Outstanding graduate outcomes

La Trobe University graduates continue to enjoy strong employment outcomes, according to a nationwide survey which ranked the University top in Victoria for recent postgraduate employment.

QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching) surveyed graduates from all Australian universities who completed their courses between March 2019 and February 2020.  The data, collected from November to December 2019, and May to July 2020, measures graduates’ employment outcomes and satisfaction with their courses.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor (Acting) Professor Susan Dodds said the University’s results were particularly pleasing given the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian job market.

“La Trobe graduates have always been well-equipped to achieve successful and fulfilling careers in areas of critical workforce need,” Professor Dodds said.

“It’s essential that our courses firmly align with community, employer and industry need. And now, more than ever, it’s vital our students gain the necessary skills and experience during their studies to confidently enter a fast-evolving job market on graduation.”

Professor Dodds said findings from the latest QILT Graduate Outcome Survey showed the University was ideally placed to offer qualifications to individuals affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 who were seeking to upskill.

“One of our important roles right now is to contribute to and support the Australian workforce’s career development for the post-COVID recovery.”

Professor Dodds said La Trobe’s qualifications in health, education and agricultural sciences continued to be in demand.

La Trobe’s results from the Graduate Outcome Survey included:

  • Top rank in Victoria for full-time employment and overall employment for graduates who completed a coursework-based postgraduate qualification
  • Top rank in Victoria and fourth in Australia for post graduate research experience
  • Research-based post-graduate alumni achieved a labour force participation rate of 99 percent (second in Victoria and sixth in Australia); and earned a median salary of $93,500 (third in Victoria, and equal to the national average)
  • The University’s graduates who completed a research-based postgraduate qualification achieved the third highest rate of full-time employment in Victoria (81.3 per cent), which was above the national average.

Media Contact: Kathryn Powley | k.powley@latrobe.edu.au | 9479 3491 | 0456 764 371