La Trobe tips hats to latest cohort of graduates

The graduation ceremony on March 13 at the Wodonga Cube celebrated the students' achievements in front of family and friends.

Half of this year's cohort graduated on Thursday afternoon with a Bachelor of Nursing, cementing La Trobe's reputation as a leader in world-class health education.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said graduations were an opportunity for the University community to celebrate the achievements of La Trobe students as they embark on their future careers.

"Our graduates are making a real difference in communities across regional Victoria and beyond," Professor Farrell said.

"With over 93 per cent of our Rural Health School graduates in 2024 securing employment, La Trobe is ensuring that our graduates are leaving their courses with real-world skills that are highly valued by employers."

Six graduates from the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) have progressed into the second phase of their end-to-end Rural Medical Pathway program - a Victorian-first initiative by La Trobe and the University of Melbourne - that addresses the critical need for doctors in regional areas.

For graduate Valluvan Thillairajah, kickstarting his rural medicine career at La Trobe was an ideal choice, having spent part of his childhood in Albury.

"It was so good returning to the community I so dearly loved being part of growing up and this undergraduate has set me up well for the Doctor of Medicine," Valluvan said.

"With Australia facing a chronic maldistribution of doctors, initiatives like this are important steps towards fixing the dire situation rural communities face."

Albury-Wodonga Head of Campus, Dr Guinever Threlkeld, reinforced the University's commitment to education, research and community engagement.

"Our campus is more than a place of learning - it's a hub for connection, innovation and regional progress," Dr Threlkeld said.

"From our state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Suites to our two research centres, we are addressing regional challenges and preparing our graduates to create lasting change. I encourage our new alumni to stay connected."

Beyond Thursday's ceremony, La Trobe remains dedicated to shaping the region's future. Programs such as the Regional Pathways Program, supporting Year 11 and 12 students, are helping ensure more young people access higher education, transforming lives and strengthening the regional workforce.

Media Contact

Jess Whitty - [email protected], 0481 383 817