Bendigo will benefit from an Australian Government push to attract more people to study and work in regional areas, under the Destination Australia Program.
La Trobe University has received almost $4 million to deliver 67 scholarships at its Bendigo campus – more than any other university campus across the country.
A further 27 scholarships have been awarded to La Trobe’s Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton campuses, bringing the total to more than $5.5 million.
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said the scholarships are a vote of confidence in La Trobe’s commitment to support and grow regional communities.
“We know that students who study in a regional area like Bendigo are more likely to live and work in a regional city or town after graduation.
“With rural shortages across the country in professions such as teaching, nursing, social work, medicine, dentistry and allied health, keeping these students in regional areas is vital for the future of these communities,” Professor Dewar said.
Announced by the Minister for Education, the Hon. Dan Tehan, the 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.
Of Bendigo’s 67 scholarships, 18 are for domestic students and 49 for international students.
Head of Campus Mr Robert Stephenson said the scholarships are a welcome addition to a suite of measures the University has put in place to lift higher education participation rates in regional areas.
“These scholarships will add to the many that we already offer at La Trobe to attract students to our regional campuses, including the Regional Benefits Program, Aspire Program and many others,” Mr Stephenson said.
Sixty-seven Destination Australia scholarships were awarded to La Trobe’s Bendigo campus – the largest single number awarded to any campus nationally – with 10 for Albury-Wodonga, eight for Mildura, and nine for Shepparton.
Applications are now open for the scholarships, for study in 2020. Recipients will receive up to $15,000 per annum for up to four years.
