Pictured (from left): Natalie Izard, Manager, Histology and Cytology, Melbourne Pathology; Georgia O’Sullivan, Bachelor of Biomedicine student, La Trobe University; Gihansa Samarawickrema, Bachelor of Laws (Honors) and Bachelor of Biomedicine student, La Trobe University.
Melbourne Pathology’s collaboration with La Trobe University has created a mutually beneficial student placement program, paving the way for impactful education and workforce development. Placements offer tangible advantages for Melbourne Pathology, including the identification of emerging talent and fostering future recruitment opportunities, while ensuring students gain real-world, practical experience within a professional setting.
Natalie Izard, Manager, Histology and Cytology, Melbourne Pathology explains, “We identify talent in students undertaking placement, and embrace the student journey by offering part-time positions when available”.
Placements offer biomedical students valuable exposure to career pathways in routine and clinical pathology, presenting an alternative to research-focused roles. For Melbourne Pathology, it serves as a strategic opportunity to engage with enthusiastic and capable students who are interested in pursuing future employment or traineeships as technicians or scientists upon graduation.
Natalie highlights that placement students, like recent recruits Georgia O’Sullivan and Gihansa Samarawickrema, are not merely passive observers.
“Georgia and Gihansa were a lovely addition to the department. (They are) incredibly smart and switched on and were very open to asking questions and taking feedback. I believe they received great exposure to all aspects of the Histology Lab space. It was much more than just observational.”
Both students actively participated in lab tasks such as specimen reception (SRA), embedding, microtomy, allocations, observation in special stains and immunohistochemistry, all of which are integral to the lab’s daily functions.
“We pride ourselves as a department in providing more than just observation. The students become part of the team with hands-on opportunities to follow the process end-to-end from sorting samples to embedding and sectioning practice tissue blocks, staining these, as well as assisting with the allocation of patient samples.”
From a student perspective, the placements are invaluable for bridging the gap between theory and practical application.
Gihansa Samarawickrema, a Bachelor of Laws (Honors) and Bachelor of Biomedicine student, found that her placement enhanced her scientific understanding and professional skills.
“This placement has taught me how to work in a professional environment where accuracy, time management, and attention to detail are non-negotiable.”
Gihansa also credits La Trobe’s placement team for sourcing the opportunity and making the entire process seamless, ensuring she could focus on gaining the most from her experience.
Georgia O’Sullivan, studying a Bachelor of Biomedicine, similarly reflects on how her time at Melbourne Pathology allowed her to directly apply knowledge from her anatomy and physiology coursework in a real-life laboratory context.
“Science degrees are very broad, and it is easy to say that you would like to work in a lab environment. Getting the opportunity pre-graduation to see the realities has been pivotal in my future decisions,” she says.
“I’ve gained exposure to different workflows, developed meaningful professional connections, and significantly grown in confidence navigating a scientific environment. From the start to the end of placement, the difference in my professional identity is overwhelming.”
Both students strongly encourage others to engage in placement programs, emphasising the importance of hands-on learning.
Gihansa advises, “Think of a placement as a sneak peek into the industry you want to work in. You learn so much on a placement, and it is a great opportunity to make network connections. Learning techniques and theory in a classroom or practical class is only surface-level learning. Being able to apply that knowledge in a real-world setting helps you see the big picture and learn more about the opportunities available to you”.
Georgia adds that “applying for a university sourced placement is a no brainer – all the hard work and admin is done for you – you just have to show up for Day One.
“(It) is not as intimidating as it seems. These companies have agreed to have you, and you will be met with reciprocated enthusiasm.”
The student placement program at Melbourne Pathology not only strengthens La Trobe students’ skills but also reinforces Melbourne Pathology’s workforce by fostering emerging talent within a supportive and professional environment. The partnership is an exemplary model of how educational institutions and industry leaders can collaborate to simultaneously support talent pipelines and prepare students for future career success.
If you are a member of industry and interested in La Trobe’s student industry placement program, connect with La Trobe Talent.
La Trobe Talent will support your business throughout the process, from creating a placement description to promoting it to students and finalising the agreement. Contact La Trobe Talent at latrobetalent@latrobe.edu.au or submit an EOI Form.
For general industry engagement inquiries, please reach out to industry.engagement@latrobe.edu.au
