Online study
Bianca MacLachlan is a third-year student in our Bachelor of Food and Nutrition degree.
"I’ve been passionate about nutrition for many years now, and had already undertaken a few minor certificates so I could move myself into the health industry," she says. "I wanted to undertake a Bachelor degree but I wasn’t sure how to manage this around work and other responsibilities."
MacLachlan decided to enrol in the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition through Open Universities Australia, which allowed her to study online at a time and place of her choosing. "La Trobe offered subjects I was really excited about including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and nutrigenomics. I enrolled on the spot!"
When she graduates, MacLachlan hopes to register as a nutritionist and work with women to educate them on their relationship with food.
“There is so much misinformation out there, through the media and fad dieting. My goal is to teach people how to be healthy and use food for nourishment and self-love, rather than restriction and punishment.”
Continuing to postgraduate study
Meet Jordan Hilton, a first-year student in our Master of Sports Analytics degree.
“I completed my undergraduate degree with La Trobe and wanted to pursue postgraduate study,” says Hilton. “The Master of Sports Analytics was perfect because it combines my passion for sports and numbers.”
Hilton says he felt confident the degree would give him the knowledge, skills and industry connections to launch his career in sports analytics. “Returning to study at La Trobe was a no-brainer, particularly because it has world-class sports facilities,” he says.
Loving what you study, says Hilton, is an important aspect of the student experience. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far is to study what you love and love what you study,” he explains. “My enjoyment and curiosity as a student is at an all-time high.”
Hilton’s dream is to go overseas and work in analytics for the National Basketball Association. For now, his sights are set closer to home.
“When I graduate I hope to become involved with an elite sporting club, like the Australia Football League or Super Netball. Sports analytics is growing rapidly in Australia and I hope to be part of the revolution.”
Pursuing postgraduate passion
Meet Natasha Reeve. She is a first-year student in our Master of Strength and Conditioning degree.
“I have always had a passion for sport, and I thoroughly enjoyed health and physical education subjects at school,” says Reeve.
“I completed a Bachelor of Sports Exercise and Science at La Trobe,” she explains. “The course covered a variety of subjects and allowed me to pursue my interests, which led me to the Master of Strength and Conditioning.”
Reeve has completed a one-week intensive practical which gave her valuable insight into what a strength and conditioning career could look like.
“It was amazing to learn first-hand what makes a good strength and conditioning coach,” she says. “I also had the opportunity to visit the Melbourne Rebels and Carlton Football Club to see their high-performance gyms and meet the coaches, which really brought classroom learning to life.”
“In the future, I would like to work with elite athletes as a strength and conditioning coach, but especially with women in sports like the AFLW. After graduating, I want to gain more experience, develop my skills and continue to learn as much as possible.”
Find out more about the Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences on the website and LinkedIn.
