Building local futures

For Abby, the dream of becoming a teacher began in Year 9. Growing up in the small towns of Millgrove, and later Shepparton, she found herself drawn to subjects like maths, cooking, business, and health – and quietly, she started imagining her future. But in regional Victoria, complications including distance, a lack of local role models and information on career pathways, the road to university isn't always clear.

“I always loved learning,” says Abby. “But it wasn’t until Year 9 that I really started thinking seriously about university and the opportunities it could open for me. I knew I wanted to study education, so I made sure to choose subjects that I needed to pursue that career.”

In her final years of high school, Abby worked hard to meet her goal – her determination eventually leading her to La Trobe University’s Regional Pathways Program in Year 12. Students from across regional Victoria can choose to join the program, taking an active step toward their future while receiving tailored guidance from La Trobe staff and current university students. Together, these role models help regional students transition from high school to higher education.

“The program showed me that there isn’t just one way to get into university,” she explains. “It gave me confidence knowing there were multiple ways to meet my end goal, and the facilitators were always there to support us through a period like Year 12 that was quite stressful.”

Now, Abby is a first-year student at La Trobe University, studying an Associate Degree of Teacher Education – the first step toward her dream program, a Bachelor of Education.  She’s also working in a local primary school as an education support worker, applying what she’s learning in real time.

Being able to study locally at La Trobe’s Shepparton campus has also been a huge benefit to Abby. It means she can continue to work in retail and hospitality, stay close to her family and friends, and contribute to her community while pursuing her future.

What makes Abby’s story even more inspiring is that she’s come full circle. Today, she’s a Student Facilitator for the very program that helped her get ahead. “I really enjoy being able to connect with students who are in the same position I was in not long ago,” she says. “It excites me to reassure them and inspire them to keep striving, even if their pathways might look different to others. I believe that first-hand experience from your peers is so valuable when you’re going through Year 12 yourself."

Looking ahead, Abby is excited about the future. “I want to be the kind of teacher who encourages students believe in themselves,” she says. “I’m passionate about creating a positive and inclusive classroom, to be able to contribute new ideas and approaches to the changing education sector. Ultimately, I want to make a lasting impact on the lives of my students and be a role model who shows them the value of lifelong learning!”

Abby’s story is a powerful example of how the Regional Pathways Program is opening doors for students in regional Australia – one confident, passionate future teacher at a time.