Students celebrate graduation day

LA Trobe University’s Bendigo students celebrated their graduation on Tuesday with a ceremony at Ulumbarra Theatre.

Over 850 students completed their studies in 2022 in several disciplines including nursing, dentistry, education, social work, business, and law.

Bendigo campus director Dr Julie Rudner said the wider community was set to benefit as the graduates made their way into the workforce.

“The pride we have in our Bendigo students cannot be understated,” she said. “The skills and knowledge they will bring to the communities in which they pursue their careers will be invaluable.

“As the university looks to the future, it remains committed to supporting regional communities and helping to address the skills shortages that are so often felt in Bendigo.”

One of Tuesday’s graduates was Macey Stephen. She earned a qualification in agri-business and said she was thrilled to receive her degree.

“It’s fantastic, feels like a long time coming,” she said. “I have always had an interest in it and knew I wanted to do something in that field.

“I just love everything about the agri-business industry, and it was great to have the opportunity to pursue it after high school.

“The classes I did in high school led perfectly into this course and I have the background from growing up on a farm.”

Ms Stephen has already found employment and said she liked the company she was working for while still being able to live in Bendigo.

“We’re a global company with offices here in Bendigo as well as in Sydney, America, London and other places,” she said.

“The people I work with are awesome and it’s great to work for a global company here in Bendigo.”

Though her schooling days may now be over for now, Ms Stephen said she will always look back fondly at her time at La Trobe.

“La Trobe Bendigo was great,” she said, “It was awesome to meet new people, to be taught by such knowledgeable lecturers and make new lifelong friends.”