trobe Shepparton campus has been co-located with Goulburn Ovens Institute. Last year administration offices moved to new premises in preparation for the planned development of the separate campus.

Head of the Shepparton Campus, Ms Elizabeth Lavender, said a new phase was about to begin: ‘These changes will help focus the University’s education services to the Shepparton region.’

Local businessman and Chair of the University’s Shepparton Regional Advisory Board, Mr Jeff Martin, welcomed government funding commitment towards a standalone campus for La Trobe.

‘We see the University as fundamental to growing the economic development and social needs of industry and the community in the region.’

New nursing and language courses

Two new nursing courses began at Shepparton this year with strong support from the local community. A new Graduate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is another innovation. The region has a growing multicultural population with increasing demand for teachers with qualifications to teach students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Head start to careers in business

Lecturer in Accounting at Shepparton, Ms Sue Nalder, says strong links between the University, local business and industry means that about 65 per cent of Bachelor of Business-Commerce students on the campus find part-time work in their area of study by the end of second year.

‘That provides them with a great start to their careers. Campbell Soups recently employed three students in graduate positions.’

Ms Nalder says most students are employed by public accounting firms, banks, medium to large businesses, such as SPC/Ardmona and Campbell Soups, as well as government bodies.