2024 Annual Report

The first volume of Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne was published, an important milestone in the University’s truth-telling journey.

Through a generous gift from the Thomson family, the University received the Donald Thomson Ethnohistorical Collection, which reunified the full Donald Thomson Collection.

University partnerships in the Goulburn Murray region were strengthened with the new Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence in Shepparton enabling placements, education programs and research projects.

The University opened a $21 million investment in student housing at the Dookie campus, developed in partnership with the Victorian Government.

Approximately 132,000 visitors experienced the University’s museums, galleries, collections and public programs, including sell-out performances through University of Melbourne Arts and Culture and the award winning cultural precinct.

The University continued its efforts to increase secure employment for its workforce and reduce the extent of casual employment.

The University launched its first Anti-Racism Action Plan to acknowledge, understand, prevent and respond to racism.

The mandatory Respect Education Program was expanded to reach all staff cohorts at the University, including casual employees.

To continue its contribution to foundational public dialogue, the University established a new public series, In Pursuit of Knowledge, designed to facilitate and model respectful debate on critical and difficult societal issues.

The Education at Melbourne framework was established to support educators, encourage innovation and further strengthen recognition for contributions to teaching and the student experience.

The University invested in its ongoing Student Services Transformation Program, resulting in significant early improvements to frontline student services and support.

The University is engaging creatively with the emerging use of generative artificial intelligence, creating a secure trial and test platform and supporting students and staff to use new technology appropriately.

The University endorsed the Student Equity and Disability Services Review’s recommendations to enable all current and future students living with disabilities to succeed and thrive.

The inaugural cohort of Narrm Scholars commenced at the University as part of a significant long-term ambition providing financial and enrichment support to students who’ve faced barriers to university study.

A refresh of the University’s research strategy commenced under the leadership of Professor Mark Cassidy, the University’s new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

The University launched its inaugural Enterprising Melbourne Review, showcasing impact through industry engagement, commercialisation and entrepreneurship.

The Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics and the University of Bonn announced a $54 million Pandemic Therapeutics Research Program to fund groundbreaking new research.

The Research in a Public-Spirited University program was further developed to foster a research culture of openness, collaboration and trust across the University and its partners.

The University of Melbourne was an early signatory of the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia, developed by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching.

The institutional framework to deliver the University’s global agenda, Advancing Melbourne Globally, was launched in March.

The Melbourne Global Centre – Delhi officially opened in September and held 20 events within the first three months.

Important global dialogues, including the Asia and the Pacific Outlook series, were hosted by the University and its institutes.

Global alumni network chapters in China, Malaysia and the United Kingdom celebrated milestone anniversaries.

The Schools Engagement Program in India surpassed its target ahead of schedule, reaching more than 60,000 students in Andrah Pradesh in 2024.