The Advertiser understands the campus nurse position has been in Bendigo for more than 10 years.

The campus will continue to operate with a full-time bulk-billing GP.

The decision to axe the position has angered La Trobe University students who have set up a page on the social networking site, Facebook, calling for the nurse to be reinstated. The group is called 'Save the Bendigo Campus Nurse' and has 314 members.

La Trobe University executive director Andrew Skewes said he could not comment on whether

the campus nurse position had been axed, because it related to an employee and individual privacy.

He said the campus nurse role had predominantly been funded by the student compulsory general services fee (GSF).

This was abolished by the then Federal Government in 2007.

“The campus has been without a full-time nurse on campus for 12 months,” he said.

“For a small part of last year, the campus operated with a part-time casual nurse.

“What we can say is that the campus supports the health of students and staff through many processes and systems, such as OH&S and first aid training.

“Additionally at Bendigo, supporting the presence of a bulk-billing medical clinic on campus - which students and staff can access.”

“Unlike other campuses, La Trobe Bendigo supports a full-time bulk-billing GP clinic operating from the student services area.”