Swinburne University of Technology

Big news Tigers fans!!! We're excited to announce we have extended our longstanding partnership with Richmond FC until 2028!

We'll continue to be a key supporter of both the AFL and AFLW programs as part of the extension, having been an inaugural partner of Richmond’s AFLW team upon its entry to the league in 2020.

Our Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester: “Swinburne and Richmond share a commitment to creating a better world by investing in people, driving technology-led improvements and learning by doing. This has been the core of our successful partnership to date, which will continue as we innovate together to advance our shared goals.”

More info on our partnership 🐯 https://swi.nu/mca6j

Big news: we're teaming up with Grande Experiences and THE LUME Melbourne Melbourne 👏 This collaboration will bring cutting-edge Immersive Media education to life, giving our students exciting opportunities to explore and create in the world of immersive technology.

By joining forces, we aim to drive innovation and equip our students with the real-world industry experience to excel in this rapidly evolving field.

"This unique partnership offers Swinburne students and researchers access to industry best practice and exclusive collaborations with a sector leading partner presenting immersive digital experiences,” - Professor James Verdon, Dean of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education.

Read more about our partnership 👉

Swinburne University of Technology partners with Grande Experiences and THE LUME Melbourne for cutting-edge Immersive Media education Swinburne University of Technology is proud to announce its partnership with Grande Experiences and THE LUME Melbourne, enhancing the future of Immersive Media education.

🚀 We've become the first university in Victoria to launch the Government's innovative new Startup Year program. This immersive 12-month Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship is designed for graduates and current students ready to bring new ideas to life.

Our program offers structured support, mentorship, and access to industry experts. Participants will work in our new Student Startup Hub, leveraging our cross-disciplinary expertise to develop and scale their startups.

Applications are now open for the Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship, commencing in Semester 2, 2024. For full entry requirements, eligibility and to apply visit 👉 https://swi.nu/n6hr8

We recently celebrated the innovative business ideas presented by our Luminate Program participants!

Over the past six weeks, our aspiring founder group made up of Swinburne students, staff and alumni have developed their startup ideas, focusing on customer validation, storytelling, and constructing a minimum viable product (MVP).

A creative card game designed to improve teamwork, personalised desks for hybrid workers, an online tool to help young people manage their finances, and an advanced platform to enhance document verification were among the winning startup ideas at our Luminate Pitch Night.

Check them out here 👉 https://swi.nu/ahwtz

PSA 🔊 Swinburne will be closed on Monday 10 June for the King's Birthday public holiday. 👑

StudentHQ will be closed at all campuses, reopening Tuesday 11 June.
Croydon and Wantirna campuses will be closed.

At Hawthorn campus, Library levels 3,4, and 5, and the Latelab will remain open as usual and be accessible via swipe card (entry via Latelab).

Fred Chaney AO’s address at our 2024 Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture highlighted the need for our leaders to be held accountable if we're to make genuine progress in Reconciliation.

Highlighting the persistent gaps faced by First Nations Australians, Chaney calls for concrete actions and commitments from our government to drive the change needed for a fairer, more inclusive Australia.

Watch the full lecture, ‘Reconciliation from one non-Aboriginal person’s perspective’ 👉 https://swi.nu/8r3z6

Recent outbreaks of bird flu in the US and poultry farms in Australia and across the globe have raised the issue of food safety. How safe are eggs, chicken and dairy products to consume right now?

Professor Enzo Palombo discusses via The Conversation Australia + NZ 👉 https://swi.nu/xri4w

Embarking on an educational journey later in life can be daunting, but for Anita F**g, it's proven to be an immensely fulfilling experience. A proud Darumbal woman, Anita made the courageous decision to return to studies as a mature age student, pursuing her passion for making a difference in her community. Now, she's thriving as she completes her Diploma of Community Services.

Learn about Anita’s transformative path as she learns, grows, and contributes to building a brighter future for herself and her community 👉 https://swi.nu/j392p

Living with a disability means that there are often barriers which make accessing equal opportunities challenging but the Dylan Alcott Foundation's Scholarship program is working to change that.

We're thrilled to announce that our undergraduate students Mia, Peter Vu and Rachael are recipients of the foundation's scholarship which has provided them hope and the support to pursue new opportunities in their areas of interest.

Read their inspiring stories and learn more about the foundation 👉 https://swi.nu/5hyqk

With billions of bilingual individuals all around the world, the shows we see on our screens should reflect more linguistic diversity. Known for some terribly exaggerated accents, Hollywood has been notoriously bad at representing the diversity in languages.

Our film and television expert, Dr Cesar Albarran-Torres says that with streaming services allowing content to be distributed more broadly than ever before, it may be time for TV to step up its game.

"Normalising language diversity onscreen forces creators to seek more multicultural talent behind and in front of the camera, particularly when it is these people’s communities being portrayed."

Read more via The Conversation 👉 https://swi.nu/p7m4v

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme is Now More Than Ever. It is a powerful reminder that the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue.

We are proud to have a strong and rich history of celebrating, acknowledging, and progressing reconciliation.

The Moondani Toombadool Centre commemorated National Sorry Day last week with a poignant service at the Indigenous Learning Circle on our Hawthorn Campus. During Reconciliation Week, students, staff, and community members gathered at our Croydon and Wantirna campuses to reflect on the vital importance of reconciliation. These events provided an opportunity to learn about our shared histories, celebrate cultures and achievements, amplify First Nations voices, and explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation. Read more 👉 https://swi.nu/7xbfw

Exciting progress in our next gen_campus transformation, take a look back at everything we've achieved so far and what's still to come ⬆️ More details at the link in our bio

Our amazing students produced ‘Rainbow Reef Turtle Chief’ that's won People’s Choice Award at Ubisoft’s Game Jam 2024 competition. Computer science students Jamie Shiraz, Ian Scheepers, Marnus Jordaan and Hugh Craig worked together to make the game, where players take control of a turtle and aim to rescue their turtle kin from trash.

The students hope their game highlights the issues that the Great Barrier Reef is currently facing and how we need to take action to restore this natural wonder.

Find out more ➡️ https://swi.nu/munzs

We're over the moon to announce we won University of the Year and our very own Dr Sara Webb won Rising Star of the Year – Enterprise at last night's 2024 Australian Space Awards ⭐

Our talented academics were nominated as finalists in six categories at this year’s awards, reflecting expertise across astronomy and astrophysics, space technology, engineering and instrumentation, and satellite data analysis.

We're incredibly lucky to have the best and brightest in their fields working with us, reaffirming our global reputation as a leader in space and aerospace. Read more 👉 http://swi.nu/kn2bd

National Reconciliation week is a time to acknowledge the mistreatment and injustices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people and explore what we can do as individuals, and across the community, to contribute towards a respectful and united Australia.

During Reconciliation week we reflect on the gap that still exists, and strive to educate ourselves on our shared history and to amplify the voices of First Nations peoples. Reconciliation Australia

Yesterday we held a National Sorry Day event that brought the Swinburne community together to remember and recognise the past mistreatment of Indigenous Australians. The service included the sharing of art, culture and history that deepened our understanding of the adversity faced by the traditional owners of our land and the flow on effect this had on the generations that came after.

As we come up to National Sorry Day this Sunday, we acknowledge the strength and resilience of Stolen Generations survivors. As we pause to consider this year's Reconciliation Australia theme 'Now More Than Ever', we reflect on how all Australians can play a part in the healing journey for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Together, let's foster reconciliation, respect, and unity. 🖤💛❤️ | 💚🤍💙

Should you be denied life insurance or have to pay extra if you have a genetic risk for certain diseases? Should insurance companies even have access to your genetic data in the first place? This practice is known as 'genetic discrimination' and may have negative implications on how Australians view genomic research.

New research lead by social psychologist Dr Elphinstone shows the question of who can assess a person’s genomic data directly influences public trust in future genomic research in Australia.

More via Conversation ➡️ https://swi.nu/ik6dj

More than 70 students and staff gathered last week to celebrate the new Applied Mechanics Hub, an upgrade to hands-on lab space for mechanical and other engineering specialities catering to both vocational and higher education students. We're proud to officially open the Applied Mechanics Hub as the second completed project that makes up the next gen_campus transformation.

Comprised of thermodynamics, statics and dynamics labs, the hub offers more accessible and fit-for-purpose lab space, ensuring our mechanical and other engineering students have access to the latest technology and advances facilities. More 👉 https://swi.nu/f2sw8

"As we embark on another Dreamtime at the ’G, we face an uncomfortable truth: the number of Indigenous players is on the decline, and this trend threatens the very integrity of the game."

"In 2020, the AFL had 87 Indigenous players; today, that number has shrunk to 71. Recruiters tell me that this number is likely to fall to the mid 60s next year due to retirements and a lack of talent coming through, and worsen from there."

Proud Wiradjuri man and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor John Evans discusses the barriers Indigenous athletes still face in the AFL in today's The Age.

"The reluctance to draft Indigenous players can partly be traced back to persistent stereotypes. For example, young, standout Indigenous talent who come from tough backgrounds are often unfairly labelled as “difficult” or “non-committal” when logistical hurdles, such as lack of transport, cause them to miss training sessions.

The AFL’s overreliance on fitness and aptitude tests, which prioritise physical benchmarks over football skills, often fails to capture these young athletes’ true capabilities and potential. Beep tests, sprint tests and vertical jump tests are central to the drafting process, though many football greats of the past would not meet the standards of today.

The AFL needs to reconsider the role of the draft and direct its attention to opportunities that widen participation. Real, meaningful changes in recruitment practices and club cultures are essential."

Professor Evans highlights that while some progress has been made with few individual coaches and clubs, the league needs more than "token gestures of support for the future of this game."

Read the full article 👉 https://swi.nu/r4xpj and let us know your thoughts in the comments ⬇️

Is it safe to drive after taking medical cannabis? Swinburne is helping the Victorian Government find out.

With the use of medicinal cannabis up 700% in Victoria, the government will invest $4.9 million in a world-first medicinal cannabis driving trial in real-world conditions, led by Swinburne researchers.

When government needs a partner on a critical issue like this, they know they can come to Swinburne to get a tech-enabled solution.

Leader of Swinburne’s Drugs and Driving Research Unit, Professor Luke Downey says, “we’re excited to be leading this world first on-track evaluation of the impact of medical cannabis on driving performance."

Thank you to Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne MP and Head of Road Safety Victoria Marcelo Vidales on their commitment to evidence-based policy for road safety.

Yesterday, we welcomed Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Skills & Training, and Mary Doyle MP, Member for Aston, for a tour of our Wantirna campus to hear firsthand from students the positive impact of Fee-Free TAFE.

Cert IV Allied Health Assistant student, Stephanie, shared how her Fee-Free TAFE course offered her an opportunity to get a taste of Occupational Therapy, and motivated her to study a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2025.

Wantirna has also seen the number of electrical and renewable energy students surge over recent years, further supporting the transition to net zero and students entering jobs of the future.

We’re passionate about working together to shape the future of education and skills development!

In this digital age, the job market is becoming increasingly demanding and difficult to navigate. Particularly alarming is the volume of job scams (also known as employment or recruitment scams). How can we protect ourselves from falling victim to these scammers? Our financial technologies expert, Dr Salampasis reveals some of the tactics job scammers use.

"Job scammers attract people by promising fake jobs that require little effort but promise a substantial financial reward or 'guaranteed' income. The end goal in all cases is to extract money and/or personal details from the victim."

More via Conversation ➡️ https://swi.nu/iyf35

Our Design students collaborated with Yarra Trams and Tradeswomen Australia Group to design a tram wrap celebrating women in trades.

Designed to inspire and encourage women to explore employment opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields, students helped create a tram wrap that serves as a bold statement of empowerment.

This initiative not only highlights the creativity and innovation of our students but also reflects Swinburne's commitment to providing real-world, hands-on experiences through work-integrated learning. Learn more about this inspiring collaboration 👉 https://swi.nu/c6yr9

👀 First look at the amazing student made artworks that have been selected by the judges as the winners of the Decorate your next gen_campus design competition!

Stay tuned to see these displayed on campus on the construction hoarding of the new Latelab and student hub. Thank you to all the students who entered the competition and are helping us display the innovative and collaborative focus of next gen_campus.

Learn more about your new Latelab and student hub 👉 https://swi.nu/5m9gp

We've soared into the top 25 in the world in the latest Times Higher Education Young University Rankings. The result sees us become the top-ranked Victorian university, climbing 19 places to 24th from 43rd position in 2023 and 50th place in 2022.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pascale Quester says: "At Swinburne, we are bold, imaginative and distinctive in our pursuit of global best practice. And while our success extends far beyond traditional university rankings, we are extremely proud of our strong performance."

More about this outstanding achievement 👉 https://swi.nu/xsmqp

Today is International Nurses Day, and we're celebrating by highlighting some of the amazing contributions that our student nurses have made in the community recently:

👉 Alexandra Smitt and Tessa Bourke (Swinburne Diploma of Nursing graduates) were recently shouted out by reporter Jacqui Felgate for quickly coming to the aid of a fellow classmate's father following a medical incident at their graduation lunch.

👉 Lily Bevan, a second year Bachelor of Nursing student was commended by Ambulance Victoria for being a first responder to a motorcycle accident, and providing life-saving support to the patient while paramedics arrived.

👉 Rita is a second year Diploma of Nursing student who received a scholarship to study at Swinburne. Rita is showing amazing dedication supporting her young son as a single mum (Happy Mother's Day!), while still following her dreams of being a nurse.

As a dual-sector institution, we are in the unique position to offer a Bachelor of Nursing, as well as a Diploma of Nursing vocational qualification, providing an option for aspiring nurses wherever they are on their journey. We are grateful to all of the nurses that take care of our community every day!

Congratulations to nanophotronics expert Professor David Moss, who has received an Honorary Doctorate from the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU in Copenhagen. The award was presented at the annual DTU commemoration ceremony this year with King Frederik X of Denmark in attendance. More ➡️ http://swi.nu/35jnp

A huge congratulations to our second year nursing student Lily Bevan, who has received high praise from Ambulance Victoria after being a first responder to a recent motorcycle incident.

Lily was driving home after an early morning shift at an aged care facility when she came across the traumatic scene involving a male rider who had come off his bike and sustained traumatic lower body injuries. Despite heightened emotions with two of the rider's friends also present, Lily provided life saving first-aid including haemorrhage and infection control with limited resources and reassured the patient before paramedics arrived.

The crew from Ambulance Victoria said:
"Approx. 15 minutes after she arrived, the first ambulance arrived on scene. This paramedic was a single officer (pictured). Lily worked effortlessly with the single officer, becoming a part of the
team early on. Lily followed instructions well, assisted and made a wonderful rapport with the patient throughout her care. Lily could have easily been mistaken for a graduate paramedic and a valuable member of our team."

We are so proud to have another example of our nursing students showing unwavering commitment to helping their community, a true testament to the real-world experience they receive from our wonderful educators. Read the full story 👉 https://swi.nu/fxn2s