September 2026

Thankfully, the small number of La Trobe students and staff who were in the region have been accounted for. We are reaching out directly to students from Nepal and Tibet to offer support and ensure they are aware of the assistance they can access during this extremely distressing time. Information about support for both staff and students, along with links for those who would like to donate to recovery efforts, is available on the intranet.

Closer to home, the first signs of spring appearing across Victoria provide a welcome reminder that warmer weather is on the way. We were fortunate that the weather was largely on our side during our 2026 Open Day season, which kicked off with an excellent Bundoora Open Day in early August, followed by terrific events in Mildura and Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, and Bendigo.

Across our regional campus Open Days, visitors explored study options, facilities, and pathways; met with staff and students; and experienced the strong community connections at the heart of La Trobe. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Open Day series such a success.

Our commitment to expanding opportunity, particularly in regional communities, has received a significant boost, with La Trobe awarded $4 million through the Federal Government’s Structural Adjustment Fund. We were one of ten universities nationally recommended for funding by the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) following a competitive process. The investment will help deliver our Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy, enabling us to expand participation across regional Victoria and grow the pipeline of graduates in areas of critical national need, including health and education.

The Structural Adjustment Fund is designed to support universities during the transition to the new Managed Growth Funding and Needs-based Funding System commencing next year. This week, we will be meeting with ATEC Chief Commissioner Professor Barney Glover AO and ATEC Commissioners to discuss La Trobe’s draft 2027 mission-based compact. The meeting is an important opportunity to discuss our strategic priorities and enrolment strategy, La Trobe’s mission to widen participation and serve regional communities, and the next steps towards finalising our compact and Domestic Student Profile for 2027.

The value of universities to Australia’s future has also been in focus recently. Last week, I attended a timely National Press Club address in Canberra by Universities Australia Chair Professor Carolyn Evans, who argued for stronger protection of university autonomy, emphasising that independent universities are essential to a healthy democracy and society. Carolyn also highlighted the sector’s role in preparing students for an AI-shaped future, driving research and innovation, supporting communities across Australia, and contributing to economic growth. She also underscored the value of international students to Australian universities, the economy, and the nation’s global engagement. You can read Carloyn’s speech in full here.

I’d now like to share some recent activities and achievements from across our campuses.

Health innovation

The University’s strength in health innovation has been reflected in several recent achievements.  Kay Crossley, Andrea Bruder, Yuning Hong and John Pierce secured more than $7 million in funding through the highly competitive National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant scheme, which supports Australia’s highest-performing researchers.

The Prep-to-Play program led by Brooke Patterson from the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medical Research Centre, was developed with the AFL to reduce injuries for women and girls playing Australian Rules Football. The program was a finalist in the Industry Engagement category of the 2026 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards.

There has also been recognition of our growing expertise in AI and digital health innovation.

It was great to see Nilmini Wickramasinghe and Nalika Ulapane receive the Best Paper Award at the Australasian Institute of Digital Health’s annual conference in August. Their paper reported on development of a digital twin of the ear in collaboration with La Trobe’s Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation (ACAMI), Optus Digital Health, and the American Academy of Audiology. It’s a great example of the potential for AI to accelerate health innovation by enabling more personalised and precise approaches to diagnosis, treatment and care.

And congratulations to Shanmuga Sundar Dhanabalan on being one of only 11 scientists named a 2026 Victorian Young Tall Poppy by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science for his work to advance healthcare access through development of smart, wearable health devices.

AI leadership

Following Phil Laufenberg’s contribution to a panel on The AI University at the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Summit in Sydney in August, and my recent appearance at the inaugural National AI Skills Forum in Canberra, I’m delighted that La Trobe is now hosting a major international AI conference at our City Campus at 360 Collins Street. The International Conference on Responsible Artificial Intelligence, presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), brings together delegates from more than 40 countries, with over 200 papers being presented alongside an industry workshop day.

Our Professor of AI and Analytics and Co-Director of the La Trobe AI Institute, Daswin De Silva, is a member of the conference Organising Committee and has played a major role in shaping the program, together with colleagues from the La Trobe Business School. Tomorrow, I will give one of the conference keynotes alongside Satya Tammareddy from OpenAI and Craig Scroggie, CEO and Managing Director of NEXTDC. Our session will explore the technology and infrastructure that powers AI, and how people and organisations can develop the skills and capabilities needed to turn its potential into real-world impact.

It was also terrific to see ABC News report on the School of Education’s AI-trained robot that is helping student teachers practise managing conflict with parents. We have also launched Australia’s first Bachelor of AI Engineering (Honours), co-designed with industry partners Cisco and Rockwell Automation.

Islamic Art Prize

Congratulations to Melbourne artist Lara Chamas on being awarded the 2026 Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize. Sponsored by La Trobe, the Prize is an important part of our partnership with the Islamic Museum of Australia, supporting cross-cultural understanding and connection, particularly among communities across Melbourne’s north. My thanks to Sue Bennett, our Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), who presented the Prize, and Karen Annett and Amelia Wallin from the La Trobe Art Institute, who were part of the Prize selection committee. The winning work, Dawa Ahmar (‘red medicine’), is a mosaic recreation of the artist’s grandmother’s prayer mat and will be on show until 7 November as part of the Australian Muslim Artists exhibition at the Islamic Museum of Australia in Thornbury.

Upcoming events

On 15 September, Indigenous leader Travis Lovett, former Deputy Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, will present the University’s annual Sir John Quick Public Lecture at the Capital Theatre in Bendigo. Travis’ lecture, Who Owns the Water? From Colonial Control to Indigenous Water Justice, will draw on Traditional Owner voices to articulate pathways towards Indigenous water justice that can deliver greater water efficiency and establish Indigenous water rights and embed them in Treaty negotiations. The lecture will be followed by drinks and nibbles at the La Trobe Art Institute. You can register here.

On 16 September, the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), our School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, and the Eagleworks Innovation Centre are presenting an exclusive seminar for the La Trobe research community featuring experts from BioNTech Australia. This is a unique opportunity to hear from world-leading scientists about development of new mRNA-based medicines for oncology and infectious diseases. You can register here to attend online or in person at the Digital Innovation Hub at the Bundoora campus.

Finally, on Friday 25 September, the AFL Grand Final public holiday, La Trobe Sport is presenting its annual community movement event, Run La Trobe, at the Bundoora campus. Designed to foster connection across the La Trobe community and support physical and mental wellbeing, the day includes a 1km Kids Run, 5km Walk, 5km Run, and 10km Run. I encourage you to get involved, whether you’re running, walking or simply coming along to enjoy the day. More information and registration details are available here.

In closing

Please consider nominating a colleague or team for our new Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Awards designed to recognise staff contributions that advance our strategic ambitions and create meaningful impact for the University and our communities. Nominations close on Monday 28 September.

I look forward to speaking with you at our all-staff event on 15 September, when we will reflect on the progress we have made against our targets and priorities since launching our Strategic Plan last year.

Best wishes,

Theo