For families with children, and for professionals thinking about their own development, the quality and availability of education is one of the most important factors in choosing where to live. Regional Victoria has a strong education offering across all levels, in every region.
Early childhood and childcare
Long day care, family day care, and kindergarten programs operate across regional Victoria’s towns and cities. For families with young children, the Australian Government’s childcare subsidy applies regardless of where you live, meaning regional families access the same federal support as those in major cities, often with lower overall costs of living to match.
Kindergarten is funded by the Victorian Government for all children in the year before school, and most regional towns have kindergarten programs either attached to primary schools or run through local early childhood centres.
For families arriving from overseas, early childhood settings are also often a natural first point of community connection, for children and parents alike.
Having moved to Victoria with her husband in 2020, Sarah looks forward to future opportunities in Victoria for her career and her young children's education: "Victoria’s excellent education, stunning natural beauty, and abundant career opportunities make it an ideal place for personal and professional growth." – Sarah (Htoo Htet Myat) from Thailand.
Schools
Quality government and independent schools operate across all of regional Victoria's major centres and many of its smaller towns. Class sizes in regional schools are often smaller than those in big cities, and the community connection between schools, families, and the towns they serve tends to be closer and more direct.
For families arriving from overseas, regional schools are experienced in welcoming students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Many schools have English as an Additional Language programs and dedicated support for students transitioning into the Australian curriculum.
Universities and TAFE
Regional Victoria has a well-established network of university and vocational campuses, each with their own research strengths, student communities and local industry connections.
Universities
- Deakin University has multiple campuses in Geelong and Warrnambool
- Federation University operates across the Grampians and Gippsland regions.
- La Trobe University has campuses in Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura, and Wodonga.
- The Australian Catholic University and Charles Sturt University also have a regional Victoria presence, and Monash University's School of Rural Health operates in the Loddon Mallee region.
- The University of Melbourne has a regional presence through its Dookie agricultural campus and its Rural Health Academic Centre in Shepparton.
TAFE and vocational training
For skilled migrants seeking to upskill, gain local qualifications, or transition into a new field, regional Technical and Further Education (TAFEs) provide accessible and practical pathways.
- TAFE Gippsland offers vocational education across 13 campuses throughout the region.
- Bendigo TAFE operates in Bendigo, Echuca, and Castlemaine.
- Sunraysia TAFE serves the Loddon Mallee.
- GOTAFE operates across the Hume region, including co-located campuses with university partners.
Region | Universities | TAFE | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Barwon South West | Deakin University (Geelong, Warrnambool) | Gordon TAFE | Geelong's education system rated among the best of any Australian city |
Grampians | Federation University, Australian Catholic University | Federation TAFE | Strong vocational and trades training in Ballarat |
Hume | La Trobe University (Shepparton, Wodonga), Melbourne University, Charles Sturt University | GOTAFE (multiple campuses) | Strong health, agriculture, and food science programs aligned to the region's key industries |
Loddon Mallee | La Trobe University (Bendigo, Mildura), Monash University School of Rural Health | Bendigo TAFE, Sunraysia TAFE | Bendigo – UNESCO City of Gastronomy; strong culinary and hospitality training |
Gippsland | Federation University | TAFE Gippsland (13 campuses) | Technology Enabled Learning Centres expand access across rural communities |
After completing his bachelor’s degree in busy Kathmandu, Ayush was ready for a change from city life and was drawn to the quieter pace and open space of regional Victoria. As an information technology graduate, he chose La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus for a master’s degree in Internet of Things (IoT). “Life in Bendigo offers work-life balance and freedom.”