Here you will find our key highlights from our 2023 Annual Report. Read about our major achievements for the year and discover key facts about our university.

For more information, including financial and governance reporting, download the full documents.

Messages from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor

  • Swinburne University Chancellor, John Pollaers, smiles to camera in The George building of the Hawthorn campus

    Message from the Chancellor

    Over the past three years, Swinburne has experienced a remarkable trajectory of growth and achievement. Driven by a clear strategic focus and a progressive mindset, Swinburne enhanced its reputation on the world stage and solidified its position as a leading global institution of higher education.

    Read more (Message from the Chancellor)

  • Message from the Vice-Chancellor

    It is with great pride that we share in this report the substantial strides that Swinburne has made towards achieving our Horizon 2025 Strategic  Plan, now in its third year – the mid-point to our trajectory to the stars.

    Read more (Message from the Vice-Chancellor)

On this page:

2023 at a glance

36,000+ students (EFTSL)

67% undergraduate*

13% postgraduate*

20% vocational education

Student demographics

15.7%
from regional or remote areas**

2%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander**

34%
international (onshore & offshore)

100+
student nationalities

8% students with a disability**

53.1% female, 46.6% male, 0.3% other 

48% full time, 52% part time

* Scope is higher education students
** Scope is domestic students – HE & VE

These tables include student numbers by overall headcount, by funding sources, level of course, campus, gender and attendance type. 

  Higher education (HE) Vocational education (VE)1
Category 2021 2022 20232 2021 2022 2023
Total student headcount8 41,799 41,279 45,799 18,231 17,559 20,180
Commencing headcount 14,284 15,057 17,986 9,805 9,133 11,316
Total student contact hours (SCH) - - - 6,020,391 5,155,684 5,552,414
Total student load (EFTSL)3 26,209 26,001 29,268 8,362 7,161 7,711
  Higher education (HE) Vocational education (VE)1
By funding source (EFTSL) 2021 2022 20232 2021 2022 2023
Government funded 17,875 16,065 16,336 6,522 5,523 5,642
Full fee-paying (domestic) 1,291 1,268 1,498 1,176 827 1,160
International (offshore, excluding Sarawak) 1,251 2,084 2,577 364 515 566
International (onshore) 3,576 4,527 6,770 300 296 343
Sarawak (approximate) 2,216 2,057 2,087 - - -
  Higher education (HE) Vocational education (VE)1
By level of course (EFTSL) 2021 2022 20232 2021 2022 2023
Postgraduate research 1,203 1,173 1,005 - - -
Postgraduate coursework 2,741 2,591 3,864 56 57 77
Undergraduate4 22,235 22,135 24,186 - - -
Associate degree/degree - - - - - -
Advanced diploma/diploma - - - 3,721 2,911 2,858
Certificate - - - 3,694 3,234 3,692
Other5 31 102 213 891 959 1.084
  Higher education (HE) Vocational education (VE)1
By campus (EFTSL) 2021 2022 20232 2021 2022 2023
Croydon - - - 1,110 831 866
Hawthorn 13,226 13,332 15,320 2,500 2,167 2,288
Prahran 24 51 57 - - -
Wantirna - - - 1,956 1,679 1,481
Sarawak, Malaysia 2,216 2,057 2,087 - - -
Offshore (excluding Sarawak) 1,251 2,084 2,577 363 516 565
Online and other6 9,491 8,477 9,227 2,433 1,968 2,511
  Higher education (HE) Vocational education (VE)1
By gender (EFTSL) 2021 2022 20232 2021 2022 2023
Female 13,923 13,914 15,560 4,365 3,670 4,073
Male 12,240 12,024 13,634 3,674 3,462 3,598
Other 45 62 74 23 29 40
  Higher education (HE) Vocational education (VE)1
By attendance type (headcount) 2021 2022 20232 2021 2022 2023
Full-time7 24,206 24,852 28,708 3,894 2,998 3,210
Part-time 17,593 16,427 17,091 14,337 14,561 16,970
  1. Includes Pathways, Vocational Education, Swinburne Professional, Swinburne Online (SOL), Swinburne Open Education (SOE) and National Institute of Circus Arts.
  2. 2023 preliminary data, final official data available later in 2024.
  3. EFTSL stands for ‘equivalent full-time student load’. VE equals student contact hours divided by 720. HE equals annual total load of 100 credit points expressed in EFTSL.
  4. Includes sub-degrees, bachelors, honours and UniLink diplomas.
  5. VE includes English-language courses (ELICOS), VCE/VCAL and non-certificate enrolments. HE includes non-award.
  6. Includes workplace, distance venues and online delivery. Inclusive of SOL, SOE, Hawthorn Online and CSP-funded Open Universities Australia.
  7. Full-time means an annual study load of six standard units or more, or a study load of three standard units or more over half a year.
  8. Headcount excludes Cross Institutional program enrolments, EFTSL includes all programs.

Note: excludes full-fee Open Universities Australia.

Alumni

236,226 Number of alumni in 165 countries

227
Total number of donors 

12,013
Number of new alumni in 2023 

2023 highlights

    Rose into the top 250 universities in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings 

    Celebrated 60 years of Work Integrated Learning and achieved our moon shot: Every Swinburne learner gets at least one work experience 

Achieved 5-star ratings in multiple categories in the Good Universities Guide 2024, including Overall Education Experience

    Reduced carbon emissions on 2019 levels by 92 per cent, continuing on our journey to carbon neutrality by 2025

    Began our next gen_campus transformation, with construction beginning on Indigenous Learning Circles at our three campuses 

Quarterly highlights

January
Swinburne welcomed the first of several Founders in Residence

Rachael Barritt became the first of several entrepreneurs to join Swinburne to help build ventures based on our expertise. Swinburne Founders are working on green steel, sustainable aviation, advanced materials, and digital manufacturing ventures.

February
Swinburne was awarded more than $1.1 million in funding for three industry-linked projects as part of the latest round of ARC Linkage Projects

The projects will look at using recycled glass to make roads and  pavements more sustainable, improving Australia’s 5G network, and implementing new technologies to improve quality of life in aged care facilities.

$5.2 million green energy research hub at Swinburne announced

Created in partnership with global tech leader Siemens, the Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub will drive collaboration between researchers and industry. The hub will feature a future energy grid laboratory with some of the most advanced digital energy technology from Siemens.

March
Swinburne partnered with CWX Technologies to create digital twins 

Swinburne’s Factory of the Future was the latest space to enter the metaverse. CWX will create 3D digital twins of the production systems in Swinburne to improve manufacturing efficiency and introduce Industry 4.0 technologies to SMEs across Australia.

$5.2 million green energy research hub at Swinburne announced

Pioneering astrophysicist and Director of Swinburne-based OzGrav Professor Matthew Bailes won the prestigious Shaw Prize in Astronomy, known as the Nobel of the East. He shared the USD$1.2 million award with Professor Duncan Lorimer and Professor Maura McLaughlin.

Swinburne formed a new partnership with French university École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, and Bouygues Construction Australia 

This partnership is providing French engineering students with valuable exposure to important Australian infrastructure projects.

April
Swinburne and Adobe signed another three-year partnership, elevating student and staff Adobe access to the Creative Cloud Pro Edition 

The partnership continues to focus on embracing innovation, boosting digital literacy and employability skills for students, while embedding and uplifting tech across all study areas. Swinburne became Australia’s first Adobe Creative Campus in 2019.

A new partnership between Swinburne’s AIR Hub and APR. Intern was announced, in collaboration with the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and Defence Science Institute

The partnership is providing new research opportunities for the Australian aerospace sector.

May
Swinburne appointed Distinguished Professor Saeid Nahavandi as our inaugural Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Chief of Defence Innovation

This appointment opens up new opportunities for research in artificial intelligence and cyber security, autonomous vehicles, smart materials, quantum sensing, space technology and more. The appointment comes at a pivotal time in Australia’s national defence strategy.

Swinburne’s Industry Engagement team won a UIIN Excellence Award

The team was named winner of the Strategic Partnerships award at the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) Excellence Awards, in Budapest, Hungary. The award recognises outstanding contributions within the higher education sector, through the novel and outstanding engagement of Swinburne’s strategic partners.

Swinburne appointed a new Director of the National Centre for Reconciliation Practice

Adam Mooney, a leader in reconciliation, inclusion and gender equity, was appointed to help drive the strategic direction of reconciliation at Swinburne and our Reconciliation Action Plan.

June
Swinburne scored the second highest student experience ratings in Victoria

Swinburne ranked eighth in Australia and second in Victoria for the entire education experience for undergraduate students. The annual Student Experience Survey is Australia’s only comprehensive survey of current higher education students.

Swinburne appointed a new Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer

Higher education leader Professor Simon Ridings was appointed Swinburne’s Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer. The role provides strategic leadership and oversight of Swinburne’s schools and drives Swinburne’s Higher Education and Vocational Education strategies.

July
Swinburne welcomed Australian Universities Accord plans to transform the tertiary sector

The interim report identified several key areas for further exploration that were canvassed in Swinburne’s submission to the Accords in April 2023. The interim report quoted Swinburne’s submission on the importance of lifting the quality and availability of work integrated learning, an area in which Swinburne is a sector leader.

Swinburne was awarded $5 million to lead an ARC Research Hub for Future Digital Manufacturing

The Hub is one of five new ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs across the country. The new Hub will grow and accelerate Australia’s digital manufacturing transformation, by devising new technology and pathways for commercialisation and industry adoption.

Swinburne students co-created next gen_campus

Hundreds of students contributed to the design of Swinburne’s next gen_campus. Student feedback is at the core of next gen_campus with nine transformative projects rolling out across all Swinburne campuses in coming years.

Swinburne continued to climb in the Young University Rankings

Swinburne climbed seven places to 43 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2023, up from 50th position last year. The result strengthens Swinburne’s standing as one of the world’s top 50 young universities.

August
Swinburne VET students won gold at WorldSkills

Three Swinburne VET students won first place in the 2023 WorldSkills Australia National Championships and will go on to compete at the International WorldSkills Games in Lyon, France next year. Nellie Holder won the Graphic Design competition, Thomas Balint won Landscape Construction, and Will Vestergaard won Mechatronics and received the Tjerk Dusseldorp Best in Nation medal.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Pascale Quester was reappointed for a second term

The Swinburne Council approved the reappointment of Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester, for a second five-year term. Professor Quester, who commenced at Swinburne in August 2020, will continue as Vice-Chancellor until 2030.

Swinburne celebrated our annual Pride Week, supporting our LGBTQIA+ community

This year’s theme was Queer Intersections, honouring and celebrating the many facets of modern queer identities and lived experiences.

Professor Laura-Anne Bull was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Experience and Employability

Respected education leader Professor Bull was appointed to lead student experience, work-integrated learning and employability at Swinburne.

New $5.2m Ngarrgu Tindebeek supercomputer launched

The supercomputer has a processing capacity millions of times beyond that of regular computers, enabling groundbreaking research into space, the brain and complex ecosystems on Earth.

Swinburne researchers celebrated ARC early career funding success

Three Swinburne researchers received Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards from the Australian Research Council to understand galaxy formation and evolution, devise search algorithms for big data, and discover the origins and implications of cosmic explosions.

September
5-star ratings for Swinburne in Good Universities Guide 2024

Swinburne achieved several new 5-star ratings in multiple categories in this year’s Good Universities Guide. The university scored 5-star ratings in Overall Educational Experience, Teaching Quality and Student Support. Swinburne is also rated number one in Australia for Student Support in Education, number one in Victoria for full-time employment of Business graduates and is in the country’s top three universities for Student to Teacher Ratio.

Swinburne and Breakthrough Victoria created $18 million investment partnership to support Swinburne spinouts

Swinburne Ventures and Breakthrough Victoria partner to make $18m of early stage investment available to Swinburne spinouts to commercialise life-changing inventions.

Swinburne continued to rise in the global rankings to top 250

Swinburne climbed up the Times Higher Education rankings 100 places from the university’s 2023 ranking, further cementing our place in the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide. Swinburne’s dominance in research was also recognised, placing 102 in the world for Research Quality.

Swinburne teams win at iAwards 2023

Swinburne won the Government and Public Sector Solution award for a project delivering Internet of Things sensors and 5G connectivity to waste collection trucks. The 5G garbage trucks solution was supported by $1.18 million in funding from the Federal Government’s Australian 5G Innovation Initiative and was a collaboration with Optus and Brimbank City Council.

October
Swinburne lecturer awarded Victorian Professional Engineer of the Year

Swinburne Architectural Engineering lecturer Daniel Prohasky was named Victorian Professional Engineer of the Year at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards. He was nominated for his contribution to innovative engineering practice through translating his visionary concepts into sustainable, inclusive, and ethical local manufacturing projects Curvecrete and Milkdrop.

Swinburne recognised some of its most impressive alumni at the annual Alumni Impact Awards

Huong Dang won the George and Ethel Swinburne Social Impact Award, Jesse Leeworthy received the Innovative Planet Impact Award and Jaclyn Benstead took home the Technology Innovation Impact Award. The awards recognise exceptional alumni from around the world who are making a significant impact in their fields.

Construction commenced on Swinburne’s transformative next gen_campus project

Swinburne’s next gen_campus transformation officially got under way, with construction beginning on Indigenous Learning Circles at our three campuses. These spaces will pay tribute to the Traditional Owners of the lands on which the campuses are located, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Swinburne helped Pasifika youths develop life skills and thrive

Up to 100 Pasifika students graduated from Swinburne’s Discovery Sprint program, named Sa’ili le ala (meaning ‘discovery path’), to kickstart their careers in in-demand industries such as media, design, animation and film.

Swinburne’s AIR Hub achieves hydrogen flight

The Swinburne AIR Hub successfully completed the first flight of an Australian-developed hydrogen fuel cell electric-powered VTOL drone. The AIR Hub’s innovative drone is being developed as part of the Hydrogen to the Skies project.

November
Swinburne and W. M. Keck Observatory formed an historic scientific partnership

Swinburne became the first organisation outside the United States to join the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii as a scientific partner. The new partnership doubles the number of observing nights for Swinburne researchers and will provide Swinburne with a vote in setting science and technology priorities for the Observatory.

Swinburne and CSIRO launched a state-of-the-art renewable hydrogen refuelling station

The $2.5 million refuelling station, purpose-built for enabling hydrogen research, uses green hydrogen produced with electricity from renewable sources. The station, part of Swinburne’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2), showcases the real-world application of hydrogen and will be used to demonstrate hydrogen’s utility for transport.

Swinburne awarded more than $6.1 million for ARC Discovery Projects

The 12 Swinburne-led Discovery projects span financial abuse, modular buildings, quantum time crystals and quantum polaritons, 3D printing concrete and 4D origami structures, micro-optics, cell attachment to artificial bones and cell signalling, AI tools for software development, and bubble clouds in waves.

Two Swinburne researchers named field leaders in The Australian’s Research Magazine 2024

Distinguished Professor David Moss was named as a field leader in Optics and Photonics and Adjunct Professor John Dixon was named as a field leader in Obesity.

Seven Swinburne academics across five fields were named on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list

The researchers appear across multiple fields, including computer science, space science, engineering and social sciences and are ranked in the top one per cent by citations for their field.

Swinburne Distinguished Professor received Engineers Australia’s highest honour

Swinburne’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research Quality), Distinguished Professor Qing-Long Han, was appointed as an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia for his exceptional contributions to the engineering profession and the Australian community.

December
Swinburne and Oracle announced partnership to enhance student employability

This collaboration places an emphasis on offering students authentic industry experiences through learning content and skills that enhance their employability. Students will obtain digital badges that they can display on professional platforms, including LinkedIn and other social media profiles.

Order of Australia Foundation scholarship awarded to Swinburne student Chelsea Allen 

The coveted scholarships are awarded to students who are exceptional in their study field, have given back extensively to the community and will benefit from financial support and mentorship.

Swinburne academic wins prestigious NHMRC 2023 Investigator Grant

Distinguished Professor Richard Osborne received the $2.95 million grant to boost health literacy, targeting non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Swinburne named as host of an historic new partnership between France and Australia - FACET: the French-Australian Centre for Energy Transition 

The French and Australian governments announced an historic new partnership to tackle climate change, launching FACET, co-led by CEA, Université Grenoble- Alpes and Swinburne. FACET will strengthen Australia and France’s bilateral relationship.

More highlights

Sustainability and environment

At Swinburne, sustainability is a core value deeply embedded in every aspect of our university. Our commitment extends beyond acknowledgment; it is actively embodied in our daily operations and research endeavours as we seek to accelerate our efforts and goals to ensure a sustainable future.

2023 information

This information relates to Swinburne’s achievements in sustainability for 2023. For current information, visit sustainability and environment.

We are accelerating our sustainable practices, aiming for a future prioritising environmental and social consciousness. Our multifaceted approach focuses on addressing climate change with practical and inclusive solutions, while promoting social equity and community wellbeing. Our researchers are dedicated to finding effective, equitable solutions for climate change, aiming to balance economic growth with material consumption and ensure fair resource access. Our goal is to create a resilient world where environmental health and social harmony coexist.

Central to our dedication to sustainability is the promise to uphold and honour the principles of the Traditional Custodians of the land we operate on.

Swinburne is a signatory to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we are committed to embedding and applying the SDGs across our operations, teaching and research. By aligning these principles with our strategy and commercial planning, we are driving operational improvements, shaping our future and our future leaders, and helping to advance sustainable development at a local and international level.

The SDGs address issues related to the promotion of global economic growth and development and are focused on sustainability for humanity and the planet.

Our commitment to the SDGs focuses on recognition and commitment to the following areas:

  • addressing the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the world;
  • future development that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable;
  • the vital role universities can play in achieving a sustainable future through teaching, research and operations.

In line with our sustainability strategy, and in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Swinburne has committed to be carbon neutral by 2025. 

Swinburne’s Responsible Investment Charter sets out the university’s overall philosophy, commitment and methodology for addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors through our investment practices.

Swinburne has committed to:

  • The integration of ESG factors throughout the investment process.
  • Active ownership of our investments and using our investor voice to influence and create positive change at the companies in which we invest. Areas of focus where we aim to influence include: i) Climate Change ii) Human Rights & Modern Slavery and iii) Sustainable Development.
  • Supporting innovation and sustainability within our investment portfolios where consistent with our risk and return objectives.
  • Exclusion of companies that are inconsistent with a sustainable future (specifically tobacco companies, weapons manufacturers, and carbon intensive fossil fuels).
  • Transparency and disclosure, including annual reporting on progress implementing the Responsible Investment Charter as set out in our responsible investment implementation plan.
     

Through investments in public and private companies, we have an indirect impact on the environment and communities worldwide. We are committed to using this influence to create positive change. 

In December 2019, Swinburne committed to be carbon neutral by 2025. A Net Zero Pathway Plan was developed and endorsed by Council in March 2020, setting out goals and objectives to achieve decarbonisation and energy transformation across Swinburne’s operations, teaching and research.

A cross-functional team was then established to investigate, develop and prioritise initiatives to decarbonise our operations with resources allocated accordingly.

Titled our Net Zero 2025 Pathway, the plan includes purchasing 100 per cent renewable electricity, implementing a sustainable procurement framework, and various initiatives across travel, waste and energy efficiency. The pathway seeks to identify opportunities to leverage sustainability-focused research and partnerships to achieve the target. 

The university’s sustainability efforts seek to identify and resolve material resource waste across all campuses, while improving the efficiency of our infrastructure.

We also seek to promote sustainable behaviour in each campus community by guiding staff and students on how to reduce their impact. The university aims to engage staff and students in sustainability programs and activities to build a committed, engaged and well-informed Swinburne community with the skills and motivation to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Embedding an awareness and understanding of sustainability in staff and students enables the university to have a positive impact reaching far beyond the work done on campus. Staff and students are equipped to foster positive change in the broader community and their future workplaces, leading to positive environmental outcomes.

Initiatives to reduce environmental impact

Throughout 2023, Swinburne continued implementing initiatives to reduce our environmental impact, supporting the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2025.

These initiatives include:

  • Swinburne procures 100 per cent renewable electricity for its Hawthorn, Croydon, and Wantirna campuses.
  • Swinburne purchases carbon offsets to compensate for the carbon emissions resulting from business travel for staff and study-tour activities for students. The carbon offsets Swinburne purchased were a mix of different projects, including 10 per cent from Indigenous Fire Abatement Projects.
  • Environmentally sustainable design principles are central to our next gen_campus project, specifically the new Late Lab development. The operational energy usage of this project is targeted to surpass the 2022 National Construction Code mandatory standards by at least 10 per cent. This ambitious goal ensures that the building is a leader in energy efficiency, setting a new standard for future constructions. We have committed to ensuring this building is all-electric, eliminating the use of natural gas for heating, cooking, or domestic hot water. By adopting adaptive building reuse strategies and careful material selection, this project aims to achieve at least a 10 per cent reduction in embodied carbon compared to a standard reference building.
  • Waste management is also a key component of the sustainability strategy of the Late Lab project. By recycling at least 90 per cent of demolition waste, this project not only minimises its environmental impact but also sets a benchmark for sustainable waste management practices. This commitment reflects a comprehensive approach to sustainability, considering not just the construction and operational phases of the buildings but the entire lifecycle, including demolition and waste.
  • In 2023, Swinburne established a program to optimise the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems throughout the three campuses. This year, we mapped out opportunities, conducted detailed investigations, and trialled new operational schedules specifically for the GS and EN Buildings. A trial holiday and event schedule were introduced to enable closer alignment between the hours of operation and occupancy.
  • A project to upgrade the lights at the Croydon and Wantirna campuses to more energy-efficient LEDs is underway. This project, which will substantially reduce electricity usage and CO2 emissions, will be completed in early 2024. This follows activation of LED lighting at the Hawthorn campus where possible.
  • A program introducing reusable Huskee coffee cups was launched, focusing on partnering with cafes located on and surrounding campuses. This initiative aims to encourage the adoption of these eco-friendly cups, significantly reducing single-use waste and promoting a sustainable coffee culture. By enrolling cafes in this program, we aim to make reusable cups a convenient and accessible choice for our campus community.
  • Training on sustainable procurement continued to be rolled out to staff to provide insight into the social and environmental issues the university might encounter in our supply chain and to offer options for ethical procurement.
  • Swinburne’s School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship continued to run a Carbon Literacy training program across Swinburne students and staff.
  • The Swinburne Actions for Sustainability Impact (SA4SI) is an initiative to accelerate the achievement of the UN SDGs. Throughout 2023, the SA4SI team continued to run training and disseminate information to support and encourage the Swinburne community to take our commitment to sustainability further.
     

Swinburne has cut its overall gross carbon emissions by 90 per cent through the purchase of renewable electricity and carbon offsets. In 2024, Swinburne will confirm participation in a public disclosure and certification program for organisational carbon neutrality, aiming to adopt these measures before 2025. 

Sustainability in a research ecosystem is fundamental to ensuring that scientific inquiry and innovation can continue to thrive over the long term without depleting or damaging the resources and communities it relies upon. This involves fostering practices that not only minimise environmental impact but also promote economic viability and social equity.

Our sustainable research ecosystem prioritises interdisciplinary collaboration and open sharing of knowledge to address complex global challenges like climate change.

We invest in green technologies and sustainable infrastructure, encourage the reduction of waste and the efficient use of resources, and support policies that ensure fair access and benefit sharing.

By adopting a holistic and forward-thinking approach, our sustainable research ecosystem not only drives scientific progress but also contributes to a healthier and more equitable world for future generations. 

  • The governments of France and Australia launched a groundbreaking collaborative effort, the French-Australian Centre for Energy Transition (FACET), to combat climate change. Spearheaded by Swinburne (which will host the Centre), CEA and the Université Grenoble-Alpes, FACET aims to enhance France-Australian bilateral ties by fostering cooperation in sustainable, inclusive energy projects and addressing energy transition requirements in the Indo-Pacific. FACET stands as a principal component of the resilience and climate action section of the France-Australia bilateral strategy. Welcoming collaborators from academia, research institutions, and industry sectors, FACET is poised to facilitate a range of activities, including innovation, research, and educational programs, all with an emphasis on energy transition, reduction of carbon emissions in energy production, and supply chain decarbonisation.
  • The Victorian Hydrogen Hub and CSIRO launched a clean hydrogen refuelling station in Victoria. Located at the CSIRO Clayton campus, this facility showcases hydrogen’s real-world potential, supports innovative technology testing, and educates future generations, keeping Australia at the forefront of global innovation.
  • Swinburne partnered with Twynam Earth Fund to accelerate real-world impact of its decarbonisation research. This collaboration aims to develop new ventures and marketable solutions by combining Swinburne’s expertise with the fund’s focus on investing in carbon-reducing technologies and supporting transformative climate companies globally.
  • Professor Geoff Brooks secured $1.2 million from CSIRO for a joint collaborative program of work focusing on sustainable minerals processing and green steel.
  • Swinburne researchers, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Madras and India and Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, were awarded Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership funding for a project titled ‘Responsible AI for Net Zero – An Australian and India Collaborative Approach towards Practice, Government and Ethics in Energy Futures’.
  • Professor Blair Kuys was awarded a National Institute for Forest Products Innovation Grant for the project titled, ‘Research, development, and validation of 8-star rated architectural products maximising the use of out-of-grade timber’.
  • Professor Hussein Dia, Associate Professor Hadi Ghaderi, Associate Professor Magnus Moglia and Dr Steven Percy secured funding from iMove CRC for a project titled ‘Transition Towards Zero Emissions Heavy Vehicles: Analysis, Planning and Policy’.
  • Swinburne PhD candidate Aulia Qisthi Mairizal was awarded the 2024 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society’s Light Metals and Extraction & Processing Divisions — Best Paper Award for her research paper, ‘Carbon Footprint assessment of Waste PCB Recycling Process through Black Copper Smelting Route in Australia’. 
Resource usage 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Annual energy consumption - electricity (MWH) 30,374 25,254 25,891 26,997 26,557
Annual energy consumption - gas (GJ) 66,159 58,809 65,058 73,466 61,396
Annual water consumption (ML) 134 92 87 122 115
Operational waste to landfill (tonnes) 682 326 317 283 286
Operational recycling - waste diverted (tonnes) 256 46 64 138 123
Staff travel - by air ('000,000km) 35.7 14.8 0.4 7.5 18.8
Staff travel - by road ('000,000km) 0.24 0.10 0.07 0.08 0.09
Paper use (reams) 20,143 3,695 2,011 3,796 4,343
Paper use (reams/FTE) 6.8 1.4 0.9 1.6 1.89
Carbon emissions (tCO2)* 44,114 17,854 3,823 4,337 3,677

*includes carbon emissions from: Scope 1, Natural Gas and Transport Fuels, Scope 2, Purchased Electricity and Scope 3 Water, Waste to Landfill, University Travel. The net figure Includes 100% LGC (Electricity) and Offset reductions.

Swinburne's commitment to Indigenous matters and reconciliation

Swinburne is dedicated to leading the nation in reconciliation efforts and addressing various Indigenous issues, encompassing governance, culture, employment, student involvement and community.

2023 information

This information relates to Swinburne’s work on its commitment to Indigenous matters and reconciliation in 2023. For current information, visit Moondani Toombadool Centre.

Swinburne is regarded as a leader in reconciliation by Reconciliation Australia. Since 2017, Swinburne has been recognised for achieving Elevate status in our last two Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP). This is the highest recognition awarded by Reconciliation Australia. Swinburne was the first university to attain this status and is one of only 18 organisations nationwide, out of a RAP community comprising 2,400 organisations, to hold this prestigious status.

2023  highlights include:

  • Adam Mooney was appointed Director of the National Centre for Reconciliation Practice. A leader in reconciliation, inclusion and gender equity, Adam will be responsible for driving the strategic direction of reconciliation at Swinburne and our RAP.
  • Increasing Indigenous student enrolments from 781 to 1,030, marking a 30 per cent growth and accounting for 2.5 per cent of the total student enrolments.
  • Increasing the representation of First Nations individuals within our university. We have successfully raised the total number of First Nations employees to 19, including a diverse range of roles spanning academic and administrative sectors. This growth reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that First Nations perspectives are integrally represented and valued in both Swinburne’s educational and operational areas.

On Saturday 14 October, the referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in Australia’s Constitution did not pass.

Despite the referendum’s outcome, Swinburne’s commitment to reconciliation is unwavering. We stand beside our First Nations staff and students and fully support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The outcome of the referendum energises us to double down on our commitment to reconciliation and closing the gap. It also places a greater need for us to support Indigenous Australians, particularly our staff and students.

In our upcoming RAP 2024 - 2027, we will focus specifically on four major projects to effectively implement our key reconciliation themes: governance and leadership, culture, engagement, teaching and learning, and research, particularly with respect to First Nations staff and students.

Our next RAP will support reconciliation efforts at Swinburne by developing local Indigenous Business Action Plans (IBAPs). These IBAPs will be created and led by individual schools and departments, with the support of the National Centre for Reconciliation Practice and the Moondani Toombadool Centre. We are collaborating with schools, divisions, and VET leaders to ensure these IBAPs are established and functioning effectively by the first half of 2024.

The MTC leads the university on all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters – governance and leadership, culture, employment, student services, teaching and learning, and research. ‘Moondani Toombadool’ means ‘Embracing Teaching and Learning’ in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri Peoples.

2023 highlights include:

  • The Indigenous Student Services team, under the management of Joel Boojers, offered extensive support to more than 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. This support included academic assistance, cultural programs and advocacy services. These services were available to students in various settings, including higher education, vocational education, on-campus, online and in work-based scenarios. Additionally, the team offered a variety of scholarships specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
  • The Swinburne Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Charter, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to enhancing Indigenous students’ educational experience and opportunities, is nearing completion. This Charter, representing a significant commitment to inclusivity and respect for cultural diversity, is scheduled for an official launch in 2024. It has been developed through extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, ensuring it accurately reflects their needs and aspirations.
  • The Charter is expected to set new standards in higher education, providing a framework for supporting Indigenous students in their academic journeys, while promoting cultural understanding and respect within the broader Swinburne community.
  • The MTC hosted the Kiilalaana Foundation for a two-day event on its campus. The Kiilalaana Foundation is dedicated to empowering women and girls, helping them to realise their potential, live authentically, and pursue their passions. During this event, 27 students from the foundation had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the life of an MTC student. They gained insights into the cultural and academic offerings of the MTC, providing them with a comprehensive overview of the student experience.
  • The 2023 Swinburne Annual Reconciliation Lecture featured Mr Richard Young, an artist with Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, and Gunditjmara heritage, as the keynote speaker.
  • The Annual Barak Wonga Oration was presented by Mr. Ian Hamm, MACID FIPAA, the Chair of Swinburne’s Indigenous Governance Committee and the First Nations Foundation.
  • Vicky Peters, appointed Director of Indigenous Engagement in March, has brought a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to her role. Her appointment signifies Swinburne’s dedication to fostering meaningful relationships and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
  • Dr Mat Jakobi, the Academic Director of Indigenous Teaching and Learning, recommenced at Swinburne at the end of 2022. Since then, he has made notable advancements in higher education and vocational education programs. A key achievement includes collaborating on creating Acknowledgements of Country for course and unit materials on Canvas.
  • The MTC On Country Development program occurred in Gariwerd, in the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali lands (the Grampians). This program offers Indigenous students a chance to enhance their personal development skills while fostering a deeper connection with their ancestral lands.
  • Karabena Consulting initiated a project to create an Indigenous Innovation Hub, beginning with a Co-Fab Design Workshop hosted in December. The collaborative workshop gathered insights into the necessary skills, resources, and support needed to promote innovation and entrepreneurial ventures within Indigenous communities in Victoria.
  • Swinburne launched the Indigenous Building Co-Fab (IBC) initiative in a bid to address the pressing issues of housing affordability and sustainability for Indigenous communities. This groundbreaking project seeks to revolutionise the world of building construction by incorporating cutting-edge technologies and locally sourced materials into sustainable homes, co-built by local communities.

Alumni and supporters

At Swinburne, we are deeply committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives. Through generous philanthropy and nurturing strong connections with our alumni, we strive to create meaningful change and leave a lasting impact on our community.

2023 information

This information relates to Swinburne’s work with alumni and supporters in 2023. For current information, visit Alumni.

In the past year, just over 12,000 students graduated, expanding our global alumni network to 236,226 members across 165 countries. Our alumni have been incredibly supportive, dedicating their time, effort and resources to assist students worldwide. This includes mentoring students, participating in alumni network or chapter committee activities, speaking at events and graduations, and contributing to our online publications. We extend our heartfelt thanks for their ongoing support.

The Alumni Impact Awards ran for the third year with the winners announced at an award ceremony in October. The awards recognise the remarkable contributions of our alumni both locally and globally, and our finalists represent a wide range of communities and disciplines. The 2023 winners were Huong Dang, who won the George and Ethel Swinburne Social Impact Award, Jesse Leeworthy, who received the Innovative Planet Impact Award, and Jaclyn Benstead, who took home the Technology Innovation Impact Award.

Ten Swinburne students were awarded the first-ever Giles Family Foundation Semester Exchange Grant, which offers substantial financial assistance for students planning to study abroad for a semester. The scholarship is sponsored by Michael Giles, a Swinburne alum who completed his Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2012. Having experienced the profound impact of studying overseas with the support of a scholarship in his university years, he now aims to assist the next generation to broaden their horizons through international education.

In October, nearly 250 alumni from Swinburne Sarawak, 100 university partners and distinguished Swinburne guests gathered for an Appreciation and Awards Dinner in Malaysia. Attended by the Swinburne Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak, the event was a welcome opportunity for networking and strengthening relationships. 

Our donors generously contribute to Swinburne through one-off and ongoing donations, including those who choose to create a lasting impact by bequeathing a gift in their will. The community of supporters at Swinburne is expanding, significantly benefiting the communities we work with. This support encompasses student scholarships, research initiatives, and other elements of life at Swinburne where their contributions are pivotal. 

Dylan Alcott Foundation

Swinburne is proud to partner with Dylan Alcott OAM through the establishment of the new Dylan Alcott Foundation Scholarship. Dylan established the Foundation with a mission to help enrich the lives of young people with disability by eliminating the barriers of entry to get involved in sport and study through mentoring, grants and scholarships.

Kath Watson Foundation

The Kath Watson Scholarship for Women was established to support female students from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake or continue tertiary education and to achieve their full academic potential by reducing the need to work outside of study.

Ambassador Pete Peterson Scholarships

This scholarship recognises the groundbreaking work of Ambassador Pete Peterson during his time as US Ambassador to Vietnam. The Peterson family award a scholarship to students studying in Swinburne Vietnam Alliance Programs in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, who are seeking to enhance their studies by travelling to Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus and expand their experiences as global citizens.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Swinburne have partnered to enhance training and on-the-job placement opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals. Under a Memorandum of Understanding, Peter Mac and Swinburne will jointly develop curriculum for subjects including nursing, allied health and healthcare-related design and technology. Opportunities for students to undertake placements and other job readiness initiatives at Peter Mac will expand, as will joint research, including clinical research.

John Templeton Foundation

The John Templeton Foundation granted funding to the project ‘From Quantum Foundations to Cosmological Models’, led by Professor Margaret Reid. This project aims to transform quantum foundations by introducing a time-symmetric, objective model, unlike traditional quantum theory. The program aims to revolutionise quantum mechanics in the same way that the transition from geocentric to heliocentric astronomy transformed our understanding of the universe.

Brian Davis Foundation

The Brian Davis Foundation provided funding for a project aimed at studying the long-term, transformative impact of housing interventions on young people who have a history of involvement in the justice system. This grant is in addition to their earlier significant contribution to Swinburne for the Children’s University program this year.

Rotary

Rotary has a long-standing connection with George Swinburne, who was a member of Australia’s first Rotary Club founded in 1921. Over the years, Rotary and Swinburne have shared a desire to make a difference in the world through education and empowerment. Swinburne and Rotary clubs from around Melbourne have collaborated on a range of initiatives in 2023, including the Camberwell Art Show.

Accounting Futures Fund – Beta Alpha Psi

A generous alum and the Accounting Futures Fund supported business students to participate in the Beta Alpha Psi program. These students won the Deloitte Best Practices competition for the Oceania region, beating a number of other local and international universities, and went on to win the global competition in the United States. Congratulations to students Nina Andrighetto, Jacinta Lidonni, Jenny Rogers and Chi Kiet Vong, along with Faculty Advisor John Webster.

Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science Futures Fund

The Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science Futures Fund reached an incredible milestone thanks to the outstanding contributions of Dr Julia Hosie. Dr Hosie has not only donated but also dedicated her time and effort to raising funds. Her commitment reflects a deep understanding of the importance of forensic behavioural science and its role in creating safer and more informed communities.

The Brighton Lunch 2023

This year was the Brighton Lunch’s fourteenth year, and the event was dedicated to recognising and addressing domestic and family violence in Australia. The funds raised went to Swinburne’s Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science. The keynote speakers were Rosie Batty AO, Sue and Lloyd Clarke, and Kate Austin, who all shared their own experiences on this topic.

Swinburne Engineering Excellence Group (SNXG)

Swinburne received a substantial donation from an alum to bolster the SNXG scholarships. This program is dedicated to assisting high-performing students to excel in the field of engineering. This support is not just financial; it also includes opportunities for students to engage in mentorship relationships with their peers, as well as to learn directly from industry professionals.

Contact us

To learn more about our strategies and initiatives, please call our general enquiries number on +61 3 9214 8000.

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