Solving the equity gap for regional students
As someone who has worked in regional education for over a decade, Cherie Dyde knows well the unique challenges that regional students can face.
Since 2019, Cherie and her team have been delivering targeted support to students across regional Victoria through La Trobe's Regional Pathways Program – a tailored initiative that's helping more students to see themselves as “university material” for the first time.
When I speak with students in Albury-Wodonga, Mildura, Bendigo, or Shepparton about their futures, I often hear the same hesitation “I’d love to go to uni but...”
That hesitation isn’t about actual ability. It’s about confidence and belief in that ability. It’s about knowledge, knowing what they can do and how they can get there. It’s also about the very real barriers that regional students face when thinking of a future that includes higher education.
The Regional Pathways Program is our response to a persistent equity gap that sees regional students underrepresented in universities, despite their talent and potential.
The story begins with a regional school principal reaching out to La Trobe, deeply concerned about the number of students disengaging from education in their final years of high school, particularly in Year 12. These were capable students who were losing momentum, unsure of what came next and unconvinced that university was a viable option. That conversation became a catalyst for the development of the Regional Pathways Program.
That hesitation isn’t about actual ability. It’s about confidence and belief in that ability.
Having grown up in the Albury-Wodonga area, I understood this concern deeply. I was the first in my family to attend university, and I remember what it felt like navigating those final years of high school in the 1990s being uncertain, isolated, and unsure of what came next. The truth is many of the barriers I faced then haven’t changed. That conversation confirmed what many of us working in regional education already knew, we needed a new approach to help students not only stay engaged through Year 12, but also see a clear, supported pathway into tertiary study. To have someone who believes they can do it, someone who sees potential and is there to help them see it too.
Regional students face a unique set of challenges. Many attend schools with limited subject offerings and fewer resources to support academic extension or career exploration. The nearest university campus might be hours away, making it feel distant and scary without that sense of community that they know and understand. In contrast, metropolitan students often benefit from proximity to universities, a wider range of subject choices, and a culture where tertiary education is seen as the obvious next step.
The Regional Pathways Program was developed in close collaboration with schools, families, and communities across regional Victoria. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a tailored initiative that recognises the strengths and needs of each school and its community. Piloted in Albury-Wodonga and then launched across all our regional campuses, the Regional Pathways Program has supported hundreds of students across our Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, and Shepparton regions.
The students who benefit from this program are diverse, but they share a common thread, community is important. Many want to study teaching, nursing, social work, or allied health – fields that are in high demand across regional Victoria.
Each year, we pitch the program to all Year 11 students at participating schools, and students self-select into it. Some already aspire to university, some are sitting on the fence, and others are looking for support to complete Year 12. As Program Director, I’ve seen firsthand how this model works. We embed dedicated Senior Coordinators and university students acting as role models in schools to guide students through the program, to assist and support them on a fortnightly basis.
Students complete university preparation subjects that build transferable academic skills and confidence. Alongside this, they receive mentoring, career guidance, literacy tutoring, and transition support. Students also receive a conditional offer into the majority of La Trobe University courses, which sets an attainable ATAR target. This helps reduce the pressure students often feel around final results, while giving them a clear goal to work toward and the motivation to stay engaged through Year 12.
The students who benefit from this program are diverse, but they share a common thread, community is important. Many want to study teaching, nursing, social work, or allied health – fields that are in high demand across regional Victoria.
As someone who has worked in regional education for over a decade, I know how powerful it is when a student has that lightbulb moment and sees themselves as “university material” for the first time
By supporting these students into university, we’re not just changing individual lives, we are strengthening the social and economic fabric of entire communities. Graduates are more likely to return home, bringing skills, leadership, and aspiration with them. Most of the university student role models are Alumni from the program demonstrating what can be achieved.
What we are seeing is positive, with around 70% of our students progressing toward university either directly for secondary school or through TAFE, diploma programs, or enabling pathways. Student feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and demand from schools continues to grow as more communities and donors within these communities see the value of the program.
Looking ahead, we’re exploring ways to expand the program to more schools and regions. We’re building stronger partnerships with local industries developing digital delivery models to reach students in even the most remote corners of the state.
As someone who has worked in regional education for over a decade, I know how powerful it is when a student has that lightbulb moment and sees themselves as “university material” for the first time. I’ve watched students who once doubted their potential walk across the stage at graduation and even continue their education journey into a PhD.
The Regional Pathways Program isn’t just about access. It’s about belief – ours in them, and theirs in themselves.
And that, I believe, is how real change begins.
How you can make a difference
Donors have already given hundreds of regional students a real chance at a brighter future – this program would not exist without their support. With continued investment, we can scale a proven model to reach more schools, support more students, and strengthen the long-term social and economic future of regional Victoria.