What our students say

Bachelor of Arts student Leigh Reither describes La Trobe’s Shepparton campus as a 'collection of people rather than a collection of buildings'. He points out it is 'near impossible to just disappear into a corner' and this makes it is easy to make new friends and build confidence.

The personal and friendly nature of the campus is an advantage many students comment on; it means small class sizes and therefore individual attention, flexibility, and open discussion. And classes take a variety of forms. Students may attend lectures, seminars and tutorials, clinicals (in nursing), undertake work experience, and also study online and via web conferencing.

While the campus is small, students also benefit from the extensive resources of a large university, including overseas study, career assistance, access to millions of library materials and study support. The courses at Shepparton are designed to meet the employment needs of regional business, industry, government and community organisations, but also to prepare students for national and international arenas. So while many students find careers in the Shepparton area – often starting professional employment before graduating – other graduates can be found working in places as diverse as the London, Darwin and Melbourne.

Alyshia Falla is a Business student who has found a happy balance between, work, social life and study in Shepparton. She works full-times as a manager in a local business, appreciates the close proximity of home, university and work; and she’s been able to 'customise' her course to suit her work obligations. This means extra time for recreational activities, including social sports clubs, the gym, and dining and dancing.

Alyshia describes Shepparton as 'a strong community, brought together through employment and sporting clubs'. After graduating, Alyshia plans to move to Melbourne and pursue a career in a retail marketing department of an Australia wide company, and values the experiences working in a regional business have given her.

Her employer supports her interest in marketing and has encouraged her to apply what she learns in her course to her current job. This has meant her involvement in the design of a marketing strategy for a TV commercial, and participation in local newspaper promotions.

Another student devoted to the region is Bachelor of Arts student Nathan Neff. Nathan’s many recreational activities include badminton, indoor cricket, abseiling and weekend horseback treks through Gemmills Swamp wildlife reserve.

Although he’s involved in so many activities, Nathan says the best thing about Shepparton is 'I never feel like I’m in a rush'. Nathan grew up in near by Mooroopna and wants to follow his Arts degree with a one-year Graduate Diploma of Education, to become a primary school teacher at a local school.

Nathan says one reason it’s important for him to study in the area where he wants to live is that he can start to build relationships with potential employers.  He is already working part-time as a teacher's aide at a local special development school – an opportunity he thinks would be harder to find in a larger town – and looks forward to developing his passion for literacy education in local schools when he completes teaching rounds during his Dip Ed.