Media releases

The Wimmera’s teaching workforce is set to get a boost, with Federation University Australia offering an education degree at Horsham in 2024 thanks to the support of the Victorian Government. 

This year, students can enrol in Bachelor of Education Studies at the Wimmera Campus, allowing them to study closer to home, where they can maintain ties to their community. 

With a focus on enrolling education support staff already working in Victorian government schools in the Wimmera region, this tailored version of the course will allow participants to continue to work in their education support roles in their employer schools while they study. 

After successfully completing the first year of the course, students will be eligible to transfer to the second year of Federation’s Bachelor of Education (Primary) or Bachelor of Secondary Education - which the University hopes to eventually offer from its Wimmera Campus - to complete their teaching qualifications. 

The initiative is a partnership with the Department of Education aimed at addressing regional teaching workforce shortages. According to the Victorian Skills Authority, graduates in the Education and Training sector will continue to be in demand in the Wimmera Southern Mallee, with close to 200 new workers required by 2025.  

An initial cohort of students has been identified to enrol in the Bachelor of Education Studies for semester one 2024. 

For more information on this new initiative, please contact Federation University at diracop.ieac@federation.edu.au 

Quotes attributable to Federation University Executive Dean of the Institute of Education, Arts and Community, Professor Jenene Burke 

“Federation University has a key role to play in the prosperity of our regions and we are grateful for the support of the Victorian Government and our industry partners in addressing workforce shortages in regional areas.” 

“We know how critical the education sector is and through this new offering, hope to support students to maintain ties to their local community as they pursue their dreams of becoming the teachers of the future.”  

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, the Hon. Ben Carroll MP 

“This initiative provides an accessible path for experienced education support staff to transition into the teaching workforce.” 

“We’re proud to be supporting schools in the Wimmera region to grow their pipeline of passionate and committed teachers who are already part of their school communities”. 

Quotes attributable to Federation University Wimmera Campus Director, Christine Brown 

“Federation is very excited to add higher education to our growing delivery in the Wimmera and using connected classrooms technology means that distance isn’t a barrier to study and people in our region can take the opportunity to enhance their careers and study locally.”  

“Our students are already embedded within the Wimmera community, and thanks to the support of the Victorian Government are more likely to stay in the region and teach when they’re qualified.”