Changing the world for 50 years
Deakin was born on 10 December 1974 in a Geelong paddock to serve a regional community. Now, we're celebrating five decades of making a difference locally and globally.
Welcome from our Vice-Chancellor
On 10 December 2024 Deakin University officially marked its 50th anniversary and began a year of celebration.
Deakin is thriving today because of community leaders who believed in Geelong and made the case for Victoria’s fourth university to be established in a regional centre.
Fittingly, this edition of The dKin Difference reflects this important work alongside more recent projects that amplify the impact Deakin is making here at home and overseas.
The Deakin University Art Gallery is a case in point. It holds one of the nation’s finest collections of contemporary Australian art, with a focus on sculpture. The collection pre-dates the formal establishment of the University and has grown steadily in the years since. We endeavour to display as much of the artwork in our holdings as we can – a departure from the tradition of many other art galleries. Leading sculptor Andrew Rogers has trusted us with more than 100 of his works, and through these pieces we can reflect on a lifetime of diligent practice, reflection and growth (much like the evolution of Deakin itself).
Art speaks a universal language and sometimes its message is urgent. In 2024, respected Australian artist and anti-war activist George Gittoes created a powerful mural on campus as part of his Ukraine Guernica exhibition. This work, gifted to the University, was a collaboration between George and his Ukrainian colleague Ave.
I encourage you to visit the Deakin University Art Gallery in 2025 for one of our commemorative exhibitions, including the Contemporary Small Sculpture Award showcase.
The Geelong community has always believed in Deakin and it is heartening to read the story of the late Allison Murphy, a Deakin graduate who advocated for Geelong as a journalist and public relations professional. A scholarship in her honour was established by the Geelong Community Foundation. In 2024 that award celebrated a decade of supporting the next generation of Deakin women graduates in the fields where Allison excelled.
Another moving story is that of the late Michelle Goy. Michelle was a talented equestrian and medical student at Deakin with a promising career ahead of her. Inspired by the establishment of the Damion Drapac Centre for Equity in Health Professions Education, the Goy family has honoured Michelle with a scholarship in her name to support future rural doctors who play such an important role in communities across Australia.
As we celebrate Deakin’s first 50 years, I invite you to share your own reflections and experiences of Deakin with me at an upcoming event or on our online memory wall. Thank you for your belief in Deakin, and your invaluable contributions to shaping the University and the communities we serve.
Professor Iain Martin
Vice-Chancellor
$11,434,185 philanthropic funds given in 2024
50% of scholarships granted to students in regional and remote areas and 86% supported students facing social or financial disadvantage.
93 donor funded scholarships were offered and accepted, totalling $1,368,288.
65 major donors either increased their annual giving or made a subsequent gift.
The largest legacy gift to Deakin came from the estate of the late Lewis and Libby Hughes, whose bequest of $1.64 million will support a PhD in perpetuity.
A legacy of dedication to rural health
Michelle Goy's family have established a scholarship in her memory that will support a rural student completing the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.
The dKin Difference
A decade of impact and inspiration
A decade of impact and inspiration
Discover how the Allison Murphy Memorial Scholarship has transformed the lives of young women studying politics, media or marketing at Deakin.
A rich tapestry of Australian art
A rich tapestry of Australian art
Connections with Australian donors have made the Deakin Art Gallery collection one of the most distinctive and accessible in the country.
Rebuilding communities, rebuilding hope
Rebuilding communities, rebuilding hope
Philanthropic support has enabled the development of innovative humanitarian leadership development programs.
The healing force of play
The healing force of play
Lesley and Josh's generous bequest will support Deakin's Master of Child Play Therapy program and help rural students complete their degrees.
The power and promise of the sea
The power and promise of the sea
Discover the substantial impact philanthropy has had on encouraging new ideas and approaches to marine research in Victoria.
You don't just grow for now
You don't just grow for now
Val Johnstone's bequest supports Deakin’s postgraduate programs in arts and cultural management – specifically emerging Indigenous Australian practitioners.
Read it cover to cover
Download the 2024 edition in full and discover how philanthropy supports successful learning, rewarding experiences and engaging and inclusive communities.