Career Practitioner Conference 2025 wrap-up
Career Practitioners Conference in the West Lecture Theatre, Melbourne Campus.
In February, La Trobe University hosted 200 career practitioners from across Victoria at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus for the 2025 Career Practitioners’ Conference. The annual event provides an opportunity for the University to share its achievements over the past year and future direction. This included an update from Dr Stacey Farraway, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Future Growth) highlighting two of the universities’ key priorities that are deeply connected to the future success of our students and graduates. La Trobe’s work to deliver skills development and address workforce shortages through health innovation and through our evidence-based teacher education programs.
Career Practitioners Conference in the West Lecture Theatre, Melbourne Campus.
The keynote speaker at this year’s event was Dr Jennifer Spoor from The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. Jennifer provided career practitioners with a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and the impact of neurodivergence on secondary school students’ career planning. Jennifer led the audience through an inspiring presentation exploring conditions including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. She shared practical strategies that career practitioners can use for effective communication and enabling practitioners to create a supportive environment and inclusive career guidance for all students. We were fortunate to be joined by renowned illustrator Alice Edy who beautifully captured the presentation through illustration.
Dr Jennifer Spoor, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, and illustration by Alice Edy
Career Practitioners heard it here first from VTAC’s Elise Joosten, with their first in-person update of the year for schools. This covered what to expect with the new application platform for 2025/2026, changes to SEAS applications, and other updates.
VTAC – DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
Academics from various Undergraduate courses ran informative seminars for the career practitioners. This provided them with further insight into La Trobe’s course offerings, pathways and career outcomes for students. Seminar streams included Sport, Law plus IT and Engineering, Nursing and Midwifery, Arts plus working with Animals, and Education, Health Sciences and Health Information Management, plus Business vs Commerce.
KEYNOTE – Neurodiversity and Career Planning: DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
Alice Edy Illustration of Keynote: DOWNLOAD ILLUSTRATION
Stream 1 – Sport, Law, IT and Engineering: DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
Stream 2 – Nursing & Midwifery, Arts and Working with Animals: DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
Stream 3 – Education, Health Science and Health Information Management and Business vs Commerce: DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION
Career Practitioners at conference seminar with La Trobe academic.
The day wrapped up with meaningful discussions over lunch and gelato, providing practitioners with a chance to connect and exchange their experiences in supporting students.
Career Practitioners networking.
Speakers at the event included Alex Sims, Director Domestic Student Recruitment; Dr Stacey Farraway, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Future Growth); Dr Jennifer Spoor, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre; Elise Joosten, VTAC; Professor Russell Hoye; Associate Professor Madelaine Chiam; Dr Scott Mann; Associate Professor Remi Rajasekaran; Dr Maria Murphy; Kathryn Salamone; Sharon Mumford; Dr Nicholas Barry; Associate Professor Marisa Collins; Associate Professor Richard Peters; Dr Dilanhi Premaratna; Dr Elise Hunkin; Stephanie Gjorgioski; Dr Prabhat Lamichhane; Dr David Walker; and renowned illustrator Alice Edy.
A special thank you to those who were able to attend and make the day such a great success.