The Bundoora Employability Expo on Wednesday 12 August is designed to answer those questions – and put you face-to-face with the people who could shape your future career.

More than 50 employers will be at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus to meet La Trobe students, share opportunities and offer insights into their organisations. Whether you’re looking for a placement, graduate program, casual work or simply exploring what’s out there, the Expo is one of the easiest ways to start building professional connections while you’re still studying.

For all students at all stages

The biggest misconception about careers expos is that they’re only for final-year students looking for a job.

In reality, they’re valuable no matter where you are in your degree.

For first-year students, it’s an opportunity to explore different industries and learn what employers value. Mid-degree students can start building networks, ask about placements and gain insights that will help shape future decisions. Final-year students can have meaningful conversations about graduate opportunities and recruitment timelines.

The earlier you start engaging with employers, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to apply.

Meet the people behind the job ads

Online job descriptions only tell part of the story.

At the Expo, you’ll have the chance to speak directly with recruiters, hiring managers and industry representatives about what it’s really like to work in their organisation.

Ask about graduate programs. Learn what makes an application stand out. Find out which skills they’re looking for now – and which ones will matter in the future.

These conversations can give you insights that simply aren’t available online.

Hear what employers really want

One of the highlights of this year’s Expo is an employer panel focused on the graduate recruitment process.

Recruitment can seem confusing from the outside, with online applications, assessment centres, interviews and psychometric testing often feeling like unfamiliar territory.

The panel will unpack how employers recruit graduates, explain what they’re looking for at each stage, and share practical advice to help students approach the process with greater confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after you click “Apply”, this is your chance to find out.

Refresh your LinkedIn – and your professional image

Your LinkedIn profile is often one of the first places employers will look.

At this year’s Expo, students can receive a free professional LinkedIn headshot, giving their profile an instant upgrade.

Better still, there’s an opportunity to win a LinkedIn Premium membership.

To go into the draw, simply:

• Register for the Employability Expo.
• Have your free LinkedIn headshot taken at the event.
• Complete the Rock My LinkedIn Profile short course by Monday 17 August.

It’s a simple way to strengthen your professional presence – and you might walk away with a valuable career development tool.

More prizes!

As well as a LinkedIn Premium membership, students can also win one of two JB HiFi vouchers valued at $200. To win, attend the expo, speak to employers and submit feedback on your way out. Students who attend the expo could also win one of two La Trobe merchandise packs valued at $120.

Not sure what to say to an employer?

Walking up to an employer you’ve never met can feel intimidating.

That’s why the Careers team is running a pre-Expo webinar to help students prepare before they arrive.

“Making a good impression at the Expo” will cover practical tips for introducing yourself, starting conversations, asking thoughtful questions and making a positive first impression – skills that will help not only at the Expo, but throughout your career.

A little preparation can make the difference between simply collecting brochures and making meaningful professional connections.

Your future starts with showing up

You don’t need a polished resume, years of experience or a clear five-year career plan to benefit from the Employability Expo.

You just need curiosity and a willingness to start the conversation.

The contacts you make, the advice you receive and the confidence you build could shape your next placement, your first graduate role or even your long-term career direction.

Opportunities often begin with a single conversation. The Employability Expo is your chance to have it.

Visit CareerHub to find out more and the register for the Employability Expo.

See also: Why a Professional LinkedIn headshot was the best freebie on campus

Check out more career resources at CareerHub.

The post Employability Expo Wednesday August 12: Turn conversations into opportunity appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

You don’t need a polished startup or a complete business plan to get started in entrepreneurship. La Trobe LaunchPad is a 12‑week pre‑accelerator that meets you where you are – whether you’re exploring an early idea, refining something you’ve already begun, or keen to turn a tech‑led concept into something real.

Backed by LaunchVic and delivered by La Trobe University, LaunchPad helps you take your first real steps into the startup world. You’ll be supported at each stage of the founder journey, before you sharpen your pitch in readiness for presentation.

Over 12 weeks, you’ll learn how to:

• Validate a real problem worth solving
• Build and test a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
• Talk to early customers and users
• Develop the confidence and core skills to launch a venture

You’ll also receive hands‑on mentoring, pitch coaching and access to masterclasses covering venture foundations, teams and business models. Midway through the program, you’ll take part in a Pitch Mastery Clinic, before pitching at the LaunchPad Lift‑Off showcase, where $5,000 in prizes is up for grabs.

Successfully completing LaunchPad also earns you 15 microcredential credit points towards La Trobe University’s Global MBA.

Important information

Applications close: 23 August at 11.59pm *Note new closing date
Only 50 places available. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis until the submission deadline – so don’t wait. Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 3 August.

The application includes a short video submission and some applicants may be invited to interview. If you need help with your application, support is available.

Cost: Thanks to LaunchVic support, the program fee for Victorian participants (including La Trobe students) is $449 (standard value $2,295).

Location: The program is delivered in a hybrid format. Most sessions are held online, with key in-person events. 

Check eligibility, find out more and apply via the La Trobe LaunchPad website.

The post Launch your startup and compete for up to $5,000 to fuel your venture appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Are you passionate about making a real difference? Join the La Trobe x Benetas Care Economy Innovation Sprint and work alongside industry experts to develop innovative solutions that will help shape the future of Australia’s aged care sector.

Over two immersive days, collaborate with students from across disciplines, recent La Trobe alumni, and industry from leading aged care provider Benetas,to tackle real-world workforce challenges facing the care economy. Through design thinking, mentoring, and rapid prototyping, you’ll develop ideas that can improve the way aged care careers are experienced, supported, and perceived.

Whether you’re studying or working in health, business, technology, design, social sciences, or another discipline, your perspective could help transform one of Australia’s most important industries.

Program details

• Dates: Thursday 13 August to Friday 14 August 2026
• Time: 8:45am – 5:00pm, each day
• Location: Digital Innovation Hub. Level 2, Eagleworks Innovation Centre, La Trobe University Melbourne Campus – Bundoora

Applications Close: 11.45pm on Friday 8  (unless filled prior).

The post La Trobe x Benetas Care Economy Innovation Sprint appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

July 2026

Explore your options (placement or industry project)
Join the Career Ready team as we unpack the difference between the Placement and Industry Project to help you choose the right option for you.

Date: Thursday 30 July, 2pm–3pm
Location: Online

Career Ready drop-in
Whether you’re just starting your career journey or getting ready to graduate, these sessions are a great way to get quick advice from your peers and build your confidence.

Date: Every Thursday until 17 September, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Location: Online

August 2026

Making a good first impression at the Employability Expo webinar
Panelists will share practical tips on how to prepare effectively and make a strong first impression when engaging with industry representatives at the Employability Expo

Date: Thursday 6 August, 12pm-1pm
Location: Online

Breaking down the graduate recruitment process: on-campus panel event, (Melbourne) Bundoora
Join our panel as they unpack the graduate recruitment process and share insights. We’ll be covering:

• Accessing inclusive recruitment processes.
• What is a graduate program?
• When and where to apply for a graduate program or role.
• The steps in the recruitment process
• How to stand out from other applicants
• Asking for workplace adjustments

Date: Wednesday 12 August, 11am-12pm
Location: The Odeon, Union Building, Melbourne (Bundoora) campus (down the corridor from the Employability Expo)

La Trobe Employability Expo – Melbourne (Bundoora)
Join 41 organisations at the Employability Expo and explore career options and other opportunities.

Date: Wednesday 12 August, 12pm-2pm
Location: Union Hall, Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus

LinkedIn Headshot Booth
Visit our LinkedIn Headshot Booth during the Employability Expo and receive a free professional headshot to help you make a great first impression with employers.

Date: Wednesday 12 August, 12.30pm-2.30pm
Location: Moat Café, Union Building, Melbourne (Bundoora) campus

September 2026

How to source and secure an industry placement
Join the Career Ready team for practical advice on finding an industry placement and securing the right one using your networking skills and other tips and tricks.

Date: Tuesday 8 September, 12pm-1pm
Location: Online

Free employability resources

Finding an internship and then landing a job can be challenging. If you’re struggling to get an internship or graduate job, or you’re not sure where to even start looking for one, help is available to you.

All La Trobe students have access to free employability services to help you find an internship or job while studying and after graduating. Check out this MyLaTrobe article to view the free employability resources and services available.

Career Hub Jobs Board

Did you know there are hundreds of jobs advertised on Career Hub? These include graduate roles and programs, vacation programs, internships, casual and part time jobs.

Check out the Jobs board for current opportunities.

Ultimate Guide to the STAR Interview Technique

Are you a student or recent graduate preparing for job interviews?

Prosple has an incredible resource that will equip you with the skills to ace your next interview using the STAR technique.

Highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments with confidence by implementing the STAR technique. Learn how to identify relevant scenarios, craft impactful responses, and showcase your suitability for the job you desire.

Career Ready Ambassador service

Need help finding your way around Career Hub? Talk to a Career Ready Ambassador. Career Ready Ambassadors are available online.

See when they’re available next! Bookings not required.

For all the latest employability updates, check out careerhub news.

Career Ready Advantage Award

The Career Ready Advantage Award is La Trobe’s employability award program. The program fits in with your work, study and life commitments to build your employability. It helps you develop, reflect on and confidently communicate your skills through professional learning, practical experience and a career portfolio. It’s never too early in your degree to join.
Join the Career Ready Advantage Award and make your skills and experience count!

The post What’s happening in Employability appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

When Emily McDonnell graduated from the Bachelor of Social Work in Bendigo in 2019, she couldn’t have known just how far her career would take her.

Since graduating, Emily has moved to the Northern Territory, where she has had the opportunity to learn, share, grow and work across nine First Nations Communities spanning more than 162,000 square kilometres. She has also worked in the international humanitarian space in the Pacific and, later this year, will support the next generation of social workers as a supervisor and field educator for students undertaking their social work placement in Nepal.

Along the way, Emily has also co-authored a journal article and a book chapter over the past two years, describing both as “another wonderful learning opportunity!”

Looking back on her time at La Trobe, Emily says the Bendigo campus opened doors she never expected.

“La Trobe presented so many beautiful opportunities for me, including a semester abroad in Sweden (in the winter!), my first placement in Broken Hill and my final placement in Nepal.”

Among those experiences, one stands out most.

“A highlight was being a part of the Bendigo Association of Social work Students (BASS) and creating opportunities to connect with others from all different years!”

For anyone considering a career in social work, Emily hopes they recognise the privilege that comes with the profession.

“I think it is a real privilege to call myself a social worker and remind myself constantly of this. It is a privilege to hold hope, for when others may not be able to at the time. A privilege to give but actually receive more, learn more and share more. Social work presents so many career opportunities, and opportunities that can take you to all different spaces and places.”

The post Where social work can take you appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Funded through the VicHealth Vaping Prevention Collective Impact 2.0 Grants program, the Hackathon brings together students from Deakin University, Monash University, La Trobe University, Australian Catholic University, Federation University and the University of Melbourne.

Participants will form multidisciplinary teams of six students, with one representative from each university to support cross-institutional collaboration and diverse perspectives. The winning team will receive an intensive two-week internship to bring their idea to life, working with stakeholders to refine, develop and support implementation of their solution across university campuses.

There are 20 places available for La Trobe students from all disciplines, and each selected student will receive a $50 Prezzee gift voucher to help with travel costs to attend the in-person event.

Applications close Thursday 30 July 2026.

Eligibility

To be eligible to join this program, you must:

• be a currently enrolled student at La Trobe University
• continue to be a current student during the internship phase, from December 2026 to February 2027
• have the necessary work rights to take part in the full-time internship at the University, if you progress to the internship stage

The program is open to both international and domestic students of all disciplines.

Key dates

Applications

Applications open: Monday 15 June 2026
Applications close: Thursday 30 July 2026

Program dates

Hackathon kick-off event: Wednesday 26 August 2026, 11 am – 1 pm, online
Hackathon Day: Wednesday 23 September 2026, all day, in person at the University of Melbourne, Parkville
Solution design submissions due: Wednesday 7 October 2026
Winning team announcement: Friday 23 October 2026

Internship dates

Internship dates will be confirmed with the winning team and will take place between December 2026 and February 2027.

By participating, you will:

• develop a range of experience and skills while working in a dynamic team
• learn to develop a proposal and pitch your ideas to real industry professionals
• collaborate with students across degrees and disciplines from other universities across Victoria
• gain experience that can go towards your Career Ready Advantage Award

How it works

Have any questions?

If you have any questions about the application process or how the program works, email stacey.bracksleyogrady@latrobe.edu.au.

The post Help shape vape-free campuses – apply for the Vape Free Uni Hackathon appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

The good news? There’s no single “best” option. The right choice depends on your goals, your course and the kind of experience you want to gain.

Whether you’re looking to build confidence, expand your professional network or get a clearer picture of your future career, industry experience is one of the most effective ways to boost your employability while you’re still studying.

Why industry experience matters

A qualification tells employers what you’ve learned. Evidence from your industry experience shows them what you can do.

Spending time working with an organisation helps you apply your knowledge in authentic industry settings, develop professional skills and build confidence in the workplace. It also gives you valuable examples to talk about in interviews and strengthens your resume long before you graduate.

Just as importantly, it can help you answer one of the biggest career questions: Is this actually what I want to do?

Many students discover new career paths, industries or specialisations through practical experience that they hadn’t previously considered.

Placements or industry projects – which is right for you?

While both help you develop career-ready skills, they offer different experiences.

Placements immerse you in a workplace over an extended period, giving you the opportunity to become part of a team and experience the day-to-day realities of your profession. They’re ideal if you want hands-on experience, direct supervision and a deeper understanding of how an organisation operates.

Industry projects allow you to work on a real challenge or brief for an organisation, often alongside other students. Rather than being embedded in a workplace, you’ll focus on delivering a project outcome while building skills in collaboration, communication and problem-solving.

If you’re wondering which option will give you the biggest advantage, the answer is simple: both are valuable. Employers care less about the format and more about the skills you’ve developed, the impact you’ve made and how you can communicate those experiences.

Should you source your own opportunity?

Some students are allocated a placement through their course, while others have the option to find their own host organisation.

Finding your own opportunity can give you greater flexibility to target organisations, industries or locations that align with your personal career goals. It can also demonstrate initiative – an attribute employers value.

On the other hand, university-sourced placements remove much of the legwork. Existing partnerships often provide high-quality learning opportunities, and the university manages many of the administrative requirements, helping you focus on preparing for the experience itself.

Neither approach is inherently better. If you’re unsure which pathway suits you, it’s worth talking with the Career Ready team or attending an info session before making a decision.

Make the most of your experience before it begins

Preparing well can make a significant difference to your placement or project.

Understanding employer expectations, refining your resume, practising interviews and learning how to network professionally can all help you feel more confident before your first day.

Fortunately, you don’t have to work it out on your own.

La Trobe offers a range of support to help you prepare, including webinars that explain the placement process, online resources with practical advice and checklists, and Career Ready drop-in sessions where you can ask questions and get personalised guidance.

Whether you’re deciding between different opportunities or getting ready to start one, these services can help you make informed decisions and maximise the value of your experience.

• Career Ready drop-in (every Thursday, online)
• How to find, apply for, and secure a placement (University WIL subjects) (8 September)
• Exploring your career options (1 October)
• University WIL Subjects – undergraduate info session (TBC)
• Explore your WIL options (Placement or Industry Project) (30 July)

Every experience builds your future

It’s easy to focus on finding the “perfect” placement or project. But the reality is that every industry experience helps you build something valuable.

You’ll develop professional skills, gain practical experience, expand your network and leave with stories that demonstrate your capabilities to future employers.

The most important step isn’t choosing the perfect option – it’s choosing an opportunity that helps you learn, grow and take the next step towards your career.

If you’re not sure where to begin, start by exploring the available resources, attend a webinar, or drop into a Career Ready session. Sometimes the best career decisions begin with simply asking the right questions.

The post Work experience that works: Choose the right industry experience for your career appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

You Said, We Did is how we show you that we’re listening and taking real action based on what you’ve told us.

Ready to see your feedback in action? Here are four changes we’ve made recently. You can also head to the You Said, We Did page to see more ways your voice has shaped the La Trobe experience. 

You said: You want better placement support and more ways to build practical experience for your future career.

We did: We increased placement and industry project opportunities embedded in courses and strengthened pre-placement support, so you can access help in the way that works best for you.

This includes the PlaceReady LMS Hub, Welcome Zones and expanded in-person support, as well as the new Start Smart bundle to help international health students prepare before arriving in Australia.

You said: Cost-of-living pressures are impacting your studies and making it harder to manage the costs of food, placement and other study-related costs.

We did: We introduced new financial support, like the Distance Support Bursary that helps with the costs of travelling to placements.

We also made it easier to find and access financial support to help with cost-of-living pressures, including bursaries, financial counselling and food aid through the LTSU Food Bank at Bundoora and the LTSA Student Pantry at the Melbourne (City) and regional campuses.

You said: You want easier access to learning resources, study spaces and support, wherever you’re studying.

We improved access to learning wherever you’re studying through the Northern Study Hub in Broadmeadows and Epping, Country Universities Centres and other study hubs across the country.

We also improved the accessibility of resources in the LMS, making it easier to access alt text and video transcripts

You said: You want wellbeing spaces to feel calmer, more welcoming and easier to access.

We did: Supported by SSAF funds, we updated the sensory and physical environment of the Health and Wellbeing Centre to improve its comfort and accessibility, including adjusted lighting, sensory and calming resources, more accessible layouts and accessibility signage.

You said: You weren’t always sure what support is available to help you feel safe at uni, including where to go if you need help.

We launched the UniSafe app at our Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, making it easier to get Security support when travelling around campus after dark.

We also launched our plan of how we will respond to the National Code for Gender Based Violence through Respect at La Trobe, including new programs and workshops.

You said: You want Orientation to be easier to access and fit around your schedule.

We did: We made Orientation easier to access in ways that suit you by launching on-demand sessions available online all year, welcoming online students to on-campus activities and combining key events into fewer days to better fit your schedule.

The post You Said, We Did – how your voice makes a difference appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Forty-two emerging founders completed La Trobe’s LaunchPad pre-accelerator program as part of the March 2026 cohort, with 27 advancing to LaunchPad Lift-Off, the program’s knockout pitch event held at the Eagleworks Innovation Centre.

LaunchPad Lift-Off marked the culmination of the 12-week program and the beginning of a new phase for participants – one where ideas are tested in the real world, customer feedback shapes decisions, and founders take the next steps in their entrepreneurial journey.

Over the past year, founders across two intakes of LaunchPad (a LaunchVic-funded initiative) have continued building, refining and growing their ventures in different ways. Some have gained new customer bases, some have pivoted their ideas and others have discovered new opportunities they hadn’t anticipated when they first joined the program.

This is a look at what happened next.

From uncertainty to direction

Many founders arrived at LaunchPad with a strong instinct for a problem, but a much less certain idea of the business behind it.

For Clare Fargher, Co-Founder of SmartAger, that starting point was familiar: a meaningful problem, but “a lot of unanswered questions about how to build a venture around it.”

What changed wasn’t just the idea, it was the structure around it.

By the end of the 12 weeks, she described her venture as having a “tighter vision, a clearer business model and the platform to build something that could succeed,” along with a sharper pitch that carried them into the LaunchPad Lift-Off Pitch Night.

That shift from ambiguity to direction is a pattern across cohorts. Founders move from assumptions to evidence, and from ideas to informed decisions. While every founder’s journey looks different, many discover that progress isn’t always a straight line.

Learning through the unexpected

For some founders, validation led to refinement. For others, it forced a pivot.

Douglas Lee, founder of FlyOvr, described how structured learning about customer validation taught him to conduct surveys and interviews that ultimately led him to pivot his entire direction.

He also noted the “MVP frameworks moved me from an abstract idea to a working prototype I could actually show people.”

The impact is not just methodological, but behavioural: founders begin making decisions faster, and with less attachment to their first version of the idea.

Clare Fargher reflected that the program helped SmartAger to “test assumptions rather than fall in love with them.”

For many participants, one of the most valuable outcomes extends beyond their venture itself.

The hidden value: financial clarity and technical confidence

Beyond product and pitch development, some of the most immediate changes happen in areas founders often overlook early on.

For Douglas, the impact of the finance fundamentals sessions made a huge difference. “Tracking every business expense from day one made me find AI subscriptions with almost no return and I cancelled them.”

Cutting costs before generating any revenue may seem like a small decision, but with real outcomes. Early financial discipline can shape the survival of an early venture.

Community as a long-term asset

While individual ventures differ, nearly every founder points to the same enduring outcome: the network.

LaunchPad is often described as collaborative rather than competitive, a cohort where founders actively support each other, share feedback, and stay connected well beyond the program.

Christina Forster and Byron Peel, founders of ADH-Dump (main photo), refer to it as a network that “will continue well beyond the program.” A community that can be drawn upon long after LaunchPad ends.

That ongoing connection matters because early-stage entrepreneurship rarely unfolds in isolation. Problems don’t end at Pitch Night, and neither does the support system built during the program.

What does ‘success’ look like after LaunchPad?

The clearest evidence of impact is not found in the pitch night itself, but in what happens afterwards.

It looks like founders entering discussions to deploy their platforms internationally. It looks like early traction and validated business models. It looks like cost savings identified before revenue exists. It looks like ventures moving from idea to prototype, and from prototype to real-world testing.

And sometimes, it looks like winning LaunchPad Lift-Off, not because the idea was the most polished on the day, but because the founders had learned how to think, test and communicate differently.

While every venture continues on a different path, the stories share a common theme: LaunchPad helped founders take meaningful steps forward.

Ready to move your idea beyond the pitch and start building something real? Apply now for your place in the next LaunchPad cohort.

The post LaunchPad Pitch Night was just the beginning for emerging founders appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Career Ready Ambassadors can connect you to all the right information, programs, opportunities and support to get the job or industry experience you’re looking for. Find out all about CareerHub, Career Ready Advantage and more!

Ambassadors will be at the Melbourne (Bundoora) Library on Wednesday 8 July between 10am-2pm and Wednesday 15 July 10am-2pm.

Can’t make it?

Don’t worry, you can join an online drop-in session every Thursday from July 16, for the rest of Semester2!

The post Come and say hello to a Career Ready Ambassador! appeared first on MyLaTrobe.