Victoria's Gippsland Region

Gippsland stretches from Melbourne's east to the tip of Victoria with 200 kilometres of coastline, inland lakes and some of the state's most productive farmland. It's a region that is leading Victoria’s energy transition with Australia's largest offshore wind zone and two proposed Renewable Energy Zones creating a wave of new employment that will define Gippsland for decades to come.

Gippsland region at a glance

Key towns: Traralgon, Warragul, Sale, Bairnsdale, Moe, Morwell, Wonthaggi, Lakes Entrance, Leongatha, Drouin.
Distance to Melbourne by V/Line train: Warragul 70mins, Traralgon 1hr 40min, Sale 2hrs approx 
Population: 311,000+
Universities: Federation University
Hospitals: Latrobe Regional Hospital (Traralgon), Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Sale Hospital 
Average temperatures: 12-24°c (Summer), 5-13°c (Winter)

Employment and career opportunities

Gippsland's workforce has grown by more than 12% since 2019. The regional economy generates more than $24 billion a year, and employment across the region spans energy, dairy and food production, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, education and a rapidly growing visitor economy.

Renewable energy and the energy transition

Gippsland is at the centre of Victoria's energy future. It contains Australia's largest offshore wind zone (from Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory) with two proposed Renewable Energy Zones on land as well. For engineers, project managers, environmental scientists, electrical trades and logistics professionals, the scale of investment under way here represents a long-term career opportunity.

Agriculture, dairy, and food manufacturing

Gippsland's food and fibre (wool and timber) sector contributes $2 billion to the economy each year and supports more than 14,000 jobs. Gippsland has one of the largest dairy industries in Australia, complemented by vegetable growing, fruit production, and aquaculture. These industries support jobs in processing, quality assurance, food science, and supply chain.

Healthcare

Healthcare is one of the region's largest employers. Latrobe Regional Hospital and Sale Hospital, supported by community health services across the region's towns, create ongoing demand for nurses, allied health professionals, and community support workers.

Defence and advanced manufacturing

If you are skilled in aviation, engineering, logistics, and administration, the RAAF Base East Sale is a significant employer to consider. The Gippsland Logistics and Manufacturing Precinct in Morwell brings together advanced manufacturing, transport, and logistics in a purpose-built industrial site, with up to 1,000 jobs forecast once fully operational.

Education and research

Federation University is the region's primary higher education institution, with campuses across Gippsland. TAFE Gippsland operates 13 campuses across nine locations between Morwell and Lakes Entrance, creating teaching, student services, and administrative roles across the region.

Major employers

Major employers include: Latrobe Regional Hospital, Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, RAAF Base East Sale, Federation University, TAFE Gippsland, Patties Pies, Bega Dairy, Saputo Dairy, Maffra Cheese, One Harvest, Flavorite, and energy sector businesses.

Housing

Housing across Gippsland offers strong value, with significant differences depending on how close you want to be to Melbourne. Towns like Warragul and Drouin sit within an hour of the city by V/Line train and offer green, spacious living which can be highly appealing to families.

Further east, towns like Traralgon, Sale, and Bairnsdale offer good-sized homes at very affordable prices, with all the services of a well-established regional centre. South Gippsland towns (Leongatha, Korumburra) and the coastal communities of the Bass Coast offer a quieter pace of life with strong community character.

Education

Schools

Government and independent schools operate throughout the region, from early learning through to secondary level. Both major centres and smaller towns are well served, with schools known for their close connections to the communities around them.

TAFE

TAFE Gippsland runs 13 campuses across 9 locations from Warragul to Lakes Entrance, making vocational training accessible across the full length of the region. Technology Enabled Learning Centres extend that reach further into smaller and more remote communities.

University

Federation University's Gippsland campus, located in Churchill, offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across nursing, allied health, education, engineering, IT, and the arts. Its strong industry connections, including with the region's growing energy sector, make it a natural choice for those looking to study and build a career in the region.

Health

Latrobe Regional Hospital in Traralgon is the main public hospital for the Latrobe Valley. It provides a full range of services including emergency, surgical, maternity, mental health, and specialist care, serving a large catchment across the region's most populated area.

In addition, Gippsland features:

• Bairnsdale Regional Health Service - acute and community health services for East Gippsland
• Sale Hospital - servicing the Wellington area
• Urgent Care Clinics - located in Warragul and Moe, open seven days a week, no appointment or referral needed
• Community health services - operate across the region's towns, ensuring GP and allied health access is not confined to the major centres.

And the Virtual Emergency Department is available throughout Victoria too. This free service is available 24 hours and allows you to have a video consultation with Emergency doctors and nurses, providing peace of mind when you need it most.

Transport

By car

If you work in the towns like Traralgon, Morwell, and Moe, you can look forward to commutes of only 15-20 minutes. Connecting to other towns is easy, with the Princes Highway running the length of the region. Driving to Melbourne ranges from about 1hr (Warragul, Drouin) to 2.5hrs (Bairnsdale).

By train

V/Line trains connect Gippsland to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station. It takes about 70 minutes from Warragul and about 2.5hrs to Bairnsdale.

By air

Bairnsdale Airport serves the east of the region with charter and general aviation services. For regular commercial flights, Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is the nearest major hub, accessed via road or train.

Community and culture

Gippsland's communities are defined by a deep connection to place, and a strong sense of local identity that newcomers find easy to become part of.

A food scene built on extraordinary produce

Gippsland has long been one of Victoria's great food-producing regions: dairy, beef, vegetables, seafood, fruit, honey, and some of Australia's finest wine. And now, that produce is driving a food and drink scene that is earning real recognition.

Farm gates, farmers markets, cellar doors, and character-filled cafes have multiplied across the region, from Kilcunda to Maffra, Warragul to Lakes Entrance. There are now 50 independent winemakers in the region, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay earning serious national and international recognition. Cannibal Creek Vineyard in West Gippsland and Narkoojee in Central Gippsland are among those drawing visitors from well beyond the region. In Paynesville, SARDINE, run by a former Vue de Monde head chef, has become one of the most talked-about regional restaurants in Victoria.

Arts and performance

Gippsland's cultural infrastructure has grown significantly in recent years. The Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) in Traralgon is a $42 million, 750-seat venue, one of the best regional performing arts facilities in Victoria, presenting theatre, music, comedy, and dance alongside a community program that keeps the focus local. The West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul serves the region's west with a similarly strong program. The Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale holds a collection of over 4,000 works and hosts the prestigious John Leslie Art Prize annually.

Creative Gippsland, a collaborative initiative across all six of the region's councils, actively supports artists, galleries, and festivals, and organises the annual Gippsland May Arts Celebration across the region.

The regional cultural calendar includes:

Vocational training options in the region include:

• Bruthen Blues and Arts Festival
• Inverloch Jazz Festival
• Gippsland May Arts Celebration
• Open Studios West Gippsland
• East Gippsland Plein Air Festival

An extraordinary natural environment

The region draws 8.9 million visitors a year and the attractions they come for are the same ones residents live alongside every day:

• Phillip Island - home to the world-famous Penguin Parade, one of Australia's most visited wildlife experiences.
• Gippsland Lakes - covering more than 360 square kms, this Ramsar-listed wetland of international significance supports dolphins, pelicans, koalas and 300 native species. Boating, fishing, kayaking, and waterfront dining are part of everyday life for people who live here.
• Wilsons Promontory - Victoria's largest coastal wilderness area. 50,000 hectares of national park features mountains, beaches, walking tracks and abundant wildlife.
• Baw Baw snowfields - alpine resort, offering skiing and snowboarding in winter and hiking and mountain biking in summer.
• Plus more than 200 parks and reserves across the region, and Ninety Mile Beach, one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of coastline in the world.

Aboriginal First Nations Communities

Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) are the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. They are the primary source of advice and knowledge on matters relating to Aboriginal places or Aboriginal objects in their region.

In the Gippsland region, the main RAPs are:

• Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
• Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation

Aboriginal First Nations Communities

Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) are the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. They are the primary source of advice and knowledge on matters relating to Aboriginal places or Aboriginal objects in their region.

In the Gippsland region, the main RAPs are:

• Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
• Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation

Settlement support

A range of settlement services operate across the region to help you and your family get established. Local councils and community organisations provide practical support: from language assistance and employment pathways to social connection and help understanding local services.

Local councils in the region are:

• Bass Coast Shire
• Baw Baw Shire
• East Gippsland Shire
• Latrobe City
• South Gippsland Shire
• Wellington Shire

Community organisations include:

Latrobe Community Health Service, Morwell

Region at a glance