Surge in Gippsland healthcare students caring for the region
Darcy Giddings.
Federation University Australia is playing a vital role in strengthening Gippsland’s healthcare workforce, with recent student census data revealing a surge in enrolments across allied health courses.
The University’s Gippsland campus has seen strong growth in student numbers across physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology, reflecting both industry demand and student interest.
In 2025, 164 students are enrolled in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy, up from 108 in 2023. Speech pathology enrolments have nearly doubled in the same period, from 101 to 198, while Occupational Therapy numbers have grown from 76 to 91.
This growth is part of Federation University’s broader commitment to building a sustainable, local healthcare workforce and addressing critical skill shortages in the region. The University’s education-to-employment pipeline is designed to support key industries including healthcare, aged care, engineering, agriculture, construction, and education.
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy, launched in 2021 with support from the Victorian Government, was developed in response to the 2019 Gippsland Future Health and Community Services Workforce report, which projected a significant increase in demand for physiotherapists in the region.
In 2025, the first cohort of 22 locally trained physiotherapy graduates entered the workforce with nearly all securing job offers before completing their studies.
Among the new students drawn to the Gippsland campus is Darcy Giddings, a first-year Physiotherapy student and recipient of Federation’s 2025 Elite Athlete Scholarship.
Darcy, who represented Australia at the U20 World Championships in 2024, chooses to travel over 2.5 hours each way, twice a week, from Geelong to Gippsland for the quality and reputation of Federation’s physio program.
“Being involved in sport, I’ve always been focussed on how I can better my performance and maintain optimal health to work towards my goals,” Darcy said.
“I found myself asking questions about how to improve my physical capabilities and felt studying physiotherapy could help answer those questions.
“It’s a career path that I feel passionate about and offers financial stability. The variety in physiotherapy excites me every day can be different, which keeps things fresh and rewarding.”
Federation University’s impact on the health sector extends across regional, rural, and metropolitan Victoria, with strong partnerships with key health providers such as Latrobe Regional Health, West Gippsland Health Service, and Bass Coast Health. These collaborations ensure that Gippsland communities benefit directly from a growing, skilled, and locally trained healthcare workforce.
Community health needs are also driving Federation’s innovation. With wait times for some public allied health services in Gippsland exceeding eight months, such gaps in service availability have driven Federation University to develop innovative, community-focused solutions that expand access and reduce delays in care.
Professor Remco Polman, Federation University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, and Executive Dean, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, highlighted the urgent need for more allied health professional in the region.
“Gippsland has a significant shortage of allied health workers and an aging allied health workforce which results in reduced access, long waiting times and unsafe work environments impacting the care and wellbeing of its population. Per capita, Gippsland has the fewest health professionals compared to the rest of Australia.
“At Federation University we are committed to keep pace with the growing demand for healthcare professionals by educating future physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists and nurses locally. We provide first class facilities and educational experiences which will help to build the local allied health workforce.”
In addition to on-campus learning, Federation is expanding access to its Physiotherapy Virtual Care Clinic (FPVCC) which provides free telehealth services to people living with chronic musculoskeletal, neurological, or cardiorespiratory conditions. Since launching in August 2023, the clinic has delivered over 1,500 consultations and supported 44 students in gaining real-world experience under the supervision of experienced clinicians.
To further improve access, the University has launched satellite hubs across the Latrobe Valley that provide private spaces and technology for community members who cannot access telehealth at home. The first hub opened at Churchill Neighbourhood Centre, and a second has now launched at Gippsland Multicultural Services (GMS) in Morwell. These hubs are helping to remove barriers to care and support people living with chronic conditions, particularly in communities where access to healthcare can be limited.