As I say, year-on-year, I continue to be immensely proud of RMIT’s contribution to advancing the lives of our students; to solving society’s most pressing challenges; and to our contribution to the future of the communities where we operate. In 2024, social, economic and geopolitical challenges gave us cause to reflect on what we stand for, during a time when our contribution is more urgent than ever before.
Hundreds of thousands of skilled, knowledgeable workers will be needed in the decades ahead to support Australia’s economy and provide care in our community. This demand will not be met solely through a focus on increasing participation of school leavers, and to do so would overlook a substantial group of Australians from backgrounds not traditionally involved in tertiary education. As you know, at RMIT we’re driven to level the playing field. This is why we believe that the true opportunity for Australia, and for our University, lies in improving accessibility for a wider range of learners from under-represented equity cohorts and working adults. For different reasons, both groups face high barriers to entry and success, and are significantly impacted by cost-of-living pressures.
Our scholarship programs exist because of our donor community, and they have never been more critical.
Your support for wide-ranging projects across sectors is also invaluable. Thanks to your vision and generosity, project PANDA is exploring how acupuncture can be used to provide drug-free pain relief in emergency departments; the Safety and Health Innovation Network (SHINe) is undertaking revolutionary research to improve the experience of work in the construction industry; and, as we celebrated The Capitol’s 100th birthday, we moved closer to one day being able to reinstall the theatre’s historic Wurlitzer organ, Eliza. My appreciation to all, for your ongoing engagement with RMIT, and for your transformative contributions as donors, partners and mentors. Your appreciation of our mission and your support in ways large and small, makes a lasting difference in the lives of so many. You are part of an extraordinary network, and it is the enduring nature of these relationships that form the foundation of a strong community and validate our perennial purpose every day.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Alec Cameron
Vice-Chancellor and President
RMIT University
