A major new health clinic has opened at La Trobe University, expanding access to allied health services in Melbourne’s north while helping to address Australia’s continuing critical health workforce shortage.
The $82 million La Trobe Health Clinic at the University’s Bundoora campus will provide affordable, student‑led allied health services including audiology, dietetics, physiotherapy, psychology, orthoptics, occupational therapy, speech pathology and podiatry. This will give students hands‑on experience in a real‑world healthcare environment under clinical supervision.
The clinic, which was officially opened by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll on 11 June, will be the largest multidisciplinary university clinic in Victoria and is part of La Trobe’s $170 million investment in health innovation statewide.
Vice‑Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said the new facility reflected a response to both community need and national workforce pressures.
“Australia is facing a serious shortage of health professionals and universities have a responsibility to be part of the solution,” Professor Farrell said.
“This new clinical teaching building brings together high‑quality education and affordable health services, delivering immediate benefits for communities in Melbourne’s north while preparing more job‑ready health professionals for the future.”
Once fully operational from 15 June, the La Trobe Health Clinic will help train an additional 400 allied health professionals each year from 2026, contributing to the University’s goal of graduating 5000 additional healthcare professionals by 2030.
La Trobe’s $170 million investment in health innovation includes new facilities across Victoria, including already operational nursing and midwifery clinical simulation facilities in Bundoora, Bendigo, Wodonga and Mildura, and a new dentistry and oral health clinical school in Bendigo.
The new facility is also a key element of La Trobe University City, a major long-term development to transform the 235-hectare Bundoora campus into a vibrant city that will include world-class sports, research and innovation, education, commercial, retail and residential developments.
Fourth-year podiatry student Daniel Raiter moved from Perth to study at La Trobe. He has been working with patients since the second year of his studies and said La Trobe was known for its hands-on teaching, which would now be expanded in the new health clinic.
“Not only do we learn in the classroom, but in the clinic we get exposed to a far larger array of things,” he said. “For me, the best part of podiatry is being able to integrate a social environment with helping people. Being able to make a difference in someone’s life is really amazing.”
Tamanah Rahim is also in her final year, completing her Bachelor of Orthoptics (Honours). She chose La Trobe because of its strong reputation in allied health and hands-on clinical experience.
Tamanah said the new health clinic would be an incredible opportunity for future students because it provides a modern, professional and collaborative healthcare environment to learn in.
“This valuable initiative reflects how much La Trobe values both student learning and community healthcare,” she said.
Professor Farrell said La Trobe’s investment in health infrastructure was designed to deliver long‑term impact beyond the campus.
“By embedding clinical training within a working health service, we are giving students the confidence and practical experience they need to enter the workforce, while also improving access to care for people who need it most.”
The clinic was developed and financed by leading infrastructure developer Plenary Group – the first project since the University published its $5 billion University City masterplan.
Plenary Group CEO Paul Crowe said his team was proud to be involved in the clinic, which was delivered on budget and two months ahead of time.
“This is the first of many projects we look forward to realising in partnership with La Trobe, to deliver on the promise of the University City.”
