Have you ever opened your LinkedIn, looked at your profile picture and thought, “I’ll fix it later,”? Only to realise it’s still a cropped group photo, or a low-quality selfie, or a photo that no longer matches the professional image you’re trying to build. You’re not alone.

For many students, building a professional presence often sits somewhere between assignments, part-time work, exams and everything else university life brings. It’s important, but it can be difficult to know where to start.

That was exactly why La Trobe University’s Employability Team hosted the recent LinkedIn Headshot Session.

What seemed like a simple opportunity to get a professional photo quickly became something much bigger.

It was a chance for students to invest in themselves, learn about employability resources offered by Career Hub, and get useful advice from Career Ready Ambassadors.

A different kind of queue

On 19 May, students queued between classes, study sessions, assignment deadlines and lunch breaks.

Some arrived knowing exactly why they were there. Others stopped after spotting the setup and decided to participate.

One of the teachers in my class directed us towards
this event. professional
headshots are pretty expensive apparently, so I thought I’d jump on it!”
Ella – Media & Communications

What connected everyone was a shared understanding that professional opportunities don’t always begin with a job application. They begin with preparation! The LinkedIn Headshot Session, organised by La Trobe University’s Employability Team, created an opportunity for students to invest in building their professional online presence.

By the end of the session, 83 students had their professional headshots taken.

A community effort and confidence on a coat hanger

One of the standout features of the event wasn’t the camera; it was the suit jackets.

Not every student owns professional attire, and that shouldn’t be a barrier to building a professional presence. To help make the experience more accessible, the La Trobe Business School staff donated 10 suit jackets, with a further three donated from across the University.

Of the students who attended, approximately 70 per cent borrowed a jacket for their headshot allowing them to feel more confident, professional, and ready to put their best foot forward.

Beyond the camera

One of the highlights of the event as a Career Ready Ambassador was speaking with students and recording their video testimonials.

From placement and internship applications to graduate aspirations, everyone had a different story, but a shared goal: taking the next step in their career journey.

While some students were already familiar with Career Hub, others were discovering its resources for the first time.

Career development doesn’t always happen in lecture theatres or textbooks. It happens in conversations, through connections and when you decide to be curious and put yourself out there

More than a LinkedIn photo

For students, the session wasn’t just about getting a new LinkedIn photo. It was about being intentional in their approach to becoming an early career professional. Career readiness is about making decisions consistently over time – attending a workshop, reviewing or developing your resume, engaging in conversations, updating your LinkedIn profile and having a professional headshot photo taken.

To support you to build a professional LinkedIn profile, check out these resources: Rock Your LinkedIn Profile and Add a Photo and Stand Out.

What’s next?

For many students, the LinkedIn Headshot Session was a reminder that career development doesn’t always happen in lecture theatres or textbooks. It happens in conversations, through connections and when you decide to be curious and put yourself out there.

If you missed out on the LinkedIn photo shoot this time, don’t worry! Book in for the next LinkedIn Headshot session happening at the Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus on Wednesday 12 August.

The photoshoot will coincide with the Employability Expo which will bring together students, employers, career resources and opportunities all in one place. Come along and speak to employers, industry representatives and have your LinkedIn headshot taken at the same time!

The post Why a professional LinkedIn headshot was the best freebie on campus appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

What sport are you most looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to playing basketball the most but I am also looking forward to our chances at netball, I think we will surprise some teams.

Who is the player to watch? 

I think our other captain Jayla is the player to watch. She played some big minutes last year and looks poised to go to the next level. I think a combination of her and Keira West will get us out of the group stage for the first time.

What is your favourite part of the week? 

Other than the sports of course, my favourite part of the week is being able to catch up with mob. Not only from La Trobe but other schools. It’s my fourth year and I’ve met plenty of people that I enjoy having a yarn with when I get the chance to see them at the Games.

What is your go to karaoke song?

Probably wouldn’t catch me dead doing kareoke but if I had to pick one song it would be ‘Something So Strong‘ by Crowded House.

We wish Morgan and the team good luck at the upcoming Indigenous Nationals! Follow La Trobe Indigenous on Instagram to stay in the loop.

The post Meet Indigenous Nationals Captain Morgan Cutler appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Heywire is a lived experience storytelling competition for young people living in regional, rural and remote Australia. For over 20 years, Heywire has been celebrating the bravery and honesty it takes to share your story – your way.

What might seem everyday to you could be epic to someone else, whether that’s sharing what life’s like where you live, what you care about or what frustrates you.

Stories can be in any format: text, video or audio – whatever suits you best! All that matters is that it’s a true story about some aspect of your life in regional Australia.

Why should I enter?

Heywire isn’t a spelling or grammar competition – they’re looking for real, powerful stories from young people. Winners get the chance to: 

• Work with ABC producers to share their story nationally 
• Have their story featured across the ABC – on TV, radio, online and social media 
• Win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Heywire Summit in Canberra

How to enter

Entries for the 2027 competition are now open. Submit your story by Monday 1 September on the ABC Heywire website. Looking for some inspiration? You can also check out the incredible stories of previous Heywire winners.

The post Regional students, tell your story with ABC Heywire appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science student made the leap back into study after a long career in finance.

“After more than 24-years, I decided to pursue something I’s always been passionate about: sport. Following a redundancy last year, I took the opportunity to make a career change and begin a new chapter.”

At 52, Stuart is embracing the challenge of starting over — inspiring others to do the same.

“Friends and family often say that what stands out most is my willingness to chase a dream at this stage of life.”

Adjusting to university life wasn’t without hurdles, however.

“Balancing a demanding study load with work and life responsibilities took much of my first semester to adjust to. Over time, though, I’ve built a routine and settled into student life. Even though I’m much older than most of my classmates, we all share a common passion and purpose, which has made it easy to connect. Building friendships may not earn you a degree, but it certainly makes the experience richer.”

It helps when you can embrace your new future with such enthusiasm, like Stuart.

“After completing my degree, I hope to move to Europe and work on the DP World Tour. I feel I still have plenty of working life ahead of me and am excited by the prospect of building a meaningful second career.”

His advice for anyone facing a career crossroads that’s considering future study:

“My advice is simple: just go for it. There’s so little to lose and so much to gain.

It can feel daunting at first, but the real question is: what’s the best that could happen? Life is far too short not to take opportunities when they arise. You never know where it might lead.”

The post Chasing a new dream career at 54 appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

At this point, campus life feels familiar to me. 

Which made me wonder: Does university feel like this everywhere else too? 

So instead of doing my actual work for the day, I messaged friends studying in different countries and asked them a simple question: “How would you describe uni life in three words?” 

What came back was surprisingly thoughtful. 

Somewhere between the replies, I realised we’re all technically “doing university”, but what that experience looks and feels like can change completely depending on where you are in the world. 
 

Kenya- Community, Energy, Adaptability 

Key finding: Campus life feels experience-driven 

Tiffany’s response came in fast: 

“Fun, adventurous… and honestly, every day feels different.” 

That last part stayed with me — every day feels different. 

What came through from her, and from other Kenyan responses, was a university experience that feels deeply social and community driven. People show up for each other. Friendships are not just a side effect of uni life — they are a big part of the experience itself. 

There is also a strong sense of independence that builds naturally. You figure things out. You adapt. You grow through the unpredictability as much as the academics. 

Honestly? That energy felt familiar. 

Just on a different campus. 

South Korea- Structured, Focused, Motivated 

Key finding: Academic culture shapes the pace of campus life 
 

My friend described Korean uni life as highly driven and academically focused. 

There’s a strong culture around discipline and study routines, where students are constantly encouraging each other to work hard and stay motivated. 

One thing she noticed after coming to La Trobe, though, was the different pace of campus culture here. 

At La Trobe, students still work hard – but there’s also visible space for clubs, events, hobbies, and community activities alongside academics. 

Not better or worse. Just a different balance. 

Hong Kong- Quiet Classrooms, Strong Communities 

Key finding: Participation looks different everywhere 

Joanna noticed one difference almost immediately after studying here. 

At La Trobe, students are often open during tutorials and discussions. Conversations happen naturally, and participation feels encouraged. 

Back home, classrooms can be quieter and more structured, with students expressing themselves more through coursework and assessments rather than open discussion. 

But the biggest contrast for her was not just academic. 

It was the campus community. 

The events, clubs, and social activities here made university feel connected in a way she had not experienced before. 

It was a reminder that participation does not look the same everywhere — sometimes it is loud and conversational, and sometimes it is quieter but still meaningful. 

India- Ambition, Expectations, Determination 

Key finding: Expectations often shape the student experience 

From Utkarsh, the word that came through most strongly was ambition. 

There is a significant focus on academics, performance, attendance, and future goals. Students often balance high expectations while working towards long-term career opportunities. 

At the same time, conversations around wellbeing, extracurricular involvement, and campus life are continuing to evolve across many institutions. 

It reminded me that access to support systems, social opportunities, and community experiences can vary greatly depending on where students study. 

For many students, university is not just about learning. It is also about expectation, pressure, growth, and trying to build a future that feels worth all the effort. 
 

Australia – Supportive, diverse, dynamic 

Key finding: Community is built into campus life 

When I asked students at La Trobe the same question, the words that kept coming up were: 

Community. Flexibility. Opportunities. Exposure. 

And honestly, that feels accurate. 

Because somewhere between random campus events, awkward introductions, free food, volunteering, late-night conversations, and meeting people from countries I had never visited before, uni became more than just lectures and assignments. 

It became people. 

It became the friend who saves you a seat. 
The person you meet once at an event and somehow keep running into. 
The staff member who remembers your name. 
The group chat that starts for an assignment and accidentally becomes emotional support. 

And maybe that is what I realised most through these conversations. 

No matter where we study, everyone is trying to build something for themselves — friendships, confidence, opportunities, memories, and a version of life that feels a little more their own. 

The environments may look different. 

The classrooms may sound different. 

The expectations may feel different. 

But the experience of figuring life out along the way? 

That feels surprisingly universal. 

Final Thought 

These conversations reminded me that university is never just one experience. 

It changes depending on where you study, the people around you, the culture you grow up in, and the expectations you carry with you. But across countries, campuses and classrooms, students are often searching for similar things: belonging, growth, confidence, opportunities, memories, and a version of life that feels a little more their own. 

And if La Trobe has taught me anything, it is that the best part of uni life is not just where you study. 

It is who you become while you are there. 

The post Uni life but make it global appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

When people think about studying Media and Communications, they usually imagine cameras, microphones, writing, interviews and maybe a little bit of editing. 

And yes, there is definitely all of that. 

But what I didn’t expect was how many different pieces make up the experience: the late-night edits, the class jokes, the studio chaos, the feedback sessions, the new friendships and the moments where you realise you’re slowly learning how the media world actually works. 

So far, my Bachelor of Media and Communications has felt less like one single subject area and more like a collection of little elements that all come together. 

Media and Communications is more than cameras, scripts and edits. 

It is the people you learn with, the projects you build, the feedback you receive, and the confidence you slowly gain along the way. 

It is creative, chaotic, practical and funny- sometimes all in the same class. 

And honestly, that’s what makes it so memorable. 

Infographic summary (accessible text version)

The Edit 

• Editing takes way more time than people expect

• Scripting, reshooting, fixing audio and choosing clips can be a lot

• But finishing an edit feels so satisfying

• Feedback from classmates makes the process easier when you’ve been staring at the same project for too long 

The Family 

• A good media family makes the degree so much better.  

• Class feels less stressful when you have people to laugh, create and learn with 

• The people around you turn long classes and group projects into actual memories

Class Antics 

• Classes are full of unexpected side quests

• From messing around with microphones and headsets in the studio, to filming vox pops in the Agora, there’s always something happening  

• Somehow, we’re learning and laughing at the same time

Industry Experience 

• The degree gives us hands-on opportunities to build real media skills 

• In first year, Intro to Media gives us a taste of working in a newsroom-style environment

• Later opportunities, like Upstart, help connect what we learn in class to the media industry

Majors 

• The Bachelor of Media and Communications has four majors:  

• Journalism  

• Sports Media  

• Marketing  

• Creative and Professional Writing  

• These majors help us explore different career paths and figure out where we might want to go next

The post More than cameras: My media and comms experience  appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

How I went from “I’ll Just Observe” to “I’ll Host the Event”. 

If school knew me as “the quiet girl,” uni genuinely never got the memo. 

When I first imagined university life in Australia, I thought it would mostly be classes, part-time work, assignments, and the same routine every week. 

Study. Work. Repeat. 

Very practical. Very responsible. Very international student coded. 

But deep down, I wanted the full movie version of uni life. 

I wanted random friendships, campus events, late-night conversations, and the confidence to introduce myself first instead of rehearsing a sentence in my head six times before speaking. 

The problem was — I wasn’t naturally that person. 

Back in school, I was quiet, underconfident, and honestly a little too comfortable staying unnoticed. I always wanted to be involved in things, but from a safe distance. Like emotionally supporting the event without actually attending it. 

But moving to Australia unexpectedly gave me something I’d never really had before: 

A reset. 

Nobody here knew me as “the shy one,” which meant I could finally stop acting like I had to stay that way. 
 
And somehow, I actually started trying. 

Audio – First few weeks at uni 

Audio transcript: 
Hi, are you also new?  
Oh, what are you studying? Oh, I see, hmm alright. Nice, I’ll see you later, bye. 

It started with Res events. 

Which, looking back, is dangerous — because free food and “just come for a little while” are genuinely gateway experiences into campus involvement. 

One event became another. Then another. 

At some point, I stopped waiting to feel confident first and just started showing up anyway. 

I started talking to random people, joining conversations instead of pretending to check my phone, and meeting students from completely different countries and backgrounds. 

Then came the unexpected parts. 

The random friendships. 
The quiet campus crushes. 
The realisation that I suddenly had stories from campus instead of just classes. 

And somewhere in between all of that, I became… social? 

Not fully. Let’s not get carried away. 

But enough for someone to once tell me: 

“You don’t look like an introvert.” 

Honestly? That weirdly felt like a compliment. 

Not because being introverted is a bad thing, but because for the first time, it felt like people were seeing the version of me I always secretly wanted to become. 

Voice note – Two years later 

Audio Transcript: 
 
Hey, you seem new here. Oh, you’re from Kenya. So cool! I really want to go on a safari there someday. Also wait, have you tried the kebabs in the Agora yet? You definitely should. They are actually so good and there are some more good spots to eat around uni.  

At some point, “just volunteering once” turned into helping run events, speaking in front of crowds, and becoming a Senior Leader — which genuinely sounds unreal if you knew first-year me. 

And somehow, alongside that, I also became a Storyteller. 

Which basically means holding a camera, filming students, interviewing students around campus, and somehow acting confident while doing it. 

There was a time when introducing myself to one new person felt emotionally exhausting. 

Now I walk up to strangers and ask them to be in one of my reels. 

Honestly? Still slightly terrifying sometimes. 

But also really fun. 

And weirdly enough, I love it. 

The same thing happened with job interviews. 

Voice note – First interview era 

Audio Transcript: 
Hi, this is Niharika and firstly I really want to thank you for this opporunity. To let you know my strengths are I am a quick learner and I can work well with a team. 

 Voice note – Current era 

Audio Transcript: 
Hi everyone, I am Niharika and what really stands out to me about this role is the opportunity to connect with people through customer service and uni leadership roles I have realised I generally enjoy fast paced, people focused environments and I am really keen to get started on this one. 

Still nervous, obviously. Some traditions survive character development. 

And maybe that’s the strangest part of all this. 

I spent so long thinking uni accidentally changed my personality. 

But looking back now, I’m starting to think it was never really an accident. 

Maybe this version of me was always there – just waiting for a place where she felt brave enough to show up first. 

The post The personality I accidentally built at uni  appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

I often feel that Menzies, as a residential space and experience, is sometimes misunderstood through the general word of mouth. People often think they know what Menzies is like, but they miss the part that matters most: it’s a genuine community – and I really mean that. 

I moved into Menzies at the start of February like everyone else. At first, if I’m honest, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. But after a few weeks of finding my feet and putting myself out there to meet people, I discovered what Menzies really is. 

It’s a place filled with laughter, late nights, tears, rants, hugs and shared dinners. A place where people genuinely look out for one another. Sometimes people have assumptions about Menzies before experiencing it themselves, but living here has shown me a completely different side. 

The Menzies way has completely changed my perspective on what it means to be part of a community that welcomes you as one of its own. Menzies is full of people from all over Victoria, different states, and even different countries, and somehow, we’ve created an environment that feels like home. 

The people here are some of the kindest I’ve met, and that’s something I don’t think gets talked about enough. 

This is my first time living independently, but the people around me have created such a comforting environment where we can all speak openly and support one another. That honestly feels like a milestone in itself. 

For a lot of this first semester, I’ve felt alone in different ways, but coming home after what often feels like the longest day and seeing familiar faces around Menzies really lifts a weight off my shoulders. 

You might wonder what makes Menzies different from any other college at La Trobe. Honestly, it’s a lot of small things. 

It’s waking up in the middle of the night craving chocolate and being able to grab some from the vending machine downstairs. It’s seeing your best friends (who you only met eight weeks ago) whenever you want. It’s going for walks around campus to clear your head or simply having a place where you can switch off and relax when you need it. 

Menzies has become that place for me. 

The post The Menzies Way! appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

From Bendigo to her hometown of Shepparton, Hannah Freeman has returned to begin the next chapter of her journey — commencing the Doctor of Medicine through the University of Melbourne Rural Pathway.

“I just graduated from La Trobe with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) and have now started my first year of medical school through the University of Melbourne’s Rural Pathway based in my hometown of Shepparton. Eventually, I hope to graduate and work as either a GP or rural generalist and help people in rural areas access the healthcare they deserve.”

For Hannah, the decision to pursue medicine is closely tied to her lived experience and a desire to give back to communities like her own.

“I am the youngest of four daughters, and we lost our mum to early onset dementia in 2017 when we were aged 19, 17, 16 and 13 respectively.

My mum’s diagnosis and death inspired me to pursue a career in medicine, to help other people and their families who may endure similar experiences to what my family went through.

Dementia, in any of its forms, is a truly devastating disease. I think I was too young to fully appreciate just how much of a strain her illness put on the rest of my family, particularly my dad and my mum’s mum, my Nan, who took on full time carer roles for her, as well as continuing to raise and care for my sisters and I. It is a heartbreakingly common disease, identified as Australia’s leading cause of death.”

Hannah says that experience continues to shape both her studies and her outlook on the future of healthcare.

“Being able to study medicine in my hometown, and to be a part of this incredible program training rural doctors, is something I feel incredibly privileged to do. Being able to live at home with my Dad is such a privilege, and one that in the past, just didn’t exist, with all rural students being forced to move to Melbourne to study. I am so excited for the next four years to be out in the community on placements and for all the new experiences that will come along with this chapter.”

Alongside starting medicine, Hannah also continues to prioritise her wellbeing and balance during a demanding year of study.

“Fitness is a bit of a non-negotiable for me, particularly running and weightlifting. As much as I hate waking up early in the morning, I never regret exercising before going to classes. It is amazing for my mental health and stress management.”

This May, Hannah will be lacing up her running shoes amid a demanding start to medical school, training for the 10km Melbourne Memory Walk & Jog to support Australians impacted by dementia — and we wish her all the best as she takes on the challenge while balancing her studies, training, and new beginnings in medicine.

The post Graduate spotlight: Hannah Freeman appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

You spend years working towards your final semester – 
and then, when it finally arrives, you realise you’re not entirely ready for it. 

On paper, this is everything you’ve been waiting for. 
The last few assignments. 
The finish line. 
All the hard work finally coming together. 

But somewhere in the middle of it all, something shifts. 
It hit me in a way I didn’t expect. 
A friend I recently made was talking about the Residential Ball – how much fun it was going to be, how we should go together, how it’s one of those events you don’t want to miss.  

And all I could think was… 
I won’t be here. 
I graduate in May. 
And suddenly, it wasn’t just one event. It was everything that came with it. 

All the little moments that made uni what it is: the spontaneous plans, the campus events, the routines you don’t even realise you’ve built. 
That’s when it sinks in. 
You’re not just finishing university. 
You’re leaving a version of your life behind. 

People always say the friends you make in your first semester aren’t the ones you leave with. 
I used to think that was a bit dramatic. 
Turns out, it’s not. 
At the start, you become friends with whoever is around. You’re just trying to find your people, your space, your sense of belonging. And sometimes, those friendships fade -not because anyone did anything wrong, but because they were never meant to last. 

And then there are the ones that do. 
I had a friend who lived on my floor.  
We were inseparable – each other’s support system, seeing each other every day. 
When she graduated, we said what everyone says: 
“We won’t let distance affect our friendship.” 
But life has a way of changing things. 
Different schedules. A full-time job. Living far away. Routines that don’t align anymore. 
And just like that, someone you once saw every day becomes someone you see once in three months – if you’re lucky. 

That’s the paradox. 

You’re moving forward… but parts of your life are quietly staying behind. 
And then comes the part no one really prepares you for. 
The real world. 

For the first time, there’s no next semester to fall back on. 
It’s not about assignments anymore. It’s about rent, jobs, responsibilities: building a life from scratch. 
And for me, that thought is a little scary.  

I’ve left my home, my family, my friends — everything familiar — to move thousands of miles for a degree I truly believed in. 
So the question lingers: 
What if it doesn’t work out? 
What if I don’t get the job I’ve been working towards? 
What if everything doesn’t go the way I planned? 
Does all of this… go to waste? 

But at the same time, there’s another side to it. 
The part that makes it all worth it. 
Starting fresh. 
Moving out of student accommodation. 
Having a place of my own. 
Working full-time. 

Calling my mum and my brother over to visit and driving them around in my own car. 

Building something that’s mine. 
And hopefully, one day, working in my dream role, in the organisation I’ve always imagined myself in. 

So here I am. 
Excited. 
Nervous. 
Grateful. 
A little scared. 

All at the same time. 

Maybe that’s what the last semester really is. 

Not an ending. 
Not a beginning. 

But a strange in-between- where everything you’ve built, meets everything you’re about to become. 

And maybe the paradox isn’t something you need to solve. 
Maybe it’s just something you need to feel. 

The post The paradox of the last semester appeared first on MyLaTrobe.