Natasha Joyce has become increasingly concerned the community is ambivalent about the potential 70 positions to be cut from the campus. 

"I don't think Bendigo realises how important La Trobe University is to the economy," Ms Joyce said. 

Ms Joyce said if any other local employer was planning to cut 70 jobs, there would a lot more attention on it. 

"There would be all sorts of squealing from every side of the fence and I'm really disappointed we're not seeing that," she said. 

Ms Joyce said she could not stop the cuts, but it was important to "at least create a sense of collective action around it in Bendigo beyond the campus and help people that may be losing their jobs to at least do it with a fight".

Ms Joyce said her aim was to get the community talking about how the university's restructure might affect the city and get support from politicians to put pressure on management.

La Trobe University Pro Vice-Chancellor Richard Speed said it was important to remember that management would still spend the money they would save from the cut jobs, but it would spend the money in other areas. 

Professor Speed said money saved on salaries would go towards services, facilities and scholarships. 

"We are about to upgrade our two lecture theatres. That spending stays in Bendigo," he said.

"As we implement our strategies going forward, our spending priorities have to change. I take the point that there’s a difference between direct jobs and job in organisations we work with, but the spending is still happening.

"The university has had some practices that have made what we do very inefficient.

"We have many more classes than other universities. We have a lot of repeat teaching we don’t need to do."

Professor Speed said the Bendigo student population of 5000 would grow. 

"We bring those students in and they do their spending in Bendigo," he said.

"At the same time we estimate that about 2000 of those students are Bendigo residents to start with and they stay here.

"Those 2000 students that stay don't go and spend the money they would have spent coming to Melbourne.

Professor Speed said if the cost of relocating to Melbourne was about $20,000 a year and multiplied by 2000 was $40,000,000 that stayed in Melbourne. 

Federal member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said she was concerned about losing any jobs in Bendigo. 

"I repeat my call on the university to rethink this restructure and wait to see what happens in the senate when it comes to higher education," Ms Chesters said.

She said La Trobe's Bendigo campus needed more academics, not less. 

"If it is 70 positions (that will be cut), then that's households basically that will either make the call to move away from Bendigo or will be competing with so many others for the fewer jobs that we now have available today in Bendigo."

Ms Chesters said La Trobe management had continued to engage with her on a regular basis. 

"I am sure they are in no doubt about my strong advocacy and commitment to the campus."