It comes as the search for answers to why regional students are falling behind their metropolitan counterparts continues.

Mr Pyers made the comments as he joined representatives from Murtoa, Dimboola, St Arnuad, Federation University and Longerenong college at the Expert Advisory Panel for Rural and Regional Students at Horsham Golf Club on Thursday afternoon as part of a statewide series of hearings.

He said realities for psychologists and social workers in the education sector made it harder for regional areas to attract them.

"We have two different enterprise bargaining agreements within the one government, so I think that's a really significant opportunity," he said.

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"What's working in allied health in the health sector and what works in education are two very different agreements, so thinking our way through on how we can make that more manageable and beneficial is really important.

"I also think we just have to think laterally. In the Wimmera we've been one of the leaders in the state in terms of clustering with our VET provision working with Fed Uni and Skillinvest, working with video conferencing we did some amazing things under the leadership of Gary Schultz on that front.

"What we have to be able to do is continue to support that it does take resources, that's led by schools but there have to be incentives and support from state government on that as well."

Mr Pyers, who grew up in Warracknabeal, has previously served as principal of Dimboola Memorial Secondary College.

The panel's chair, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority chief executive Dr David Howes, said it would use the information from the Wimmera consultation to eventually make recommendations to the state Department of Education to help regional and rural schools and students.

"I've been struck by how local communities don't want the picture to be one of complete bleakness and negativity - that they do feel there are things that are happening that are really good in these areas," he said.

"The other thing is the discussion about how important it is to make sure students in regional areas get a sense of the wide range of possibilities there are after school. It might be travelling to a regional centre or Melbourne to do a qualification, but it's an entirely valid choice to come back and use that qualification back in the local community."

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The panel was set up last year after it was revealed more than half of all regional schools recorded a slump in VCE results over the past decade.

Data from aggregator Better Education shows median VCE study scores for Horsham College, St Brigids College Warracknabeal Secondary and Nhill colleges have remained relatively steady between 2012 and 2018, all between 27 and 30 out of 50.

The median is the middle score when all the study scores obtained by students of the school are ranked from highest to lowest.

The panel will head to Mildura, Bendigo and Wangaratta on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

A government spokeswoman said educators and community members could also make written submissions to the panel by visiting engage.vic.gov.au/regionalstudents.

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