Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga will benefit from an Australian Government push to attract more people to study and work in regional areas, under the Destination Australia Program.
Announced by the Minister for Education and Youth, the Hon. Alan Tudge, La Trobe University has received $1.8 million to deliver 30 scholarships at its regional campuses – more than any other Australian university.
This follows the University receiving a record 94 scholarships in the first round of the program for study in 2020.
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO said the scholarships have already made a significant difference to the University’s local communities, with the real benefits likely to be experienced for years to come.
“Now more than ever regional communities are experiencing critical workforce shortages in areas such as nursing, teaching, social work, dentistry and allied health,” Professor Dewar said.
“Many of our Destination Australia scholarship recipients are eager to finish their studies, and find work in local hospitals, schools, community health centres and private practice.
“This injection of highly skilled, career-ready graduates, who have come to know and love regional life, will benefit those communities for years to come,” Professor Dewar said.
Destination Australia Program seeks to attract and support international and domestic students to study in regional Australia, to grow and develop regional Australian tertiary education providers and offer students a high-quality learning experience.
La Trobe’s first allocation of scholarships was awarded to students from a wide range of countries including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong and the UK, as well as Australia.
Courses of study include nursing, biomedical science, dental science, social work, business, engineering, teaching and IT and computer science.
Ninety-two per cent of students indicated they would, or were likely, to continue living in regional Australia after graduation.
Of La Trobe’s scholarships for study in 2022, 20 are for domestic students and 10 for international students.
Applications are now open for the scholarships. Recipients will receive up to $15,000 per annum for up to four years.
