La Trobe University will create a state-of-the-art $5 million Health and Biomedical Sciences Teaching and Research Hub with clinical teaching spaces

The project will be a boost for Bendigo students in the early years of studying nursing, midwifery, biomedical sciences and allied health subjects and will increase the University’s ability to meet local industry demand for access to research laboratories.

The funding, announced by Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards as part of the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF) in response to the significant impact of COVID-19 on the sector, will be matched by La Trobe University.

The project will transform the fourth floor of the Bendigo Campus Engineering & Technology Building, providing access to a world-class teaching and research facility for La Trobe students and will also have the potential to support local organisations requiring access to continuing professional development and laboratory facilities.

The Health and Biomedical Sciences Teaching and Research Hub will include:

• A range of simulated healthcare environments including hospital and other healthcare settings
• An anatomy lab with state-of-the-art technology to ensure best practice learning and teaching
• Creation of up to two research labs spaces for industry partners to fit out at a later date to meet their specific needs
• Collaborative team spaces for students to engage with peers and academics in high impact learning experiences
• Break out spaces to foster peer networking and reflective practice

Announcing the funding at La Trobe’s Bendigo campus, Maree Edwards MP said: “Not only will this facility  provide great training  and job opportunities for local students, but it also firmly puts Bendigo on the map as a destination  for world-class health education and research.”

La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO said the new facilities, to be completed by December 2022, will provide Bendigo students, researchers and industry with access to impressive purpose-built facilities.

“The Government investment will help provide teaching and learning facilities that will enable many of the next generation of Bendigo health workers to gain their qualifications in an inspiring, state-of-the-art facility,” Professor Dewar said.

“La Trobe University is home to Australia’s largest rural health school, and we are firmly committed to building Victoria’s regional health workforce, and to supporting rural and regional health research.  We welcome our regional industry partners to join us on campus to utilise these brand-new laboratories when they become available.”