Facilities and external services
On-campus facilities
The campus is set on 110 hectares of natural bushland, attracting colourful bird species and resident kangaroos and koalas.
You will find an impressive selection of sporting and leisure facilities:
- Indoor swimming pool/aquatic centre
- Indoor and outdoor tennis courts
- Walking trails, and running tracks
- Two gymnasiums
- Weight training studio
- Heat chamber
- Squash courts
- Canoeing training lake
- Several sports fields
The campus boasts up-to-date teaching and research facilities, library, studios and lecture theatres, and a children's centre.
Mt Helen Campus has a walking trail for staff, students, and the Ballarat community. The trail is 3.8km long and is predominately in the bushland surrounding the campus.
The trail travels through the Arboretum, where you'll see resting kangaroos and wallabies, crosses a creek that holds a vulnerable colony of frogs commonly known as Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia victoriana), and admire the grass trees (Xanthorrhea australis) that grow on the campus behind the accommodation.
The trail is part of the Goldfields Track, which is 210 km in length, beginning in Buninyong and passing through Creswick, Daylesford, Castlemaine, and finishing in Bendigo. The trail was formed in the 1850s by gold prospectors. Find out more at the
Spiritual centre
People of all faiths are welcome at Federation University. At Mt Helen Campus there is a non-denominational prayer room/place of peace and a Muslim prayer room. Chat with a chaplain for spiritual and pastoral care support or any practical matters to do with university life.
For more info visit, prayer rooms
Accommodation
Make campus your home and live with us. The university’s largest campus has three residences, Peter Lalor South Hall, Peter Lalor North Hall, and Bella Guerin Hall.
Our Mt Helen Bella Guerin residence accommodation is located on-campus in a pleasant native bushland setting, only a short walk to classes, lecture theatres, and other campus facilities.
The units are two-storey buildings, each housing 10-11 students with a shared kitchen, living and dining space, and two bathrooms. Free laundry facilities are also available to all residents.
A central quadrangle with an undercover barbecue area is often widely used for recreation and unit functions.
Living on Res not only provides the best possible start to your university experience, fantastic opportunities, invaluable memories, and lifelong friends, but it also represents great value. All bills are included in the weekly rental- including utilities and internet, so there are no hidden costs.
For more info, visit Fedliving
Child Care
The Federation Children's Centre at Mt Helen is conveniently located on campus. The centre can accommodate 80 children, across 5 children's rooms, including a funded 4-year-old kindergarten program, and a new 3 year old kindergarten program commencing 2022.
Children are placed into the appropriate room according to their age and stage of development. High-quality education and care in a flexible, stimulating and inviting environment. Family involvement is encouraged at Federation Children's Centres with regular communications and events, including the annual art show, winter solstice walk and family picnics.
The Mt Helen Centre facilities provide children with the opportunity to learn through play and exploration of the natural bushland surroundings.
For more info, visit FedUni Children's Centre, Mt Helen Campus
Catering
A comprehensive and flexible catering service is available across our campuses. Our onsite catering and events team will work with you to create a tailored package personalised to your tastes, budget and event themes, featuring local produce and gourmet selections.
Fedstore
The Fedstore stocks a range of Federation University branded items, apparel, giftware, and stationery. Visit the online store to browse, with all your purchase sent directly to your home address. Find out more.
Walking Trail
Mt Helen Campus has a walking trail for staff, students and the Ballarat community to utilise. The trail is 3.8km long and is predominately in bushland surrounding the campus.
The trail travels through the Arboretum where you'll see resting kangaroos and wallabies, crosses a creek that holds a vulnerable colony of frogs commonly known as Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia victoriana), and admire the grass trees (Xanthorrhea australis) that grow on the campus behind accommodation.
The trail is part of the Goldfields Track which is 210 km in length beginning in Buninyong and passing through Creswick, Daylesford, Castlemaine and finishing in Bendigo. The trail was formed in the 1850s by gold prospectors. Find out more at theGoldfields Track Victoria