Employment opportunities in growing regions: trending destinations to live and study

Brought to you by Federation University Australia

More and more Australians and international students are choosing to make the move away from Melbourne and Sydney. The impact of COVID-19 helped drive regional growth in 2020, but the trend has continued as more people choose to live outside Australia’s biggest cities.

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows record numbers of people moved to regional areas last year, with almost 43,000 people leaving major cities for new horizons and opportunities.

At Federation University, our regional Victorian campuses in Ballarat and Gippsland offer fantastic opportunities to join this trend and study in these growing communities. You’ll benefit from the lower cost of living, more relaxed lifestyle and great job opportunities in a less competitive environment.

And if you still see yourself as more of a ‘city-slicker’, don’t worry: our campuses in Berwick (Melbourne) and Brisbane (Queensland) also have everything you need to get ahead.

Employment opportunities through industry connections

There’s a common misconception that job opportunities are limited if you’re not living in Melbourne or Sydney, but we’re here to tell you that’s wrong! With strong industry connections and inbuilt placement opportunities as part of our degrees across all of our campuses, you’ll have many opportunities to develop your networking and practical skills from the moment you start your study.

Innovation and entrepreneurship thrive at our regional locations

Our industry partnerships are underpinned by our network of technology parks – innovation precincts that foster collaborations, employment placements and research opportunities. Established in 1995, our Ballarat city centre, Mt Helen and Gippsland precincts now combine to make the largest regional technology parks in Australia.

Our technology parks are home to major organisations, including IBM^®, one of the world’s leading technology companies. IBM^® has been a longstanding partner with Federation University for 25 years. Together, we work closely in IT course delivery and in providing work placement opportunities for information technology and business students. Other leading companies at our technology parks include Concentrix, a global customer experience services and technologies company, and the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute that undertakes internationally recognised research into the treatment of cancer.

Prosperous partnerships in Brisbane

In Brisbane, we make full use of industry connections through an extensive network of partnerships with the city’s leading businesses. Industry partners include River CityLabs, Arc, STEMPunks, CoderDojo and Concentrix. These global leaders are instrumental for students to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting and gain invaluable professional experience through work-integrated learning modules and placements.

Hear from international student Trong about his scholarship-supported work experiences with IBM.

Government incentives to go regional

Living in a regional area such as Ballarat or Gippsland also provides the opportunity to benefit from an attractive range of government incentives*. This includes the ability to apply for a four-year post-study work visa, priority processing on regional visas and access to the Regional Occupations Lists, with a wider selection of listed jobs. Compared to two years post-study work in a capital city, it’s certainly worth considering going regional.

With personalised support, high quality teaching and outstanding graduate outcomes, apply today to secure your future.

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^{* For further details on the Australian Federal Government’s announcement, visit www.pm.gov.au/media/morrison-government-increases-regional-migration-target. International students should refer to immigration to confirm eligibility requirements. These are subject to change.}