La Trobe University, Bendigo

⏰ The countdown to Open Day starts now!

Check out what we've got planned for this year 👉https://brnw.ch/21x3rhW

(Register and attend for your chance to win a $1,000 gift card!)

We know physical activity improves health outcomes, but what happens when exercise programs aren't prescribed, delivered or followed as planned?

Join internationally recognised exercise physiologist Professor Michael Kingsley for the inaugural Holsworth Oration, where he'll explore why exercise dose and program fidelity are critical to achieving real-world health benefits.

Read more 👉 https://brnw.ch/21x3n8U

One million children are meant to receive child support each year.

Proposed changes will help them in some ways, but fall short of addressing big problems, writes Bruce Smyth, La Trobe Professor of Family Studies.

The government is reforming child support. Here’s what’s changing – and what’s been missed One million children are meant to receive child support each year. Proposed changes will help them in some ways, but fall short of addressing big problems.

Growing up in Bendigo, third-year Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery student Emerson Sim always felt a strong connection to her local community.

"I chose to study midwifery because I've always been drawn to caring for and supporting women and families during such a special and vulnerable time in their lives. Growing up in Bendigo, I've always felt really connected to my community and knew I wanted to study locally and hopefully work here in the future."

For Emerson, La Trobe's Rural Health School was the perfect choice.

"La Trobe Rural Health School felt like the perfect fit because it allowed me to stay close to home while studying something I'm truly passionate about. I've loved being able to learn in a regional setting and gain hands-on experience while still being supported throughout my degree."

One of the highlights of her studies has been the opportunity to complete placements across rural Victoria.

"My placements have been one of the most meaningful parts of studying midwifery so far. I've been really fortunate to experience placements across different hospitals throughout rural Victoria, which has allowed me to see the unique role midwives play within smaller communities."

Being able to support women and families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period has only strengthened Emerson's passion for the profession.

"Each placement has helped me grow not only in my clinical skills but also in confidence and self-belief. There have been moments that have challenged me emotionally, but they've also been the moments that remind me why I chose midwifery.

One of the biggest challenges for me has been learning how to balance university, placements, work and everyday life. Over time, I've learnt the importance of asking for help and leaning on the support around me.

I've also made some really close friendships throughout the course, which has made such a difference because you're all going through the same experiences and supporting each other along the way."

Emerson is equally grateful for the support of her lecturers and clinical educators.

"The teaching staff at La Trobe have been amazing — they're always so supportive and approachable, and you can really tell they want you to succeed. Having that support from both friends and lecturers has made my uni experience really enjoyable and something I'm so grateful for."

Looking ahead, Emerson hopes to continue building her skills and one day work locally at Bendigo Health.

"Completing placement there really helped me realise how much I enjoy the hospital environment and being part of the team. It's somewhere I can genuinely see myself building my future career."

For anyone considering a career in midwifery, Emerson has some simple advice:

"Don't stress if you don't have everything figured out straight away. Just take things one step at a time and be open to learning, because you grow so much throughout the course without even realising it.

Say yes to opportunities, especially placements, even if they feel a little scary at first, because that's where you gain the most confidence and really fall in love with midwifery."

Can exercise really be medicine?

Join us for the 2026 Holsworth Oration featuring internationally recognised exercise physiologist Professor Michael Kingsley, Dean of Science at the University of Auckland and Director of the Holsworth Research Initiative.

Professor Kingsley will explore how exercise can be used as an effective medicine, and why both the dose and fidelity of exercise are critical in determining its impact on health and wellbeing.

🎟️ Registrations are essential: https://brnw.ch/21x3dKK

The future workforce requires a new generation of graduates who possess an AI-first mindset, not just familiarity with the tools.

“We are a university that is deeply committed to supporting our students to succeed, so it’s self-evident that we must equip them with an AI-first mindset, not just a smattering of AI skills,” says Vice Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell.

“This means we need to transform ourselves as a university to be AI-first, to integrate AI right across our curriculum as well as provide profession-specific AI skills training to our graduates.”

In 2027, we are set to launch one of Australia’s first MBAs focused on AI, as well as industry-aligned training programs and micro-credentials for upskilling professionals with practical knowledge of AI technologies.

Discover how we're combining emerging technology, innovation and sustainable thinking into our teaching, learning and research to produce responsible AI-ready graduates who feel confident and prepared for the challenges ahead 👇

Graduating with an AI-first mindset La Trobe University is working with industry to produce AI-ready graduates who are equipped to drive transformation and innovation.

It was a pleasure to welcome students from PSB Academy in Singapore to our Campus as part of their recent La Trobe study tour.

During their visit, students explored our campus and laboratories, connected with staff and students, and got hands-on with applied learning experiences – including a fun lip gloss formulation workshop 🧪💄✨

The visit offered a great insight into what it's like to study in regional Victoria, showcasing the opportunities, facilities and supportive community that make La Trobe Bendigo such a special place to learn and grow 🤩

🌱 What happens when decades of farming knowledge are combined with the processing power of AI?

Agriculture is one of Australia’s biggest users of fresh water, and inefficient irrigation can lead to significant waste.

Distinguished Professor Wei Xiang's bight idea, developed with ag-tech company Aglantis, is an AI-powered smart irrigation platform that replaces one-size-fits-all watering routines with precise, data-driven decisions tailored to each crop — and it's just won a 2026 Financial Review AI Award for Sustainability!

Since 2024, the platform has been rolled out across North Queensland. A network of solar-powered field devices monitor soil moisture, temperature, humidity, valve positions and flow rates, feeding data into a crop simulation engine. It gives farmers receive clear, practical advice on when and how much to irrigate, helping them respond quickly to changing conditions and avoid overwatering 🌤️

Early results show:

🚰 water savings of around 20%
⚡ electricity costs reduced by 50%
🌾 30-45% in labour savings
⛽ Hundreds of litres of diesel saved annually

“AI has the potential to fundamentally reshape Australian farming,” says Prof Xiang, our Cisco Research Chair of AI and IoT. "By integrating sensors, AI and real-time environmental monitoring, we can support more resilient farming systems for Australia, and worldwide".