RMIT Asia Hub

RMIT Asia Hub

Building Australia’s Asia Intelligence

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The RMIT Asia Hub builds Australia’s Asia Intelligence by pioneering innovative approaches to understanding and engaging with Asia.  

A collaboration between RMIT University and Asia Society Australia, the RMIT Asia Hub is a dynamic research, learning and events hub based in Melbourne with connections across Australia and Asia.

The RMIT Asia Hub aims to deepen Australian business, student and community understanding of Asia by placing Asian Australians at the centre of its programming, connecting directly to industry, and leveraging the combined expertise and networks of Hub partners. 

The Hub co-locates the Asia Society Australia, Australian APEC Study Centre and the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) in a modern facility in the heart of RMIT’s Melbourne City campus.

Hub offerings

Leadership development programs

The Hub works to enhance Australia’s Asia Intelligence by offering leadership development programs designed to increase Australian business professionals’ contextual and cultural understanding of Asia, better equipping them to take advantage of commercial opportunities across the region.

Thought leadership

The Hub develops and shares research and insights on regional priority areas, provides a platform for discussion and learning, and cultivates a local and international network of government, industry and academic professionals with a shared interest in Asia.

Global student experiences

Located at RMIT University’s Melbourne city campus, the Hub supports RMIT University students to better understand and engage with Asia. The Hub complements existing student coursework, offering a practical, immersive and global student experience.

Programs

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IEIF – ASEAN Research Collaboration Project

This project was administered by the Australian Government Department of Education through the International Education Innovation Fund (IEIF), delivered in partnership with the RMIT Asia Hub.

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Southeast Asia Intelligence (SEAQ)

The RMIT Asia Hub, in partnership with Asia Society Australia, are pleased to announce the ‘Strengthening Australia’s Southeast Asia Intelligence (SEAQ) project’ funded by the inaugural ASEAN-Australia Centre 2024-2025 Grants Program.

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News and resources

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RMIT strengthens commitment to Asia through renewed partnership with Asia Society Australia

RMIT University and Asia Society Australia (ASA) have announced the second phase of their partnership and launched the renamed RMIT Asia Hub, front door to understanding and engaging with Asia in Melbourne.

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Vietnam-Australia team advances concrete fracture research

Supported by an Australian Government-funded initiative, a collaboration between Vietnam- and Australia-based researchers has led to a pioneering publication in construction engineering.

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Alumni event explores Australia’s future in Southeast Asia

Around 50 alumni from across disciplines joined industry leaders and staff at the RMIT Asia Hub for Building Success in Southeast Asia, a special alumni event exploring Australia’s future engagement with the region.

Malaysia City

New report aims to strengthen Victoria’s connections with Southeast Asia

A new report out of the RMIT Asia Trade and Innovation Hub has made 19 recommendations designed to strengthen Victoria’s connections with the countries of Southeast Asia.

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Australian Business in Southeast Asia Survey 2025 (PDF 1.4 MB)

The Australian Business in Southeast Asia Survey provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Australian businesses operating in or considering entering Southeast Asia. With 2025 as its ninth year, the survey saw a significant increase in participation, with responses rising from 180 in 2024 to 341 in 2025. Explore the report to discover the latest trends shaping Australia’s business engagement with the region.

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11th International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC) 2025 (PDF 17 MB)

Explore the agenda and speakers for ICCC-11: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Urban Futures: Building ASEAN Resilience through Innovation and Policy.

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Australian Business in ASEAN Survey 2023-2024

The eighth edition of the annual AustCham ASEAN survey was supported by RMIT University. It presents the most current and comprehensive insight into the Australian business chambers and councils, and their members, across the ASEAN region.

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Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has released a Strategy that sets out pathways to significantly increase Australia's two-way trade and investment with Southeast Asia.

Featured reports

Summary Paper: Engaging Australia’s Southeast Asian Business Community

In March 2024, the RMIT Asia Hub, in collaboration with Asia Society Australia, brought together several diaspora leaders in Australia from key ASEAN countries to discuss strengthening business links and identify key activities and opportunities to support SMEs in Australia to engage in two-way opportunities.

APEC FTAAP Paper

The Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) provides a practical way to advance this. Combined with APEC’s unique and useful mode of voluntary cooperation, the FTAAP can be a conceptual framework to tackle these regional challenges, and to advance integration, collaboration, and openness. This paper seeks to contribute to the discussion and foster mutual understanding on how to do so during China's 2026 APEC host year.
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In 2022, the Hub released a series of three reports with the goal of enhancing the relationship between Victoria and Southeast Asia.

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Regional Collaboration: Transnational Security Training

RMIT’s transnational security training activities are a key part of our focus on regional collaboration and our network of Industry and Innovation Hubs across the region.

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Location


The RMIT Asia Hub is located at 360 Swanston St, nestled in amongst RMIT’s bustling City Campus. You’ll find us at the sub-street level of RMIT University Building 8, within RMIT’s CBD North.

The Hub serves as a connected space for Asia Society Australia, the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute and The Australian APEC Study Centre.

 

Address

Level 2, Building 8

RMIT University, 368-374 Swanston St

Melbourne VIC 3000

Core partners



The Australian APEC Study Centre logo
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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures