These new facilities will ensure best-practice training for allied health and nursing students, and better equip clinicians undertaking professional development.

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La Trobe University Head of Rural Department of Allied Health Dr Carol McKinstry said the developments will greatly benefit students in the health fields.

"Once established, we'll have space here for not only for students but clinicians to upskill in the use of telehealth," she said.

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"Students will be able to learn skills and build their knowledge around how the technology is used and get familiar with the equipment before they go out on placement and put it all into practice."

La Trobe will contribute $2.6 million to the project, with $1.6 million coming from the state government as part of the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.

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La Trobe Vice-Chancellor John Dewar AO said it is critical the next generation of healthcare workers feel prepared to utilise the rapidly growing mode of healthcare delivery.

"Over the last 18 months, telehealth has moved from being a novel approach, to being business-as-usual for doctors, hospitals and community healthcare providers," he said.

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"This initiative will give rural and regional Australians better access to high-quality health services."

The refurbishment of the clinical teaching spaces at La Trobe's two campuses will include:

While final year occupational health student Remie McMaster won't see the finished facilities, she said it will help her peers as they continue their studies.

"When we went into lockdown last year, we were really thrown in the deep end when it came to online learning and placement," she said.

"We had no idea about telehealth and had to learn on the spot.

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"It will be great for students to not only learn how to use this technology, but be trained in how to interact with people through a screen and comfort or convey information in the best way possible."

As part of the initiative, La Trobe University researchers will conduct research to improve the evidence base underpinning best-practice telehealth - including exploring which health conditions and presentations are appropriate for telehealth.

The new facilities are set to open mid-2022.

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