La Trobe University has opened its $21 million Rural Dentistry and Oral Health Clinical School in the centre of Bendigo, creating a facility designed to strengthen the pipeline of dental professionals in regional Australia.
The new Arnold Street premises, within the University’s Clinical Teaching Building and next to Bendigo Health, features 82 simulation workstations, 16 dental chairs, and advanced radiology and digital denture-making equipment. The expanded capacity will allow 150 dentistry and oral health students to enrol each year, providing more opportunities for those pursuing La Trobe’s nationally recognised courses and ensuring graduates are equipped for an evolving profession.
Victorian Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said “this state-of-the-art facility in Bendigo will mean regional students can access world-class dental education close to home—helping to build the workforce we need, where it’s needed”.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said the redevelopment formed part of the University’s $170 million health innovation investment across its Victorian campuses to enhance health education facilities and meet community needs.
“This facility will provide our students with a learning environment that mirrors real clinical practice, boosting their job readiness while also responding to significant community needs for qualified dental professionals across rural and regional Australia,” Professor Farrell said. “The location builds on our strong ties with Bendigo Health and supports the University’s growing footprint in the city’s CBD.”
In 2025, nearly 70 per cent of La Trobe’s dentistry students come from regional postcodes, and more than three per cent identify as Indigenous—double the previous year’s figure. Professor Jane Mills, Dean of the La Trobe Rural Health School and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health Innovation Regional, said regional training was vital to creating a sustainable workforce.
“Research indicates students from rural backgrounds are far more likely to return to practice in rural areas. This is why La Trobe’s investment is so important; it helps break down barriers to access and ensures students can train close to home, using the best technology available,” Professor Mills said.
“Our teaching and research programs are uniquely focused on improving rural oral health and this new facility will accelerate our impact, allowing us to deliver a better student experience while helping grow a skilled and committed workforce for regional communities.”
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) student Sophie Pisani said she chose La Trobe for its “extensive placement” opportunities in regional and rural settings. “Studying and undertaking placements in regional towns has opened my eyes to the opportunities of rural practice,” she said. “This is incredibly valuable in not only developing excellent clinical skills, but also the ability to see and treat a wider variety of cases before we graduate.”
Pisani, now in her fourth year, is working on a research project with West Wimmera Health Service to identify barriers to oral health and develop preventative solutions with local communities. “Dentistry is a field that is rapidly evolving so having access to updated tools and facilities during our training will be extremely valuable,” she said. “It will make the steep learning curve from university into clinical practice a lot easier.”
The Bendigo redevelopment follows the University’s ongoing $23 million upgrade to its nursing, midwifery and allied health facilities at the Flora Hill campus, further expanding its capacity to train students in advanced clinical environments before they enter the workforce.
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