Bendigo Education Shift: Officials and Experts Weigh In on New Policies and Opportunities

Bendigo's education landscape is poised for change, with state officials outlining a series of reforms intended to boost regional school performance and increase funding for La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus. Education Minister Allison Roberts emphasized the government’s commitment to regional education during a recent roundtable in Bendigo, while local experts highlighted both challenges and opportunities arising from these policy shifts.

The timing of this focus on education follows the Victorian government's release in June 2026 of a $78 million package targeted at improving infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and student support services across regional Victoria. This package aims to address longstanding disparities between metropolitan and regional education outcomes, a priority intensified by ongoing population growth and workforce demands in regional centres like Bendigo.

Local Impact and Institutional Responses

For Bendigo, where the La Trobe University regional campus serves as an anchor for higher education and research, the reforms signal promising developments. The campus on Flora Hill Drive plans to expand its Health Sciences programs in partnership with the nearby Bendigo Health campus, which recently completed a $150 million capital expansion. Dr. Marcus Fielding, dean of the La Trobe Bendigo campus, notes that increased funding could enable the recruitment of specialised faculty and enhance clinical placements for students, strengthening the region’s health workforce pipeline.

Meanwhile, Bendigo South East College and Eaglehawk Secondary College, two of the city’s largest secondary schools, stand to benefit from new allocations aimed at improving STEM education facilities. Bendigo South East College, on Burke Street, is scheduled to receive $2.5 million for a state-of-the-art science wing, while Eaglehawk Secondary on Church Street will receive investment to upgrade its digital learning infrastructure. According to regional education officer Michelle Brown, these improvements are vital to keeping pace with the evolving job market and supporting students from diverse backgrounds, including the region’s Indigenous communities.

Data and Perspectives Highlight Regional Priorities

Recent data from the Victorian Department of Education reveals that regional Victoria’s Year 12 completion rate has climbed modestly over the past five years, reaching 85.3% in 2025, still below the metropolitan average of 90.6%. The department’s report also highlights teacher shortages in rural areas, with Bendigo recording a vacancy rate of 7% this semester, notably higher than in Melbourne schools. This gap underscores officials’ emphasis on incentives for teachers to relocate to regional hubs.

The Victorian School Building Authority has also earmarked Bendigo for an additional $12 million in maintenance and upgrade grants for school grounds and technology improvements through 2027. Experts stress that these investments must be paired with ongoing community engagement to address local needs effectively. Aboriginal education advocates in Bendigo have called for culturally sensitive programming and expanded support at schools like Crusoe College on Napier Street, noting the importance of preserving local Indigenous heritage within the curriculum.

Looking ahead, Bendigo’s education sector anticipates further collaboration between state authorities, local education providers, and industry partners. Parents and students are encouraged to engage with upcoming community forums scheduled at the Bendigo Senior Secondary College’s Drummond Street campus in August. These meetings aim to clarify reform impacts and offer guidance on accessing new educational resources and scholarship programs. For local educators, the next 12 months will be critical to translating funding and policy into measurable improvements for students across the region.