Community Bank® partnership gives back to Swinburne

This week, Swinburne and Bendigo Bank leaders will officially open the permanent Community Bank® at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus.

Just seven months after the Community Bank® at Swinburne launched, the partnership is already delivering significant benefits and opportunities to the Swinburne community.

The Community Bank® reinvests banking profits into projects, programs and people at Swinburne. Through the partnership, staff, students and alumni have access to a range of special offers and discounts.

Student industry placements

Bendigo Bank is offering three full-time placements for Swinburne students to gain real industry experience.

Marketing and Advertising student, Natalie Collett, is the first student to undertake a 12-month paid placement with Bendigo Bank as part of her professional degree.  She commenced as a Marketing Assistant in July and will have the opportunity to work on Bendigo Bank’s marketing campaigns, including the strategy for the Community Bank® at Swinburne.

Natalie is the first Swinburne student to undertake a paid professional placement at Bendigo Bank’s head office in Melbourne.

Natalie says she has many opportunities to put her studies and knowledge into practice.

“I have been given different mentors to ensure my placement experience is both memorable and meaningful, and I am being provided with the resources to grow as a student and a marketing professional,” she says. 

Industry-academic collaboration

In July, Swinburne and Bendigo Bank launched a co-created Master of Financial Technologies (FinTech). The postgraduate program is an Australian-first and is being delivered through Swinburne’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE).

The Master of FinTech has been created to meet current and future market demand for skills and qualifications in emerging technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). 

It is based on the industry co-creation model where industry practitioners, known as ‘pracademics’, work with Swinburne academics to create and deliver the course. Bendigo Bank will provide guest speakers and real-life case studies, and give students the opportunity to attend on-site events and be involved in work integrated learning.  

A panel of FinTech experts discussed challenges and opportunities in the FinTech industry at the launch event for the Master of Financial Technologies.

Equipping First Home Buyers

In June, Bendigo Bank facilitated a free First Home Buyers seminar attended by more than 50 Swinburne staff. The bank’s University Relationship Manager, Tanila De Silva, delivered the seminar and spoke to staff about navigating the property market. 

University Relationship Manager, Tanila De Silva, speaking to Swinburne staff about buying a first home.

Community Bank® at Swinburne

As the partnership strengthens, additional benefits will be delivered to the Swinburne community, including funding grants for researchers.

The first jointly-funded research project is expected to commence in 2020, and will be conducted by the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne.  

Swinburne Vice-Chancellor, Professor Linda Kristjanson AO, says the partnership aligns with Swinburne’s commitment to creating social and economic impact within the university and the broader community.

“It is truly a partnership that puts people first and presents opportunities to connect our students, our people and our research with real-time experience, innovation and learning.”

To find out more about Community Bank® at Swinburne visit www.bendigobank.com.au/swinburne

The Community Bank® at Swinburne is open Monday to Friday 9.30am–5pm and is located in the Advanced Technologies Centre. The products available range from student accounts to mortgages, all with special offers and discounts for the Swinburne community.

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