The world is changing rapidly – and experts have warned regional centres may get left behind if businesses fail to foster innovation.
Last week, 13 La Trobe University students were put to the test as they aimed to solve the barriers preventing organisations in Albury, in regional New South Wales, from embracing a culture of innovation.
Domestic and international students from La Trobe’s Bundoora, Victoria, and Albury-Wodonga campuses identified factors such as time and resource constraints that hindered businesses from leveraging opportunities in rural communities.
The initiative was part of La Trobe Rural Health School’s annual five-day Rural Innovation Sprint, in partnership with Albury City Council and the University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship team.
The Sprint offered students from diverse fields across finance, IT, finance, health, analytics, psychology and veterinary science a platform to work closely on real-world problems with three regional businesses, including Align Work Health, Mercy Connect and Formulae Compounding Pharmacists.
Shared commitment to innovation
Albury-Wodonga Head of Campus Dr Guinever Threlkeld says La Trobe was proud of its strong local industry connections and shared commitments to innovation.
“This year’s Sprint attracted highly qualified students, many with tech and health expertise. Exposing these students to regional opportunities, like those in Albury, is crucial to highlighting the potential for innovation,” he says.
“Students engaged in a structured process using design, prototyping and testing to develop tangible solutions. They’re now equipped with the skills needed to work on real projects that have measurable outcomes, while leaving a lasting impact on Albury businesses and the broader community.”
Its existing creativity and innovation, exemplified by the way its annual events endeavoured to create meaningful moments for the community made Albury an ideal case study for this Sprint.
“AlburyCity is proud to be part of this initiative, partnering with La Trobe University and local businesses to foster innovation within our community and create a unique opportunity for cross-sector collaboration,” Mayor Kevin Mack says.
Caroline Cummins, CEO of Mercy Connect, says the not-for-profit organisation participated because of the way it aligned with its core values.
“We believe that collaboration is key to driving innovation and creating solutions for real-world challenges,” she says.
“By harnessing the knowledge and ideas of students, we aim to not only push the boundaries of what’s possible but also contribute to a sustainable, outcomes-focused future.”
Putting ideas into action
Since its inception in 2022, Rural Innovation Sprint Coordinator Dr Brad Hodge has led more than seven successful cohorts of students to generate actionable ideas and solutions to regional-specific problems.
Hodge says this Sprint highlighted the huge potential for innovation, despite often limited resources in regional areas compared with urban communities, and the importance of a mindset shift to unleashing this potential.
“The real barrier isn’t a lack of creativity; it’s overcoming the fear of failure,” he says.
“We need to create an environment where people are empowered to take risks and failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than a setback.
“With the right mindset and support, regional centres like Albury-Wodonga can build on their established resilience and innovative cultures for a sustainable future.”
