AFTER a few lean years due to the pandemic, La Trobe University\u2019s Bendigo campus has seen a large uptick in student offers for the coming year.<\/p>\n
A 20 per cent increase in Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, or VTAC, offers, compared to last year, has helped raise enrolment at La Trobe across the board including in Bendigo.<\/p>\n
Local resident Lara Bish recently received an offer to study rural health at the university and said she\u2019s glad to remain in the area and study close to home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a local girl, so I didn\u2019t really want to move away from family and friends,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut also, there are awesome resources and awesome staff and a lot of good mentors here in Bendigo.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just locals enrolling at the Bendigo campus, with a large increase in international students also expected.<\/p>\n
La Trobe regional pro-vice chancellor, and Lara\u2019s mother, Melanie Bish, said that working alongside the Federal Government has meant being able to attract more international students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are really excited to be able to work with the Australian Government with the destination Australia scholarships to support international students to come out to the regions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very excited and value what international students offer to our communities in terms of contributing to the social and economic fabric.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s boon for the area to have more students for the next few years, the ultimate goal is to get them to stay in Bendigo and other regional areas said Ms Bish.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work integrated learning and clinical placement components of their degree means that we have a high uptake in employment in the regions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we are here to achieve, making sure that we educate locally and create a strong and robust rural and regional workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lara Bish said she hopes her career unfolds this way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping to pursue being a nurse here at Bendigo Health or wherever it\u2019s possible, but I definitely want to stay rural,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
And what does mum Melanie think of her daughter following in her footsteps?<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been a nurse for over 30 years and one of the things that has carried over into my personal life is a really strong value system and I can see that in all of my children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, to have one of those coming to university to pursue a career that\u2019s about service is something that I am particularly proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER a few lean years due to the pandemic, La Trobe University\u2019s Bendigo campus has seen a large uptick in student offers for the coming year. A 20 per cent increase in Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, or VTAC, offers, compared to last year, has helped raise enrolment at La Trobe across the board including in […]<\/p>\n