Wednesday, 13 August 2025

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:37): I rise this evening to make a statement on a report. I am pleased to speak on the La Trobe University 2024 annual report and to reflect on the vital role that this institution plays in my community and more broadly across Victoria. La Trobe University is not just an educational landmark in Melbourne’s north-east; simply put, it is a place of opportunity, inclusion and innovation. I know this from personal experience, because while I was raising my two young children, which was some time ago, I completed my masters degree in law and conflict resolution by coursework. I had moved interstate with my young family and was navigating the challenges of study, parenting and a new community all at once. It was a challenging but also an exhilarating time. The rapport I received from the La Trobe staff at the university, the flexibility of the programs and its delivery of the curriculum and the encouragement of the community made all those years possible. It was not without its challenges, though.

It is a privilege to represent a region that is home to such a remarkable university. The Allan Labor government’s investment in La Trobe University continues to deliver transformative outcomes. The state has helped to establish the Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation. On a slight tangent, a representative recently spoke at the electorate officer conference organised by the Department of Parliamentary Services to help some of our staff better understand AI and the impacts it might have on their roles. The Allan Labor government also has supported the bio-innovation hubs and cutting-edge clinical teaching facilities at Bundoora, Bendigo, Mildura and Albury–Wodonga. This is directly addressing critical shortages in nursing, allied health and psychology. These are all professions that are in much demand in our community.

Our government’s renewed commitment to international education will further extend this impact. Through the Yes to International Students Fund, 16 Victorian universities and TAFEs will share up to $5 million to grow their global reach. La Trobe University will use its funding to connect Chinese students with Victorian startups in an IT and business program in Thailand and to host study tours for students from South-East Asia. These initiatives not only expand Victoria’s education presence abroad but also connect our industries to emerging global talent. International education generated $15.9 billion for Victoria’s economy in 2024, and it also supported 64,000 jobs, growth that must be sustained by calling on the federal government to remove caps on international student numbers.

La Trobe continues to lead in equity and inclusion, ranking 10th globally for gender equality in the Times Higher Education university impact rankings. Programs such as the reducing gender-based violence network are improving safety for women in Australia and internationally, whilst the RISE Indigenous pathways program has delivered the largest Indigenous student cohort in the university’s history, and that is something to be very proud of.

International students remain central to La Trobe’s identity, with students from over 120 countries enriching its campuses. In 2024, 33,500 students participated in career-ready advantage programs, and more than a quarter undertake placements with industry partners including Deloitte, Cisco, Medibank and BioNTech, ensuring graduates are prepared for the jobs of the future.

Accessibility is about more than program delivery; it is also about physical connection. The Suburban Rail Loop will also connect La Trobe University to Melbourne’s broader rail network, linking it to key education, employment and health precincts as well as Melbourne Airport. This new orbital rail line will make it easier than ever for students, staff and visitors from across Melbourne and beyond to reach the campus while also creating vibrant precincts and opportunities for housing, jobs and community facilities around the new stations. For my region this is a once-in-a-generation project that will place La Trobe University at the heart of a modern connected city.

The annual report makes clear that La Trobe University is more than a place of learning. It is a driver of social and economic progress in Victoria, a champion of equity and a proud anchor in my community, and I commend the report to the house.