La Trobe Rural Health School

Project Director, Danielle Parr

The project is due for completion by early 2013.

Project summary/description

The La Trobe Rural Health School (LRHS) has been established to drive the future of health education in Northern Victoria. The vision for the new La Trobe Rural Health School is to provide theoretical and clinical learning to students in the disciplines of nursing and midwifery, dentistry, oral health, human biosciences, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology, paramedic practice, health sciences and social work. Students are focusing on real life situations from which they will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be work-ready professionals. The School is integrating health education across multiple campuses, health agencies and has close relationships with Bendigo Health, TAFEs and Monash University. Up to 750 additional student places are being offered, resulting in an extra 200 graduates each year, providing crucial healthcare cover across rural Victoria.

A major construction program is well advanced on the University’s Bendigo Campus, the Bendigo Health Campus and across northern Victoria to facilitate the growth of the La Trobe Rural Health School. The new School buildings will incorporate a diverse range of collaborative spaces, with all learning environments and offices to be accessible. A collegiate environment will be encouraged through the buildings. The facilities have been designed to be flexible for the future and provide state of the art simulation facilities, with sufficient workspace, research and laboratory facilities, and a range of teaching and learning spaces.

There are four main parts to this project:

Funding source and budget details

The project budget totals $75.9 million, of which:

  • $59.5 million has been funded from the Australian Government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF) through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
  • $2.0 million from the State Government
  • $11.2 million through La Trobe University
  • $3.2 million interest earned monies from EIF funds
Sub-project Approved budget
Clinical Teaching Building and Health Sciences Building $39.8 million
Dental Facility, Bendigo Health $3.6 million
Student Residential Accommodation (286 beds at 6 regional locations in Victoria) - Project completed mid 2012 $31.9 million
Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Fitout - Project completed early 2010 $0.6 million

Project updates

Last Update: 12 September 2012