At La Trobe, we want your voice to be the driving force behind meaningful change. Through surveys and consultations, we have gain valuable insights into your experience at uni and ideas about how we can better support you. This is why we ask you to engage in our surveys like the La Trobe Experience Survey (LES) and the Student Experience Survey (SES) as well as providing ongoing feedback opportunities like we do for SSAF!
Results and insight that you have given us have informed a range of improvements and actions to enhance academic policies, campus facilities and overall student life for you!
We’re continuing to invest to support and improve your experience at La Trobe, based on your feedback. In the La Trobe Experience Survey (LES) in both 2023 and 2024, La Trobe students have consistently said that the following three factors were the most important to their experience at uni:
- learning and study support
- technology to support learning
- wellbeing and counselling support
By knowing that these factors are the most important to you, we are focusing on developing and delivering initiatives that address and improve your experience in these factors. Here’s a snapshot of initiatives we’ve delivered so far in 2024.
2024 Initiatives
Based on the La Trobe Experience Survey (LES) results from 2023, we’ve delivered a range of initiatives that have already had an impact on your experience at uni in 2024 – and there’s already plans underway for even more improvements to your uni life!
SSAF
In 2023 we found out that a lot of students reported not knowing a lot about the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), and what this fee is used to fund at La Trobe. Because of this, we designed and shared more information about what SSAF is, and how it helps students across our channels. You might have noticed “Supporting by SSAF” stickers at campus facilities, and badges worn by staff. Already in 2024, students like you have reported an increase in their awareness of SSAF.
We’re always interested to know what you think about SSAF, and you can submit feedback to us anytime!
Students as Partners Network
This year, we are working closely with the student community to improve how we partner with students. That’s why we’ve created the Students as Partners Network. The network aims to connect widely and deeply with a diverse range of students to engage in meaningful discussions that assist the University to improve student experience with student-led initiatives. Find out more and get involved!
Student life and events
On-campus and virtual events are an important way for you to connect with other students. From our surveys we were very happy to see a positive increase in student satisfaction and involvement in our events and student engagement, we saw:
- a significant increase in the number of students who opted very satisfied and satisfied for Library run events, programs and spaces. It increased from 38% in 2023 to 61% in 2024.
- in 2024 Students clubs and societies gained massive popularity, increasing from 17% in 2023 to 59% in 2024.
To help you plan your uni social life and find student events at La Trobe, we’ve developed our Student Events Calendar. From free food and music to club meetups, we’ve always got something going on!
Support services
From April 2024, we’ve made positive changes to the delivery of our frontline services, like ASK La Trobe and Student Advising, to better serve you and meet your needs. In April and May this year, we asked you via the MyLaTrobe Instagram your preference for contacting ASK La Trobe, and 60% of you told us you prefer to talk to someone face-to-face on campus. ASK La Trobe is now available to support you each weekday (Monday to Friday) between 9 am and 5 pm via the following options:
- On-campus support in the ASK La Trobe Help Zone
- LiveChat
- Phone: 1300 LA TROBE (1300 528 762 – option 1)
These changes to how you can connect with ASK La Trobe have reduced wait times across all the contact options, including during peak periods. The time you wait when you call ASK La Trobe has reduced by 80%, and the wait time in the Help Zone has decreased by 25%. We know at busy times you sometimes have to wait, but we think these reductions should improve your experience when you contact ASK La Trobe.
We’ve also begun offering new on campus face-to-face drop-ins with our Student Advisors at our campuses.
Safety
We have been prioritising enhancing our safe and respectful community at La Trobe through our Safe and Respected at La Trobe campaign that raises awareness about sexual harm and the support we provide through Safer Community services. It also helps prevent further harm from occurring. We want to protect our students and staff and foster a safer environment for everyone in our community.
Safer Community is a free, confidential support service for La Trobe staff and students to report concerning, threatening, inappropriate or uncomfortable behaviour they may have experienced or witnessed at the University. They can provide advice and information to support you as well as referrals to help resolve your concerns to keep you and others safe.
We have also embedded the Respectful Behaviour and Culture Module as compulsory for all new students at La Trobe, setting the standard for the culture at La Trobe.
Since the launch of the Semester 1 Safe and Respected at La Trobe campaign, we have seen a 60% increase in reports to Safer Community. Now more students than ever know how to access support and we’re taking an active stance to promote appropriate behaviours to keep you safe.
By actively listening and responding to feedback, we are committed to creating an environment where every student can thrive and succeed at La Trobe.
Make sure you take part in the next opportunity the share your feedback in Semester 2, via QILT SES. You’ll even go into the draw to win vouchers, brand new headphones or a laptop!
