RMIT welcomes Victorian Governor to Brunswick Campus

RMIT welcomes Victorian Governor to Brunswick Campus

The University was honoured to host Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, for a tour of our Brunswick Campus.

Her Excellency was escorted around campus by a delegation including RMIT Vice-Chancellor Professor Alec Cameron, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Vocational Education (VE) Mish Eastman, Vice President Policy Strategy and Impact Tom Bentley, and Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching in the College of Design and Social Context (DSC) Professor Robyn Healy. 

RMIT Vice-Chancellor Professor Alec Cameron said it was an honour to have the opportunity to host the Governor of Victoria at a campus that is embedded in the creative and multicultural Brunswick Design District (BDD), a partnership between RMIT University, Merri-Bek City Council and Creative Victoria. 

“It was wonderful to show Her Excellency firsthand the life-changing work taking place across both the Higher and Vocational Education spaces in one of Melbourne's most creative and multicultural districts,” he said. 

“Our Brunswick campus is home to some of the University’s most highly-regarded courses, as well as world-class research and innovation facilities like the RMIT Fashion Hub, where students and staff experiment with fashion design in an urban environment, while learning industry best practice.” 

Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria shakes the hands of RMIT leaders

Mish Eastman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education & Vice President RMIT University, thanked Her Excellency for making time to view the varied and important teaching, research and community initiatives undertaken at the Brunswick campus. 

“Our Brunswick campus is known for its specialist facilities and programs, including the print and footwear studios and the Brunswick Maker Space. These allow us to develop work-ready graduates and collaborate extensively with industry to assist in workforce development.” 

“The campus is a great example of how our dual-sector status can assist in tertiary harmonisation, with many connected learning pathways for students to move between Higher Education and Vocational Education courses at Brunswick, particularly in the Fashion and Textiles areas.”

Eastman said that RMIT’s Brunswick campus is a nexus of the University's industry, government and community engagement, underpinned by initiatives like our work with The Social Studios (TSS) to co-develop Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles. 

“This initiative is aimed at helping disadvantaged sections of society attain a qualification,” she said. 

Professor Robyn Healy, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, College of Design and Social Context, commented that it was a privilege to share with Her Excellency how the School of Fashion and Textiles contributes to Victoria's creative economy.   

“Our Brunswick campus has become a creative hub at the forefront of fashion innovation, enterprise and skills development, helping to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurial and creative leaders and shape a just and sustainable industry.” 

“The School of Fashion and Textiles has built an international reputation for excellence through its unique combination of circular design, technology, sustainability and industry engagement. World-class facilities, such as the FLAMME Lab the Textile Design and Development (TDD) studio, coupled with expert academics – many current practitioners and leaders of industry - prepare RMIT graduates to shape the future of a rapidly evolving sector.”

Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC holds a shoe made by RMIT students. She is smiling.

Professor the Hon. Margaret Gardner AC is the 30th Governor of Victoria and the second woman to hold the office.  

She is familiar with the university sector: prior to her appointment, Her Excellency was Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT University from 2005-2014, and Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University from 2014-2023. 

Alongside Her Excellency, RMIT was also proud to welcome representatives from Merri-Bek City Council (MCC), including CEO Kate McCaughey, highlighting the strong collaborations taking place between RMIT and the Council, as part of our formal, ongoing partnership.  

Some of the work RMIT undertakes with MCC is centred on initiatives like the 'Circular Campus to Community' Project – which includes a series of fashion and textiles making workshops focusing on knowledge and skills sharing around circularity practices include repair and reuse – as well as the Brunswick Design District (BDD) partnership. 

“We welcomed the opportunity to host Merri-Bek City Council Representatives and discuss how the university can continue to assist and empower the development of the local area workforce, as well as play an important role in the local community,” said Tom Bentley, Vice President Policy Strategy and Impact at RMIT.  

The Brunswick campus features several specialist facilities that support research and learning and teaching in these areas. It is also home to a number of exhibition and creative spaces that reflect its design focus. 

Learn more about Brunswick campus. 

15 July 2026

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15 July 2026

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