August 18th, 2025Better dentist access

More dentistry and oral health students living in and around Bendigo can now access the very best equipment and education closer to home – thanks to major facility upgrades at La Trobe University.

Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan today joined students and staff to open La Trobe University’s Rural Dentistry and Oral Health Clinical School in the heart of Bendigo.

The new facility features 82 simulation workstations and 16 dental chairs, as well as new advanced radiology and digital denture-making equipment – ensuring more students have the best facilities and lab spaces they need to learn in before they graduate.

Last year, nearly 80 per cent of La Trobe’s dentistry students were from regional Victoria, compared to just 13 per cent in 2019.

Regional enrolments are set to grow even further, with La Trobe expecting a 58 per cent  increase in dentistry and oral health enrolments in Bendigo by 2030 – an additional 50 to 55 dentistry and oral health students are set to graduate annually from 2030.

The redevelopment is part of the University’s $170 million health innovation investment across all Victorian campuses to strengthen health education facilities and deliver high-quality care to communities.