Ambitious Regional Growth Strategy unveiled

As part of its focus on expanding what the University offers to regional students, our new strategy aims to grow enrolments in our on-campus, hybrid and online courses by four times the growth rate of the domestic student population in regional Victoria by 2030.

Achieving this goal will narrow the gap between metropolitan and regional higher education participation across our campus network by a third.

La Trobe's Chancellor, the Hon. John Brumby AO, said the new Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy 2030 would greatly improve higher education access as well as create a skilled workforce for regional Victoria's economic and social prosperity.

“Fewer than 20 per cent of regional, rural and remote Australians attend university, yet the Australian Universities Accord has set a national higher education participation target of 55 per cent by 2050,” Mr Brumby said.

“The bold targets outlined in La Trobe’s new Regional Growth Strategy 2030 will contribute to reducing the gap between metropolitan and regional higher education participation and boosting the skilled workforce in areas of greatest need such as health and education.”

More than 650,000 people live in the regions covered by the University’s campuses. La Trobe’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said these regional economies generated over $25.7 billion in gross added value in 2023, with the main employment sectors of health, agriculture and social care.

“By driving innovation and jobs growth through research and industry partnerships in areas like health and agriculture, of which La Trobe is already a research leader, our ambition is to create vibrant and inclusive communities that will flourish economically, culturally and socially well into the future,” Professor Farrell said.

Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy 2030 – highlights

Built around three strategic pillars of reformed education for regional learners, research that drives regional development and vibrant, multipurpose regional campuses, highlights of the Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy 2030 include:

• Regional student growth targets (on-campus, hybrid, online) of 6,700 EFTSL (Equivalent Full Time Student Load) by 2030 – amount to over 60% increase on 2024 EFTSL and reducing by a third the gap between metropolitan and regional participation in higher education.
• Continued growth in online courses (which have seen growth of +130% enrolments from our regional catchments since 2019).
• Raising funds for 1,000 scholarships for regional students undertaking on-campus and hybrid courses by 2030.
• Development of more short courses and micro-credentials, in consultation with employers.
• Double the number of regional co-located industry partners from 8 in 2024 to 16 by 2030, reinforcing La Trobe’s position as a partner of choice for regional innovation.
• Entrepreneurship programs leveraged to support regional start-ups and connect researchers and local business to foster regional innovation ecosystems.
• Double usage of our regional campus facilities, with 10 community organisations working out of our regional campuses.
• A minimum of 150 alumni actively engaged in our regional student mentorship program.

Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional) Elizabeth Capp said through its regional campus network, La Trobe was well positioned to lead place-based economic and social development in collaboration with regional industry, local community and across all tiers of government.

“La Trobe has accelerated regional innovation with more than $73 million being invested in new, state-of-the-art health and teaching facilities across the four regional campuses,” Elizabeth said.

“Our strong partnerships with organisations such as Deloitte, Agriculture Victoria and the Bendigo Tech School have allowed us to respond directly to local industry needs, while giving partners access to La Trobe’s research strengths through flexible modes of co-location.

“In doing so, we’re creating stronger local ecosystems where innovation, employment and entrepreneurship thrives.”

Ian Trevorah, Deloitte Managing Partner Victoria and La Trobe University alumnus, said: “We are proud to be a major regional partner of La Trobe University through our Digital Operations Delivery Centre located at the University’s Bendigo campus.

“We know how important it is to develop local skills and capabilities and to provide the employment opportunities that will help address the digital and technology skills shortage, particularly in our regions.”

La Trobe programs, including its award-winning employment-based Nexus teaching pathway, fully online MBA and end-to-end Rural Medical Pathway, are helping more people upskill without leaving their communities.

Swapping her remote Mallee town of Sea Lake for La Trobe’s Bendigo campus, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) student Kate Alday is on a mission to become a doctor who fosters trust in the community.

“Growing up on a farm in such a small community, I developed a deep appreciation for the resilience and strength of people in rural areas across healthcare, agriculture and education,” Kate said.

“La Trobe’s continuing commitment to regional impact directly appeals to my core values and lived experience; building a healthcare workforce that’s more likely to stay in the country long-term.

“The Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy 2030 can create real, sustainable change by equipping future doctors like myself with the tools, context and resources to deliver high quality care in rural communities; ultimately, closing the gap in health status between metropolitan and regional, rural and remote Australia.”

PHOTO (L-R):  Dr Corina Modderman (Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead for Social Work), Elizabeth Capp (Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Regional), Abby Hill (Pathway first-year student in Associate Degree of Teaching), the Hon. John Brumby AO (La Trobe University Chancellor), Professor Theo Farrell (La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor and Jenna Hearn (Committee for Greater Shepparton).