Dearest Scholars,

It has not escaped this author’s notice that mid‑semester assessments are beginning to circle. Deadlines approach, confidence wavers and one hears a great many sighs echoing through the University halls.

Fear not.

For those seeking both composure and wonderful grades, the Assessment Bootcamp is poised to make its distinguished return—an entire day devoted to the fine art of academic survival.

On Thursday 9 April, students may attend a series of practical workshops designed to sharpen study skills, strengthen writing and steady even the most flustered of minds. One may sample a single session or indulge in the full program—attendance, as ever, is entirely in your hands.

What to expect

Each workshop covers a specific topic, such as improving your academic writing, planning and structuring your assignments, effectively managing your time, referencing and searching for scholarly resources.

The Day’s Engagements – Thursday 9 April

Write that Essay!
10am – 11:30am

Learn to plan and compose essays with strong structure, well‑chosen evidence and introductions and conclusions worthy of admiration. Register here.

Write that Report!
12pm – 1:30pm

Discover how to present information clearly and correctly, understand report formats and avoid the most common (and most regrettable) errors. Register here.

Using Evidence in your Writing
2pm – 3:30pm

Master the refined practice of quotations, paraphrasing and in‑text citations—an elegant defence against plagiarism and confusion alike. Register here.

A Final Word

Registration is available via CareerHub and prudent students would be wise to plan ahead and secure their place. Those who do may find this semester unfolding far more favourably than expected.

And should one wish to remain informed of future opportunities, the Library’s Training, Workshops and Events calendar is, as always, at your disposal.

Yours in scholarly observation,

This humble author (The University Library)

The post Assessment Bootcamp: The most sensible shortcut to scholarly success appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Both about to begin their undergraduate degrees in Psychological Science, they’ve already found connection, support and a sense of belonging on campus.

For Charlotte, the move from Melbourne to Thurgoona marked a fresh start — and a chance to do something “a bit more fulfilling.”

“I’m originally from Melbourne, but I live in Thurgoona now with my partner. I was looking to do something a bit more fulfilling and La Trobe was nice and close to me, so here I am. I’m having a great day, met a few people —it’s been lots of fun.”

For Tyla, who moved to the Border from South Africa as a child, choosing to study close to home felt like “a no brainer.”

“I’d heard that La Trobe has a really good psych course and that the lecturers and teachers are really supportive and helpful here, so it’s kind of like a no brainer to go here — and also stay with my parents, save a little bit more money.”

All the best to Charlotte, Tyla, and all our new starters— we’re sure the semester will be full of new connections and great memories! 

The post Finding connection at orientation appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

New to La Trobe Workshops are online sessions designed to give you all the info and advice you need to feel confident, supported and prepared as you begin your studies.

You’ll meet your Student Advising team, who’ll support you throughout your La Trobe journey and help answer any of your questions – including how to choose subjects, study tips and more.

The session will cover:

• the student systems you will frequently use
• academic skills development
• navigating the Handbook and understanding your course structure
• free supports available at La Trobe to help you succeed

Workshops run across multiple dates and cover different study areas, so you can choose a session that suits you best!

Book your session now! Note: you’ll need to log in with your student username.

The post Join a New to La Trobe Workshop and start strong at uni appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

To help make things easier, La Trobe’s Public Health experts have created an online learning module designed especially for international students.

Learn how the Australian healthcare system works

Accessing the Australian Healthcare System is an LMS subject that walks you through the essentials so you can feel confident about managing your health and taking care of yourself while studying in Australia.

The module is self‑paced and easy to follow, so you can work through it in your own time.

Health and wellbeing at La Trobe

We offer a range of free services to support your wellbeing while you’re studying at La Trobe. This includes counselling and mental health support, multifaith spiritual services, accessibility options and more.

The post Accessing healthcare as an international student appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

What’s the LMS?

The LMS is an online learning environment that allows you to locate learning materials and activities related to your studies.

You can access it while you’re on campus, at home, on your phone, or anywhere, as long as your device is connected to the internet.

All authorised student users have been issued with a Username and Password. These are the same as the Username and Password for accessing your University email account. If you have forgotten your password you can contact Student IT Support.

Let’s get stuck into it – here are five features of the LMS you need to know.

1. Keep track of events via the calendar

Got an assignment due date coming up? Add it to your calendar. The LMS Calendar shows all events across your subjects, and can be exported to your own calendar to easily add important events and due dates.

2. Never miss anything with notifications

What did we do before notifications? Write stuff down? Set alarms? Check the snail mail?

Don’t worry, your LMS has notifications for all of your subject announcements. They’ll be displayed under the notifications icon, located at the top right next to your profile.

3. Send messages to classmates

Send messages to your classmates through the LMS to keep in touch about assignments and ask questions.

All of your messages from other users will be displayed under the messages icon, located at the top right next to your profile.

4. Access learning resources, like lecture recordings

You’ve slept in and missed a lecture – where can you listen to it online?

You’re heading to your bookshop – what’s on your reading list?

You’re bamboozled about library services – how do you get help?

All these questions can be solved through quick links in your LMS.

On the right hand side of the page within a subject, you’ll find the ‘Blocks’ column which contains links to important information, resources and reminders for upcoming events. Here is where you can find links to the Echo360 lecture recordings, library help, reading lists and activities

5. Save all your subject info in one place

View your grades for each individual assessment, see participants within your subject, save private files online, and more via the LMS. You’ll find access to each of these features in the navigation drawer within a subject.

The post Get to know your LMS appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

There was a point during my first semester at La Trobe when I genuinely didn’t know what I was doing not just in class but in general. I’d sit with my laptop open at the library, pretending to study while quietly freaking out inside. Everyone around me seemed to be sprinting ahead, like they knew exactly what they wanted from life. I was just trying to keep up. I questioned whether I was in the right course, whether I was wasting time, and most of all, whether I was the only one feeling this way. Spoiler: I wasn’t. But in that moment, I didn’t know that. I just felt… stuck.

One day after class, I took a slow walk past the lake  just needing space to think  and asked myself something simple: What if I didn’t need to figure everything out right now? That tiny shift in thinking changed a lot. I started exploring subjects that sounded interesting, even if they didn’t align perfectly with my ‘plan’. One elective I took purely out of curiosity actually ended up reshaping how I viewed my entire degree. I also began being more honest with friends. Instead of pretending I had everything under control, I admitted I was struggling  and to my surprise, they said the same. That one honest conversation made me realise how many of us were quietly figuring things out behind the scenes.

From then on, I made space for small things that helped me reconnect with myself journaling, evening walks, even just sitting outside for ten minutes without looking at my phone. It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave me clarity and calm. I stopped chasing a perfect version of student life and started embracing the real one; messy, unpredictable and full of growth. I also started engaging more with campus life, attending events not because I had to but because I wanted to see what might happen.

Slowly, the university stopped feeling like a maze and started feeling like a place where I belonged. If you’re reading this and feeling lost too, I promise it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means you’re still finding your way. And trust me, that’s exactly where most of us are. You don’t need to have it all sorted  just take one curious step at a time.

The post Feeling lost? Here’s what I did when I had no clue what I was doing at uni appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

AIM introduces you to La Trobe’s values and academic integrity standards. It’s designed to help you avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.

AIM is a compulsory part of your course and you must complete it during your first study period. If you don’t complete AIM in your first study period, you won’t be able to get an academic transcript.

How do I complete AIM?

LTU0AIM should already appear on your Study Plan in StudentOnLine. You can enrol in and complete it like any other subject:

1. Log in to StudentOnLine and enrol in the AIM subject (LTU0AIM). Select the current year and relevant teaching period.
2. Wait 24 hours, then log in to the Learning Management System (LMS) to access the online module
3. Complete all five quizzes with a score of 80% or higher. You can retake these as many times as needed until you pass.

Once you pass, you’ll receive an AIM badge in your LMS. If you don’t see the badge, it likely means you haven’t passed all the quizzes yet.

Why is AIM important?

If you don’t complete AIM, you won’t be able to get an academic transcript. It will also affect your ability to finish your course.

How can I check if I’ve already completed AIM?

• Log in to StudentOnLine and check your Academic Record.
• If AIM shows a P (Pass) grade, you’re all set.
• If AIM shows NRA (No Result Available), it likely means you didn’t complete the module within the teaching period you were enrolled in. In this case, re-enrol in AIM in the next available teaching period – your result will be applied to the next teaching period and you won’t need to redo it.

When should I complete this module?

You’re must complete AIM by the final teaching date of your selected study period. The earlier, the better – don’t leave it until the last minute.

Need help?

If you have any questions or issues, check out our compulsory modules FAQ on ASK La Trobe.

The post Why you need to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) ASAP appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

To ensure you understand and can adhere to your expectations and requirements at La Trobe you are required to complete compulsory modules in your first week of studies.

Each module takes around two hours to complete and you should enrol in them in your first teaching period so you can complete them as soon as possible.

It’s important that you complete the modules early. If you don’t, your ability to order academic transcripts or graduate may be impacted.

What are the compulsory modules?

Academic Integrity Module (AIM) (LTU0AIM)

The Academic Integrity Module introduces you to La Trobe’s values and academic integrity standards. This is important because you’ll learn what academic misconduct and plagiarism are and how to avoid them. The module is completed in four parts and is scenario based, so you’ll be presented with some academic misconduct cases and will be asked to think critically about different tricky situations.

Respectful Behaviour and Culture Module

The Respectful Behaviour and Culture Module is part of the University’s long-standing commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive community free of sexual harm, discrimination and violence. The module will cover topics such as sex, gender and sexuality, sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality, family violence, respectful relationships and consent. You’ll need to complete seven quizzes to finish the module.

Wominjeka La Trobe (ABS0WOM)

Wominjeka La Trobe introduces you to Indigenous Australian history, culture and customs. Cultural heritage education is valuable for everyone, and forms part of La Trobe’s commitment to teaching, learning and research within the area of Indigenous Australian studies. The module will ask you to think critically about your own values, attitudes and beliefs.

Which compulsory modules do I need to complete?

Undergraduate students are required to complete all three compulsory modules.

Postgraduate students are required to complete AIM and Respectful Behaviour and Culture, but are not required to complete Wominjeka La Trobe.

How do I enrol in the modules?

• AIM (LTU0AIM) – enrol via StudentOnLine
• Respectful Behaviour and Culture – self enrol via your LMS
• Wominjeka La Trobe (ABS0WOM) – enrol via StudentOnLine

For more information about how to enrol, visit the Compulsory modules FAQ.

Where can I get more information?

Check out our Compulsory modules FAQ for all the details and get your questions answered.

The post Why compulsory modules matter appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Whether you’re just about to start your first semester at La Trobe, or you’ve been here a while but have not yet explored what the Library has to offer, here’s five Library resources you should know about:

1. The Library website

The Library website is much more than just a place to search for books or check opening hours. There are so many online resources to assist you in almost any aspect of study, including:

• Expert Help Guides – get step-by-step guides and tutorials on how to find information, complete assessments and tips for different subject and discipline areas.
• Academic Referencing Tool – learn how to reference different information types (books, journal articles, newspaper articles etc).
• Search tools – access a wide variety of resources and information for assignments.
• Reading lists – access all your subject readings in one place and save a ton of money.
• Upcoming events calendar – discover in-person and online workshops on topics such as academic referencing, time management, search skills, exams, writing assignments and more. We also host various displays, stalls and events throughout the year.

2. Online support to help you succeed

Need some help with study or assignments? 24/7 online support is available for all students – and it’s all free!

• Achieve@Uni: browse online learning resources to find out what you need to know, learn great tips and get linked to more help.
• Expert help guides: get detailed information on a large variety of specific academic subject areas as well as cover essential academic and information skills to assist you through your academic journey.

You can also contact the Library team online through Library Chat.

3. Study skills workshops

We offer a wide variety of workshops throughout the year. Workshops can be especially helpful if you’re new to studying at university.

Designed to boost your confidence and give you the skills to succeed in your studies, workshops cover a range of topics, including:

• How to write great assignments (literature reviews, essays, reports etc)
• academic writing
• referencing, Turnitin and plagiarism
• how to use databases and Google Scholar
• time management
• how to avoid burnout, and much more

To find out about upcoming workshops, visit our training and workshops webpage.

4. Licensed software and databases

The Library buys subscriptions to databases and software so you can find useful and interesting information on a wide variety of topics. Library databases contain very specific, reliable information designed to help you with research, coursework and assessments.

Our databases provide access to scholarly peer-reviewed articles, newspaper articles, book reviews, magazine articles and much more.

5. Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs) and Academic Skills Advisors (ASAs)

Need help with academic writing, study skills, or time management? Drop into the Library and get the support you need from one of our Academic Skills Advisors (ASA) or Peer Learning Advisors (PLA) – no booking required! 

PLAs are fellow students specially trained to help you with study and assignments, and they can help with any discipline.

Get help with:

• Writing and structuring assignments 
• understanding and planning assessments 
• study strategies and time management

Stop by, ask questions, and feel more confident in your studies. Check out the Library website for the days and times they’re available online or at a campus near you.

If you’d like to chat to an ASA, you can also book an appointment via Career Hub.

The post Five free Library resources to help you get ahead appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Get study support from a fellow student this semester by visiting a Peer Learning Advisor (PLA). PLAs are high performing La Trobe students specially trained to help other students. 

How will I benefit?

Our service is free and drop-in based, so no appointment is necessary. We can support you in any discipline, at any campus.

We can help you:

• understand and unpack assessment tasks
• plan and structure essays and reports
• learn how to reference
• improve time management
• navigate the LMS
• adjust to university life, and more

When and where can I see a PLA?

You can visit us face-to-face or chat to us online.

We’re on campus Monday to Friday 11 am – 2 pm at Bendigo and Monday to Friday 10 am – 4 pm at Bundoora. Or visit us on select days at Mildura, Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga and City Campus. You can check our availability at each campus on our PLA support hours page.

Catch us online via chat Monday to Friday from 11 am – 6 pm and 11 am – 4 pm on Saturdays.

Meet the team

The post Get one-to-one study support – see a PLA today! appeared first on MyLaTrobe.