Help create more local heroes

When Amelia began studying a Bachelor of Human Services and Master of Social Work at La Trobe’s Shepparton campus, she was a mature-age student and single mum, balancing university with raising her children.

Amelia loved the sense of connection that came with living in a regional community, from being surrounded by nature to having local people who looked out for one another. It was where she wanted to build her future.

Then COVID hit. With her children learning from home, Amelia had to stop working and lost a significant source of income. Between supporting her family, paying the bills and travelling to campus, the pressure was immense.

“There were many times when I wondered whether I could keep going,” Amelia recalls.

Receiving a scholarship changed that.

“After everything I had been juggling, it felt like someone had finally seen how hard I was working and believed in me. I remember thinking, someone is secretly cheering for me.”

The financial support helped Amelia cover the essentials, from food and bills to travel to university. Just as importantly, it gave her the reassurance she needed to continue.

“The scholarship was the difference between continuing my degree with some level of sanity and dropping out to return to full-time work.”

Creating opportunities for regional students

Amelia’s experience reflects the challenges many regional students face when the cost of studying competes with the cost of everyday life.

La Trobe’s Regional Scholarship Fund helps students experiencing financial hardship overcome these barriers. Donations provide practical support with the costs of university, helping students stay enrolled, complete their degrees and build their futures close to home.

By supporting regional students, you’re also helping develop the skilled workforce local communities need, from social workers and teachers to nurses and other essential professionals.

A future built on giving back

After graduating in 2023, Amelia became an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and established her own practice to support people in her regional community.

Today, she works with individuals and families navigating mental health challenges and complex service systems, helping fill an important gap in access to specialised services in smaller regional towns.

Now, Amelia is giving back to La Trobe students herself, helping create opportunities for the next generation.

“I wanted to pay it forward,” she says. “I know how it feels to have someone believe in you when you’re struggling to believe in yourself.”

A scholarship helped Amelia build a future where she could make a difference. Your gift could help another regional student do the same.

All donations to the Regional Scholarship Fund are tax deductible, and 100% of donations will directly support students who face financial hardship to continue their studies.