About La Trobe Rural Health School
We offer high-quality teaching and research programs to make rural health matter, locally, nationally and internationally.
Comprising three departments – the Department of Rural Allied Health, the Department of Rural Clinical Sciences and the Department of Rural Health Sciences – we offer degrees at La Trobe’s regional campuses in Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga and Mildura, online and in Singapore where we partner with PSB Academy.
Our goal is to graduate work ready health and human services professionals to promote equitable outcomes for rural populations.
We achieve this through the success of our graduates and the impact of our research outcomes, both of which make a relevant, sustainable difference in rural communities.
The student experience is at the heart of all we do.
We want our students to feel culturally safe, respected and engaged in building their career, ensuring they are highly regarded in the workforce and equipped to meet the unique needs of rural healthcare.
Our staff are experienced and passionate clinicians, researchers and industry professionals who bring the world of rural health to the classroom.
We partner closely with industry to ensure that our clinical placement and fieldwork opportunities give students the opportunity to connect to rural communities and the existing rural workforce.
And, our research drives much-needed change to improve outcomes for rural people. It is industry-informed and consumer driven.
Find out more about our School Executive.
Our curriculum is designed with a deep understanding of what is required to be a rural health professional. We work closely with local communities, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders to ensure that your education is relevant, immersive, and impactful.
Explore our vision for health and wellbeing
Discover our strategic goals in health. Learn more about our commitment to innovation and excellence in the La Trobe Rural Health School.
Preparing a rural workforce
The La Trobe Rural Health School is the largest rural health school in Australia, with over 3,000 students enrolled across 13 disciplines at our regional campuses in Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga and Mildura, online, and in Singapore where we partner with PSB Academy.
We offer professional academic programs designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to be career-ready in rural health settings with clearly mapped pathways through higher education to graduate employment.
Expert staff guide students in an innovative learning environment, providing access to world-class, purpose-built facilities that simulate real-life healthcare workplaces.
La Trobe University has made a significant $180 million investment to expand its health teaching programs, which includes new nursing, midwifery and allied health clinical simulation facilities at our regional campuses and the Rural Dental and Oral Health Clinical School on the Bendigo Health campus.
This expansion ensures that students receive cutting-edge learning experiences in modern facilities, better preparing them for their careers. The School also fosters a supportive learning environment, offering mentorship and guidance throughout students' academic journeys.
Our flexible content delivery allows students to engage in learning at a time and place that suits them, ensuring access to education for those in regional, rural and remote areas. We aim to increase access to education, reduce inequities and support First Nations communities, fostering graduates who are digitally literate, culturally safe and lifelong learners committed to community service.
Rural health research
La Trobe Rural Health School is at the forefront of research that addresses the unique healthcare needs of rural communities.
Our research focuses on areas such as rural ageing, mental health, workforce development, primary healthcare, community health and wellbeing, and the biomolecular basis of disease.
We are dedicated to mentoring early and mid-career researchers, helping them to create transformative research impact.
Additionally, we prioritise collaborations with First Nations communities to integrate Indigenous knowledge into our research practices.
Our work aims to not only improve rural health outcomes but also address global social justice issues through meaningful, collaborative partnerships in shaping policy and improving health services in underserved areas.
Research Centres and Initiatives
The La Trobe Rural Health School is home to two research centres and one initiative.
The Holsworth Research Initiative conducts translational research with an exercise and physical activity focus that reduces inequalities by improving the health and wellbeing for individuals and communities in regional and rural locations.
Find out more about the Initiative.
The John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research leads research and innovation related to rural aged care workforce and health delivery initiatives; promotes interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration in developing, testing and implementing evidence-based healthcare delivery solutions for older people in rural areas; and serves as a rural centre for honours and postgraduate research training in rural aged care workforce and health delivery initiatives.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research focuses on transforming rural health outcomes through research, collaboration and community engagement. The Centre was established in 2019 following a $3M investment from the VV Marshman Charitable Trust and has launched Australia’s first Rural Health Consumer Panel.
Find out more about the Centre.