State-of-the-art prayer and wellbeing facility opens on city campus

State-of-the-art prayer and wellbeing facility opens on city campus

The new Multifaith and Wellbeing Centre gives RMIT students and staff a purpose-built facility for prayer and wellbeing activity.

The centre was officially opened by Minister for Skills and TAFE and Minister for Regional Development the Hon. Gayle Tierney and Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alec Cameron at an event attended by government, external partners, staff and students.

Tierney, Cameron and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Professor Sherman Young toured the building to see the dedicated spaces for prayer, ablution, private consultation with the University’s chaplains, and other wellbeing activities. 

Guests enjoyed glimpses of nearby CBD and RMIT campus buildings through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the multipurpose space on the top floor of the centre, which can be used by student groups for wellbeing activities like dance and Taekwondo.

Cameron said he wanted every member of the RMIT community to feel empowered to be bold, to explore and to thrive. 

“That’s why supporting and growing our diversity and our inclusive ways of working and learning, are key priorities for us, he said.

“This important centre at the heart of RMIT's urban City campus and the City North Social Innovation Precinct directly reflects our commitment to inclusion. 

"Our community has a broad range of backgrounds and beliefs, and our Multifaith and Wellbeing Centre will provide a vital space for that to be respected and celebrated,” Cameron said.

ribbon opening for prayer and wellbeing facility featuring RMIT vice-chancellor and various RMIT staff and students

The Centre was funded by the State Government through the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund and is an exciting milestone in the development of the Social Innovation precinct.

RMIT’s bold vision is to create a precinct where people and technology connect to improve community wellbeing and will be home to research, ideas, skills, and new technology. 

Bordered by Lygon, Victoria, Swanston and Queensberry streets it will bring together expertise and skills from different disciplines, organisations, and backgrounds to engage with the major social challenges of our times.

Located in the heart of the precinct, the new Multifaith and Wellbeing Centre plays an important role in bringing together a diverse community of staff and students to encourage participation, activity and enhance social inclusion. 

“It is essential that students from all faiths and all walks of life feel supported at university – this new centre will help RMIT’s students to find community and connection where they spend a lot of their time,” Tierney said.

For RMIT’s students, the Multifaith and Wellbeing Centre is a safe campus location where they can connect meaningfully with their faith and practice mindfulness and wellbeing activity. 

RMIT vice-chancellor inside the facility with wellbeing staff and student

Emily Nguyen, a second year Bachelor of Social Work and Social Science student, said she was grateful to have a sacred space at RMIT where she can connect with practices that ground her.

“My family is Buddhist and I have been surrounded by Buddhist practices as long as I can remember. I will use this space to meditate to access a peaceful mind when met with stressful periods in uni.”

Marketing and Communications student, Nerko Saldic, said the Centre is conveniently located on campus so he can complete his daily prayers around classes, helping him connect to his Islamic faith.

“I prefer using the Centre rather than a mosque far away from campus as it means I can meet with friends and connect more meaningfully with my faith.”

 

Story by: Loretta Clancy

23 November 2023

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