Community and Surrounds

All La Trobe University’s campuses are in the state of Victoria, in the south-east of Australia.

La Trobe University’s main campus is located in Melbourne (Bundoora). Melbourne is Victoria’s capital city and the second largest city in Australia. It is often regarded as the cultural capital of Australia and for three consecutive years, was voted the world’s most livable city by the London based Economic Intelligence Unit. With a population of 3.5 million people, originating from 153 different countries, Melbourne is also famous for its multi-culturalism.

The city is renowned, world-wide, for its leading contribution to the Arts. Melbourne hosts international film, arts, and comedy festivals, as well as regular music performances, art exhibitions, opera, theatre programs and community festivals. Melbourne is the home of Aussie Rules Football and many major sporting events including the Australian Tennis Open, the Melbourne Cup, the Motorcycle and Formula One Grand Prix. In 2006, the city was the proud host of the XVIII Commonwealth Games.

La Trobe University courses are also offered to international students and ADS recipients at La Trobe’s Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga and Melbourne (City) campuses. Bendigo campus is situated in a city of 92,000 people, a little over 90 minutes drive from Melbourne, and Albury-Wodonga campus is located in a major Australian regional centre, home to 105,000 people and approximately three hours drive from Melbourne. La Trobe’s Melbourne (City) campus has a postgraduate focus.

All La Trobe’s campuses offer access to Melbourne’s and Victoria’s tourist attractions, including beaches, national parks, the Great Ocean Road, wineries and city attractions.

Climate

In summer (December to February), the temperature ranges from 14 to 35 degrees celsius. In winter (June to August), the temperature ranges from 7 to 14 degrees.

Cost of Living and Accommodation

As a guide, it is estimated that students will need between $A13,000 and $A16,000 a year to cover accommodation, food, transport, text books, clothing, health services, entertainment, etc. Students with families will need to allow about $A10,000 per year for their spouse and $A8,000 for each child who accompanies them to Australia.

La Trobe University’s Melbourne (Bundoora), Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campuses all offer excellent on-campus accommodation. For further information and rates, please see: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/international/accommodation/

There are also a wide range of off-campus accommodation options.

La Trobe University offers a temporary accommodation booking service for students to ensure immediate accommodation following arrival in Melbourne. See:
Latrobe University website

Campus Descriptions

La Trobe University has seven campuses, with courses offered to international students and ADS recipients at four campuses: Melbourne (Bundoora), Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga and Melbourne (City).

La Trobe’s main campus is located at Melbourne (Bundoora), 14 kilometres (8.5 miles) from Melbourne’s city centre and easily accessed by public transport. The campus covers 330 hectares (approximately 500 acres) of beautiful parkland with its own waterways and has its own on-campus Australian wildlife sanctuary.

There are more than 17,000 students at Melbourne (Bundoora) and the campus is a complete community. There is a full range of services and facilities such as retail outlets (books, clothing, hairdresser, travel agent, and newsagent), a regular weekly market, an optometrist, banks, a post office, cinema and sporting facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts and gym. The Borchardt Library offers world-class library facilities.

Bendigo campus is the University’s second largest campus and is located in the beautiful, heritage city of Bendigo. The campus is situated on 33 hectares of attractive bushland, three kilometres from the city centre. The 400 staff and 4,000 students at the Bendigo campus have access to a full range of services and facilities.

Albury-Wodonga campus is a major regional campus with over 1,100 students. The campus is located in Victoria in the city of Wodonga, with the city of Albury just across the Murray River in New South Wales. On campus facilities include state-of-the-art lecture theatres, a Health Sciences building with sophisticated practice laboratories, the David Mann library, well-equipped computer and Internet facilities, and sports grounds.

La Trobe’s Melbourne (City) campus is currently located in Franklin Street in Melbourne’s city centre and has a postgraduate and Health Sciences focus. Plans for a new City campus in the Argus Building in La Trobe Street are currently underway.

For more information, please see: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/campuses

International Student Population

La Trobe University has more than 26,500 students including around 3,000 international students from over 60 countries, and 3,000 staff (2006 statistics). This diversity ensures a safe, supportive study environment for all international students.

Family and Community Services

La Trobe University’s International Student Support Services offers specialised information for students with families.

First aid for minor medical procedures is available on campus and there are medical centres on or within easy reach of La Trobe’s main campuses. Melbourne has several public and private hospitals and quality hospital care is also available in Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga.

For ADS students with school-aged dependants, there are a number of public and private schools close to La Trobe campuses. For a list of schools, please contact the University as above or consult the Victorian Department of Education website:

http://www.study.vic.gov.au

Melbourne has a strong multi-cultural community with a number of ethnic organisations and multi-lingual radio stations, newspapers and magazines. Community organisations also operate in Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga.

Child-care Facilities

Child care facilities, providing both full-time and sessional care, are available at the following three campuses. Please refer to the relevant website below for further information, including up-to-date costs:

Melbourne (Bundoora):
www.latrobe.edu.au/child

Albury Wodonga:
www.latrobe.edu.au/otd/aw/childcarectr.html

Bendigo:
www.jira-runga.com.au

Facilities for Special Needs

The Equity and Access Unit (EAU) provides academic support to enrolled students with a disability. The range of services provided varies according to the needs of each student following evaluation. Service may include: in-class supports (e.g. note-takers), Auslan interpreters, out-of-class tutorial support, liaison with lecturers, alternative exam arrangements and alternative formatting of class materials. ADS students applying to study at La Trobe University who think they may require support should contact the staff at the Equity and Access Unit before they accept an offer to study at La Trobe University. For more information, visit:
www.latrobe.edu.au/equity

Foods for Different Cultures

Australia is well-known for its fresh, quality produce and its diversity of cuisines.

On La Trobe’s Melbourne (Bundoora) campus, there are a number of restaurants and cafés providing a wide range of food including European, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, vegetarian and halal foods. The Plenty Markets nearby and the Queen Victoria Markets are popular choices for fresh produce. There are a wide range of speciality foodstores in Melbourne catering for most cultures. Major supermarkets carry an Asian line. Halal and kosher foods are also available.

La Trobe University’s Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campuses also have on-campus cafes. Both cities have a number of cafes, restaurants, food outlets and markets representing a wide variety of cultures and foodstuffs.

Religious Facilities

Chaplains are available for the pastoral and spiritual care of La Trobe University students. The Chaplains welcome students of all denominations and offer confidential support, friendship and encouragement to people of all ages, cultural and faith backgrounds. Chaplains can offer referrals to places of worship in the community for students of all denominations and religions.

Muslim prayer facilities are available at all campuses. La Trobe University Melbourne (Bundoora) and Bendigo campuses have separate prayer rooms and ablution facilities for men and women on campus. A room for prayer is available at Albury-Wodonga campus on request.

Public Transport

Most students coming from overseas will arrive at Melbourne (Tullamarine) airport. The airport is located about 20 kilometres from Melbourne city centre. La Trobe University offers a free airport reception service for all ADS students, ensuring easy

transport to your accommodation. See: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/international/predeparture/airport.html

All campuses are in easy access of public transport. Melbourne (Bundoora) campus is located in Zone 1 (the cheapest zone for travel in metropolitan Melbourne) and is about 30 minutes from the city centre by bus and about 45 minutes by tram. For update prices on Zone 1 daily and weekly tickets and

Melbourne public transport maps, please see: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

For students at Bendigo campus, buses run between the University, city and other locations on a regular basis. From Albury-Wodonga campus, a bus runs into the central shopping districts three times a day during the week and on Saturday morning.

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