Wrap Up: Regional Career Practitioners’ Conference Bendigo

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Regional Career Practitioners’ Conference at La Trobe University, Bendigo. Held on Wednesday 30 July, the event brought together more than 50 secondary school Career Practitioners from across regional Victoria for a full day of professional development, connection, and insight into current and future opportunities for regional students.

The conference kicked off with a warm welcome from our Head of Campus, Marg O’Rourke, who spoke about La Trobe’s continued investment in regional education. From the opening of new Dental facilities and construction of Nursing Labs to strong community partnerships through sport and industry, The Creative Emporium, and the new student accommodation in town. Marg highlighted the many ways La Trobe is supporting students across the region to thrive.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in a variety of sessions designed to inform and inspire. Dr Balawyn Jones (Law and Criminology) delivered a powerful presentation on the rise of justice-focused pathways and how regional students are stepping into critical social justice roles in their communities.

The VTAC update, led by Engagement Manager Elise Joosten, provided valuable admissions information and gave practitioners a chance to ask questions ahead of the upcoming application season—a session many attendees noted as particularly helpful.

Hands-on science and pharmacy workshops were another highlight of the day, offering a closer look at areas such as Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, and the Rural Medical Pathway—all growing areas of interest for regional students pursuing health-related careers.

Over lunch, attendees heard directly from current La Trobe students during an engaging student panel. Their honest reflections on university life, balancing work and study, and finding their place at La Trobe gave practitioners real-world insights to take back to their schools.

The final session of the day came from Dr Kate Kelly, Associate Dean – Student Experience and Employability for the School of Psychology and public Health, provided updates on the course content and discussed the increasing demand for careers in mental health and behavioural sciences across regional areas.

We’re so grateful to all who attended, presented, and contributed to making the 2025 Regional Career Practitioners’ Conference such a success. Your ongoing support helps strengthen the connection between schools and the university, and most importantly, helps ensure the best outcomes for students across regional Victoria.

We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026!

For more information please contact:

Kristy Kumar
Marketing Advisor | Domestic Student Recruitment
Bendigo

K.Kumar@latrobe.edu.au