La Trobe University to Graduate 5,000+ Healthcare Workers Annually by 2030

Professor Theo Farrell Applauds Federal Government’s Decision to Revoke MD107 for More Equitable Student Processing

Ministerial Direction 107 (MD107) was a policy issued by the Australian Government that governed how international students were allocated to Australian universities. The policy particularly impacted how universities were able to enrol and manage international students, with certain guidelines favouring larger metropolitan universities over smaller, regional, or outer metropolitan institutions.

Recently, La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell, expressed that the Federal Government’s decision to revoke MD107 would bring much-needed certainty to Australian universities and allow for more equitable processing of international students. This change would be especially beneficial for smaller universities and those in outer metropolitan and regional areas.

Professor Farrell criticized MD107 as an inequitable tool that favoured large metropolitan universities at the expense of smaller ones, leading to staff, course, and service cuts that negatively impacted students. He welcomed the Federal Government's decision to address these concerns, highlighting that the new approach would help universities like La Trobe tackle workforce shortages in health and education, particularly in regional areas. He also emphasized the historical connection between international students and Australian universities, dating back to the Colombo Plan of the 1950s. He noted that international students are crucial for financial stability, knowledge exchange, and enhancing Australia's soft diplomacy.

At La Trobe, income from international students is being used to invest $170 million in a health innovation strategy. The university aims to become the largest producer of domestic health graduates in Australia, addressing the shortage of nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals by graduating over 5,000 healthcare workers annually by 2030. It was further emphasized that this investment would ensure that communities across Melbourne, as well as rural and regional areas of Victoria, would have the critical workforce needed to meet community demands. The university also expressed its eagerness to work collaboratively with the government to ensure the successful implementation of the new arrangements.

The revocation of MD107 is expected to lead to more equitable processing of international students, benefiting smaller and regional universities. The move also supported initiatives to address workforce shortages, particularly in health and education, by leveraging investments from international student income.

Editor's Note:

The revocation of MD107 is a significant step towards supporting smaller and regional universities, fostering a more equitable environment for the allocation of international students across Australian institutions. As universities adjust to this new framework, addressing critical workforce shortages in health and education will play a crucial role in shaping Australia's future. For example, La Trobe University is using income from international students to invest $170 million in a health innovation strategy, to produce over 5,000 healthcare graduates annually by 2030.

Skoobuzz believes the university’s commitment to collaborating with the government highlights the importance of this transformation in meeting Australia’s workforce needs.