The Council is the governing body of La Trobe and looks after the general direction and monitoring of the University.

In total, twenty (20) students have nominated for the position and now it’s up to you to decide who the successful candidate is.

The nominees’ names appear in the table below, in alphabetical order: 

Voting opened at 9am on Thursday 21 May and closes at 5pm on Thursday 28 May 2026.

All students eligible to vote have been sent an individual email from our third party vendor, BigPulse. Included in this email is a link to voting instructions, the candidates’ photos and their profiles.

To be eligible to vote, students:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be currently enrolled
• Must not be a staff member of the University. These students fall into the staff category and can vote in the election of a staff member.

For more information you can visit the Council Elections webpage.

Good luck to all the nominees!

The post La Trobe University Council election underway 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.

There will be a planned system outage on Wednesday 6 May from 6:30-10pm.

The following services will be unavailable:

• Ask A Question
• Charlie Chatbot
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Some forms, including Advanced Standing    

All services will be available as usual after the outage. We thank you for your patience.

The post Planned system outage on Wednesday 6 May 6:30-10pm. appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

La Trobe students are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to join TEQSA’s first Student Advisory Panel.

Australia’s national quality regulator, TEQSA, is expanding the student voices they engage, beyond elected student representatives. This is a unique opportunity to share your perspectives and help inform national higher education quality and standards.

Panel members will provide insights on what’s working well across the sector and where improvements are needed, helping ensure student voices are central to decision‑making.

Students from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, international students, first‑in‑family students, students with disability or lived experience of mental health or neurodivergence, LGBTQI+ students, regional and remote students, mature‑age and part‑time students and students in coursework or research programs.

Expressions of interest are open until Thursday 30 April 2026.

Find out more and express your interest today!

The post Have your say in Australian higher education appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

It’s time for Re-Orientation, where you can reconnect with services and enjoy some of the highlights at your campus!

Also happening is Respect Week at La Trobe.

Visit the Respect at La Trobe stall at Melbourne (Bundoora) Re-O on Simpson’s Lawn from 11am–2pm. Try your hand at a lucky dip, take away exciting prizes, and learn how we can all play a part in building a more supportive, safe, respectful and inclusive campus. Find more information here.

The post It’s time for Re-Orientation! appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

But be quick! This limited-time only offer is available until Sunday March 22, so visit the La Trobe Indoor Sports Centre or Bendigo Sports Centre and speak to our friendly reception team to take advantage of the cheapest and best value gym membership you’ll ever have!

The post Final chance to secure 50% off La Trobe Sport gym membership appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

The Knowledge Base brings together clear, easy to follow IT support articles to help you troubleshoot common issues and find the right guidance fast. You can browse articles by category or search for a specific problem. For example, typing LMS will show all IT help guides related to the Learning Management System. 

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can log a support request at any time, and the IT Support team will follow up with you. 

The post Get 24/7 IT help with the Student IT Support Knowledge Base appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

Turns out starting university at 27 comes with a few unexpected discoveries. 

The first time I realised I might be a ‘mature-aged student’, someone in my class asked me a very genuine question: “Did you fail before? Is that why you’re studying now?”

I laughed and explained that sometimes people simply take different paths. 

But it did make me start observing campus life more closely. Somewhere between hearing the word ‘bro’ in every second sentence and watching students perfectly execute the mysterious ‘six seven’ hand gesture, I realised this experience deserved its own little field study. 

So, here are the findings. 

Field notes from starting university at 27 — from mysterious TikTok trends to unexpected mentor moments. 

Field note #1: Campus culture moves fast 

University culture moves fast. 

Conversations around me often include K-pop ‘stans’, techno songs with no lyrics and trends that seem to appear overnight. 

Someone says, ‘six seven’ and suddenly half the group is doing a coordinated hand gesture while I’m just standing there wondering if I missed an orientation explaining it. 

Between TikTok dances on Simpson Lawn and ducks casually walking through campus like they own the place, La Trobe definitely has its own ecosystem. 

To be fair though, the energy younger students bring to campus is something I genuinely admire. 

Field note #2: The Mature-aged student advantage 

Being a mature student also has its benefits. 

I found it easier to approach staff, ask questions and build professional relationships. Having lived independently before university also helped me balance responsibilities like cooking, laundry and study. 

And perhaps the biggest mature student advantage of all: actually reading the LMS announcements. 

Field note #3: The unexpected mentor moment 

One thing I didn’t expect was occasionally becoming the person people asked for advice. 

In one of my Sports Management classes, a student once asked me what internships they should pursue to break into the sports industry. 

Something similar happened during a shoot in my role as a Senior Student Storyteller, when a student asked, “How do I get the job you have?”

Moments like that reminded me that experience outside university can sometimes help others navigating it. 

Final findings 

If this little ‘study’ taught me anything, it’s that there’s no single timeline for university. Everyone simply arrives here through different paths. Being older gave me the confidence to try new things and appreciate the opportunities university offers. It also reminded me that you don’t need a huge circle of friends — sometimes two or three genuine friendships are more than enough. 

And honestly, campus would probably be far less interesting if everyone was the same age. 

If you ever see someone slightly confused about a TikTok trend but very confident about where the washing machines are in Res… there’s a good chance you’ve just met a mature-aged student. 

The post An unscientific, critical analysis of being a mature-aged student at uni appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

The auction is being run by Gollant Auctioneers & Valuers. Whether you’re setting up a home gym to keep healthy while studying or welcome to share with your sporting club who may be seeking fitness equipment at great prices, there’s something for a range of needs.

Why get involved?

• 110 lots of equipment for sale
• Access cardio and strength training equipment through an online auction
• Opportunity to inspect equipment before bidding
• Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested into facilities and services for residential students

By taking part, you can help support future improvements to the residential experience at La Trobe.

Key dates

• Equipment inspection:

10am–2pm, Wednesday 4 March

Gollant Auctions warehouse, Tullamarine

• Auction closes:

11am, Thursday 5 March

How to participate

1. View the online catalogue
2. Register to bid via the auction platform
3. Place your bids online before the closing date

* Participation is personal choice and all equipment is sold as‑is. No warranties or refunds apply, and purchasers take responsibility for the equipment after purchase. Standard auction terms and conditions apply. Equipment pictured in this article is for illustrative purposes only and is not for sale as part of the auction.

The post Online auction: Gym equipment for sale appeared first on MyLaTrobe.

La Trobe has also secured $1,031,400 in funding to support 92 students through the Mobility and Semester Program grants. That’s a massive jump from last year’s $149,600!

What is the New Colombo Plan?

The NCP Scholarship is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It’s one of Australia’s most generous and competitive scholarships for undergraduates, designed to strengthen ties with the Indo-Pacific region.

This year, the Government doubled the number of scholarships available and plans to keep expanding the program in the future.

Why is this a big deal?

Recipients go through a tough, multi-stage application process, proving their academic excellence, ambition and passion for the Indo-Pacific. Scholars will gain real-world experience, language skills and intercultural knowledge that employers love – all while studying in global destinations like Malaysia, Thailand and Japan.

Dr Stacey Farraway, La Trobe’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Future Growth), said this achievement reflects the exceptional calibre of La Trobe students and the University’s commitment to global engagement:

“Our New Colombo Plan Scholars will gain real-world experience, language capability and intercultural skills highly valued by employers…”

Meet the 2026 Scholars

Here’s where our students are heading and what they’ll be studying:

Malaysia – University of Malaya

• Rhys Barwise (Wildlife & Conservation Biology)
• Sara Ali (Law/Commerce)
• Nicholas Walsh (Law/Global Studies)

Thailand – Chulalongkorn University

• Justin Johnston (Education)
• Tori Foster (Law/Arts)

Japan

• Sophia University: Asia McLaughlin (Law/Arts), Alison Tucker (Media & Communication)
• Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: Elley Chapman (Law/Global Studies)
• Hokkaido University: Giselle Quill-Tot (Animal & Veterinary Biosciences)
• University of Tokyo: Maddison Reynolds (Law/Global Studies)

Want to get involved? 

The NCP Scholarship opens doors to language study, internships and professional networks across the Indo-Pacific. If you’re keen to apply in the future, keep an eye on the NCP Scholarship page.

NCP is just one of the overseas opportunities available – La Trobe has over 120 international exchange partners across schemes such as Semester Exchanges, overseas short programs with several grant and scholarship options available. For more information on the NCP Scholarship, or La Trobe’s other international study opportunities, see studying overseas.  

The post Record Number of La Trobe students awarded New Colombo Plan Scholarships appeared first on MyLaTrobe.