RMIT wins big at Australian Aviation Awards

The RMIT Aviation Academy took home two awards, recognising excellence in flight training and education.

The RMIT Aviation Academy was named Flight Training Business of the Year, and Training and Mentorship Program of the Year at the Australian Aviation Awards last Thursday.

The annual event celebrates individuals and businesses that are positively shaping the growth and development of Australian aviation.

RMIT’s wins highlight the University’s role in strengthening Australia’s aviation sector through training and education.

Aviation has been a part of RMIT for more than 80 years, with the University owning the largest fleet of aircraft in Australia’s higher education sector.

Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of STEM College and Vice-President of RMIT, said the awards highlight RMIT’s role as a leader in aviation.

“RMIT is one of two universities in Australia to hold an Air Operators Certificate and an integrated aviation academy, a model widely adopted by leading international institutions,” she said.

“The Academy is an internationally recognised platform that brings together training, research and industry partnerships to develop professionals and position the Asia-Pacific as a global aviation leader.”

Director of the RMIT Aviation Academy, Lea Vesic, said the Academy strives to build well-rounded professionals.

“Our goal is not simply to be a leading flight training organisation, but to be among the best, recognised for safety, quality, student experience, industry relevance and the confidence we give our students to see themselves as part of aviation’s future,” she said.

Business and Entrepreneurship

14 August 2026

The RMIT Aviation Academy team with their award.

Industry partners key to success

One of the Academy’s greatest strengths is its ability to forge partnerships with airlines, governments and aviation organisations to deliver hands-on learning that supports student development.

RMIT’s exclusive partnership with Leidos gives students access to specialised training that aligns with the unique operational needs of special mission aviation operations.

Since 2024, the Leidos Aviation Scholarship has provided $330,000 worth of scholarship funding to final-year aviation students, which includes study support, mentorship and a guaranteed career pathway upon graduation.

Vesic said this partnership is working to address Australia’s skills challenges, as outlined in the Australian Government’s 2024 Aviation White Paper.

“The partnership with Leidos builds on the training offered by the Academy to ensure graduates are prepared for in-demand jobs in Victoria and across the region.

“The specialist flying training that students receive not only helps to protect Australia’s national interests but also save lives in search-and-rescue operations.”

2024 scholarship recipient Amber Kennett, who now works at Leidos.

Globally connected learning experiences

Students can take advantage of global learning opportunities through the Academy’s strategic partnerships.

In June, a group of students travelled to Canada to participate in an international program delivered by McGill University in partnership with RMIT, where they gained first-hand insights into the strategic, operational and policy challenges shaping the future of civil aviation.

Student Aurelia Ashton said the experience offered a glimpse into how the industry operates in Montreal, the global civil aviation capital of the world.

“The experience allowed me to expand my professional network and gain a more comprehensive understanding of how sustainability and artificial intelligence are impacting the industry,” Ashton said.

Further to this, RMIT’s global partnerships with Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Thai VietJet are delivering cadet pilot training, providing students with real-life industry experience and connections and helping to uplift the Asia-Pacific's aviation capabilities.

RMIT students at McGill University.

Helping to upskill Australia’s workforce

Investing in skills development for professionals is essential to help the workforce adapt to changing conditions and to support continuous, lifelong learning – a key focus for RMIT.

The Aviation Academy contributes to workforce development through a number of programs and initiatives, including RMIT’s Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Transport Safety Investigation.

These industry-specialised courses offer unique qualifications, developed in close collaboration with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, supporting transport safety and accident investigations, which are much-needed areas in Australia's workforce.

Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering Nic Connelly said these courses are a great career development opportunity for professionals.

“This program has been co-designed with industry for rail, marine and aviation accident investigators,” Connelly said.

“We deliver practical and valuable learning through innovative pedagogy, such as our augmented reality crash site, which allows learners to walk around an accident site and look for site hazards without being in that real environment.”

Augmented reality crash site simulates accident investigation scenario.

A focus on safety

The Qantas Group Safety Academy is another collaboration designed to plug gaps in the workforce and build Australia’s safety culture, not just in aviation but across safety critical industries.

Launched in 2025, the Safety Academy offers online or in-person programs to rapidly upskill leaders, safety professionals and entry level workers in safety culture, risk management, data management, cyber safety and human safety factors including sleep and fatigue management.

The courses have been designed with RMIT and Griffith universities, leveraging Qantas’ industry expertise, and aim to promote a new national standard.

“RMIT’s partnership with Qantas is testament to the quality of our training and leadership – not just in producing job-ready graduates but fostering collaboration across the sector, especially when it comes to safety,” said Vesic.

The RMIT Aviation Academy is more than preparing students to pass a test or reach a licence outcome. It is about shaping the next generation of aviation professionals and showing them that leadership does not begin when they become a captain – it begins the moment they choose to step into the industry.

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