Vol. 78 No. 1
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.
Acknowledgement of Country
Graduate House acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and meet, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong people and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.
Annual Report of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated
The Melbourne Graduate April 2025 — Volume 78, Number 1
Periodical Publication of The Graduate Union
Print Post Approved PP337834/00022
Incorporated Association Registration Number A0023234B
Editor: Rebecca Broadhead and Paula Pena
Email: publications@graduatehouse.com.au
Images used in this publication are the resources of The Graduate Union and publicly sourced domains.
The President's Message
My report will be brief this year.
The reason for that is that most of Council’s attention and efforts have been on the process of obtaining a suitable partner via a Ground Lease, to further the Graduate House Master Plan. As discussions with potential partners must remain confidential, detail cannot be provided.
It is a complex undertaking, and I can only say that in more recent times the scene has shifted somewhat, and rather than having made a selection, we are engaged in continuing discussions with promising partners. Council is of the view that we should continue along these lines. Obviously at the appropriate time the members will be more fully informed, but I can say that the Chair, and Council are seeking the best possible partner and arrangements that will serve the Graduate Union well, particularly into the future. The Chair and Facilities Committee who have the responsibility for the project have worked extremely hard and continue to do so.
All members of Council have fully engaged with the process and been diligent and supportive of the Chair.
In other respects, Daniel and his staff have
continued to run a very good operation for the benefit of post graduate students and other members who use the space and attend the regular lunches and dinners as well as other social activities, which continue to attract interesting speakers.
At the Special General Meeting in March 2025, two amendments to the Rules were passed. One allowed for electronic voting, and the other extended the length of term for the President from a limit of 6 consecutive years (of two terms of 3 years), to a third term of 3 years in extraordinary circumstances, as determined by Council.
My current term as President concludes on 27 March 2025. At the meeting of Council on 31 March, Council resolved to appoint me to the role of President for a further 3-year term, given my involvement in the current process furthering the Graduate House Master Plan which is reaching a critical juncture.
I hope during that time we will have cemented a partnership and be well underway with the project.
I thank the members for their understanding and support of the Chair and Councillors as we progress this project, we all have a vested interest in its success.
I thank Daniel and his staff for their continuing contribution to the smooth running of Graduate House which is essential to the environment we all enjoy.
The
Honourable
Diana Bryant AO QC President of The Graduate Union
Message from the Chair
I am delighted to present my second report from the Chair. The focus of my year has been the transition to redevelopment of the land in a manner that strengthens the future of the Graduate Union and its role within the postgraduate Parkville Precinct.
The Union continued to implement the strategic plan and undertook a further review in February. It is critical to ensure that the vision of the strategic plan is included for everyone to read in the website. I highlight our purpose below.
To support Graduates with a commitment to lifelong education and a passion for the exchange of ideas.
The Council acknowledges that graduate student accommodation is now being provided by Melbourne University and the private sector. Our programming includes on site and hybrid activities. The standard of engagement and flexibility in member services is foremost in our vision. We need to be able to adapt to needs in the future in a financially responsible way to ensure our sustainability over time.
The executive team prepared an action program, supported by Councillors and committee members.
The legacy and continuing relevance of the Graduate Union is a privilege to steward. The expression of interest process was carried out, with the expertise of Ben Desmond. It became clear that redevelopment of the whole site is key to ensuring the optimal results during and after the development process. Melbourne Business School (MBS) is redeveloping its half of the east side of University Square. We are collaborating with MBS to ensure that the spatial and active interface enhances the Parkville Precinct.
A couple of statistics are provided to describe our activities during the last 12 months. Occupancy rose to 88.4% in 2024, compared to 84.5% in 2023. Meeting Services welcomed 11,748 attendees to meeting and events held at Graduate House, double that of 2022.
The staff are very warm and welcoming. The food is full and wholesome, offering the best value in Parkville, which is obviously subject to bias! Nelson, Basma and their team are vigilant and creative.
The radio station 3MBS held 3 concerts at Graduate
House which were very well received. The program is continuing this year. The introduction of the Twilight Series of talks were a great success and offers another event for members to attend. All other user groups are listed on page 33 of the Annual Report.
The Vice Chancellor’s nominees, Kylie O’Connell and David Israel have made significant contributions, offering perspectives which enhance our understanding of the broader higher education sector. Kylie has resigned from the University of Melbourne and has been co-opted to Council. She has been nominated for election at the AGM. David Israel’s appointment ceases at the end of May. Discussions will be held with the Vice Chancellor’s offices regarding future appointments. The Graduate Union remains a member of the Heads of University Accommodation Committee. University departments and other groups continue to hold functions at Graduate House. The Graduate Student Association relationship has strengthened with events being held at Graduate House and the Union’s involvement with activities on campus. The Union is participating in the Indigenous academic program through the generous donation by the McCredie family and the Graduate House fundraising program. Three visiting scholars will
stay with us, meet with us and share their stories with members in Graduate House and through our publications.
The Graduate Union membership includes over 35 nationalities. The global engagement provides a fascinating environment for engagement and understanding. We have consciously embraced the recognition of Australia’s indigenous heritage which adds depth to our thinking and respectful behavior.
Martin Comte OAM and Max Stephens, as CoChairs of the Advancement Committee, undertook the pilot mentoring program with Mentors included members and mentees were Graduate House residents.
The pin project was completed and signifies a new era. The winner was Ingrid Tseng. The pin will be available at the AGM for purchase.
Molina Asthana as Chair of the Governance Committee, has continued the program of updating policies and ensuring that we act responsibly. She has ensured that the redevelopment process is undertaken within the constructs of the Constitution. Molina represented the Graduate Union with distinction at the opening of the University of Melbourne Centre in New Delhi.
Jane Tisdall, as Chair of the Finance Committee, has kept a competent eye on income and expenditure to ensure that the legacy is managed soundly. Jane has improved reporting and thoroughly assessed the financial implications of the bids to inform the Council.
Lawry Grima, as Chair of the Facilities Committee,
has continued to work with staff to make sure that facilities are safe and comfortable. He has also led the redevelopment process, including the expressions of interest, assessment of proposals and liaison with stakeholders and thoroughly explored the implications of each of the bids
Greg Carter, Governance Secretariat, has mastered the Onboard governance platform and managed all the committees to ensure that decisions are timely and well informed.
National and international club reciprocity is being strengthened following COVID. Clubs with which we have actively reconnected include in Australia - The University club of Western Australia Commercial Travellers' Association (Sydney), New South Wales Masonic Club and Kelvin Club; In Canada - Faculty Club (Toronto) and University of Alberta Faculty Club (Edmonton); In India - PYC Hindu Gymkhana (Pune); UK - Oxford Club in London, Goodenough House, City University Club of London; In Thailand - Mahidol University International College; In Singapore - NTU Almuni Club and the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS); and In the United States - Harvard Club in Boston, The University Club of San Francisco, University Club of St Paul, The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley, The Club at UC Santa Barbara, The Quadrangle Club and The University Club of Boston.
The Annual Report includes a list of all Councillors and Committee members on Page 11. All of our valued crew, led by Daniel Clark, are acknowledge on page 40 of this report. Everyone has worked tirelessly in a period of significant change. We welcome any questions during the transition period of the development. The website will include a page and we will be holding information sessions in a timely manner.
Natalie Gray Chairperson of Council
General Manager's Message
2024 saw the continued growth in confidence for the Graduate Union through its accommodation and meeting services events. The focus and drive for the year was the progress towards the future of the Association inclusive of member engagement, future planning and accommodation growth.
• We saw a decrease in the number of members overall of the Graduate Union Association
• Graduate House occupancy rose to 88.4% from 2023’s result of 84.5%
• The Council launched the Strategic Plan 2024-2026
• Major activity and work around the Stage 1 Master Plan Project
• Increase in GU Collegiate events
Council and committees
The Strategic Plan 2024-2026 has enabled the Council and Committees to really focus on aspects of the Association to drive it into the future. The work of the Chair of Council, Cr Natalie Gray, in leading the Council has been tremendous. The Chairs of Committees are working diligently and effectively with their Committees to undertake measured and meaningful task under their Committee’s roles and responsibilities.
I thank the President the Hon. Diana Bryant KC and Chair of Council Cr Natalie Gray for their continued leadership of The Graduate Union. The Chairs of Committees have worked diligently throughout the year and accomplished many tasks as part of
the Strategic Plan 2024-2026. To all members of Council and Committees, thank you, for the time, effort and dedication you have shown to the Graduate Union and to advancing our association into the future.
The Council and Facilities Committee have been the leading groups undertaking the advancement of the Stage 1 Master Plan development project. Major steps were made during 2024 to action the building permit and find a partner to build the development. This is a very exciting time for the Graduate Union with the future of the Association looking very promising. A full report to Members on the project is provided later in the annual report but the project, if successful, will include an initial capital payment to assist with debt recovery and then an ongoing annual lease payment.
Membership
The Advancement Committee was formed at the AGM in May 2024, with the rule changes approved at the meeting. The Advancement Committee brings together new thinking and focus from the previous Membership and Marketing and Fundraising and Benefactions Committees. The Advancement name shows the direction and focus of the new Committee.
Membership in 2024 fell compared to 2023 but new Members joining was higher than Members electing not to resign from their membership. The work of staff to reconnect with all Members has been the result of this decline in Members. Residents increased over the year with the increase in accommodation bookings.
A pilot Mentoring Program was held in Semester 1 2024 with both mentors (Members) and mentees (Graduate House residents) coming away positively from the program with new knowledge and experiences. The aim of the Mentoring Program was to improve residents’ experience of living and studying in Graduate House – and in Melbourne and to assist them on their academic and professional journey.
The feedback from the pilot program will be used for future mentoring programs, so please look out for calls for Mentors and Mentees in 2025. I thank Vice-Chair of Council, Emeritus Professor Martin
The Graduate Union collegiate events in 2024 expanded with renewed alternative events held throughout the year. The Monthly Luncheons saw speakers on Obesity, Graduate Women Victoria and life at sea. The re-introduction of the Twilight Lectures saw three fantastic speakers entertain and inform interested audiences. The inaugural Graduate House Series with 3MBS radio station saw three performances of emerging performers. Attended by Graduate House Members and 3MBS subscribers, those present heard the recitals and attend lunch in the dining room beforehand.
Donors
We are always thankful to our generous donors who continued to support us throughout 2024 and over the past years. The generosity of each donor is greatly appreciated by the Association. The Graduate Union in 2024 received the very generous bequest from the family of David and Yvonne McCredie. This bequest was specifically for the accommodation of an Australian Indigenous Scholar and enabled the Advancement Committee to review and consider scholarships for the future. The result is the introduction of the “Scholar in Residence” program. The Graduate Union has been in contact with the University of Melbourne and their faculties to enable this program to commence, with the first being from the Indigenous Law and Justice Hub at the Melbourne Law School. This will see a scholar accommodated for a period at Graduate House while here with the University. The scholar will be asked to hold a talk on their studies for the Members and Residents. A great initiative brought out of this generous donation.
Our campaigns for 2024 took on a new focus with the Mid-Year Campaign for donations for Advancement Support for Membership activities. The End-ofYear Campaign is being continued in support of the new Scholar in Residence initiative for 2025 and 2026. These were well received and I thank every donor for contributing to the campaigns.
Donors are able to donate to ongoing campaigns of the 110th Jubilee Anniversary Endowment and the William Berry and Barbara Funder Post-Graduate Student Trust.
Graduate House
Graduate House saw an increase of 3.9% occupancy to 88.4% in 2024, compared to 84.5% in 2023. Demand for graduate accommodation has stayed strong with now longer-term bookings being made by residents and a further increase in short term booking for visiting academics to the University of Melbourne and other universities.
The Melbourne Metro Tunnel’s Parkville Station was officially completed in June 2024 with the reopening of Grattan Street. The Precinct now awaits the opening of the metro line in 2025 and the impact to the area. The ease it will make for people to travel to and from the area will be tremendous for the precinct.
Meeting Services also saw an increase in events and number of people attending each event, returning back to levels pre-Covid-19. Its wonderful to have clients that have been holding events here at Graduate House for many years.
To the staff of The Graduate Union, my humble appreciation to the day to day work and dedication that you display to the many Members of The Graduate Union and the Residents. Thank you! My thanks go to Shirley Ho for her 16 plus years working wit us and wish her the best in her retirement.
Looking ahead to 2025
It is an exciting time with the looming decision for the Stage 1 development and the impact that it will have for the future. Graduate House will continue to have good demand for accommodation and meeting service events, even facing the strong competition in the area. The access to the precinct will change dramatically in 2025 with the opening of the Melbourne Metro Parkville Station. Members will be at the forefront of activities on reciprocal clubs, member offerings and GU collegiate events.
Daniel Clark
General Manager of Graduate House
Chairperson of Governance and Nominations subcommittee
Council Members
2024 – 2025
Advancement subcommittee
Audit subcommittee
Cr Natalie Gray Chairperson of Council
Cr Jane Tisdall Chairperson of Finance and
Cr Molina Asthana
Cr Vincent J Mirabelli
Cr Michael Lynch
Cr Martin Comte OAMl Vice-Chairperson of Council; Co-Chair of advancement subcommittee
Cr Lawrence Grima Chairperson of Building and Facilities subcommittee
The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC Presidentl
Cr Max Stephens Co-chair of
Cr David Israel
Cr Kylie O'Connell
Cr Virginia Ross
Cr Russell Maisner Vice-Chancellor Representatives from the University of Melbourne
Annual General Meeting 2024
112th Annual General Meeting of The Graduate union of The University of Melbourne
The President, Cr The Hon Diana Bryant AO KC, chaired the AGM and welcomed all Members present and online. Apologies were read, quorum was confirmed and no conflicts of interest was declared and the minutes of the AGM No. 111, held 16 May 2023, was adopted as a true record.
The President advised that the President’s Message was provided to all Members in The Melbourne Graduate sent to all Members prior to the AGM.
Chair of Council, Cr Natalie Gray’s report.
Chair of Council thanked the President for her support during the year and acknowledged outgoing Chair of Council Cr Mirabelli for his service. Some highlight of her report include:
• the Graduate Union Strategic Plan 20242026, advising that performance indicators are currently being developed to ensure the successful implementation of the plan for Members.
• the Graduate Union Master Plan and the positive contribution the new building would make to the precinct, along with the impact and legacy for The Graduate Union.
• the importance of ensuring relationships are maintained with members, with The University of Melbourne and the Heads of Colleges.
• the Doctoral Journey Program with students and academics of the University continues to grow in reputation and impact
• the Mentoring Program has been a great initiative for 2023/2024, with a good participation rate amongst mentors and mentees.
• Reciprocal rights with international graduate associations are continuing.
GM (General Manager), Mr Daniel Clark’s report.
The GM spoke about the three goals set for 2023 that were met — reconnect with members, rebuilding the College Community and welcoming back attendees to meeting services.
Key matters highlighted were:
• an increase in numbers of membership of The Graduate Union.
• Graduate House occupancy rose to 84.5% from 2022’s result of 58.5%.
• The Graduate Union (GU) Council’s completion of the Strategic Plan 2024-2026.
• Actions taken for the progression of the Stage 1 Master Plan Project.
• The Doctoral Journey Master Class Series was successfully undertaken.
The GM acknowledged Cr Muan Lim and Cr Mary Kelleher whose terms on Council have concluded and thanked them for their contribution over many years. The GM is grateful to all donors for their ongoing financial support of the Association.
The GM spoke of some of the initiatives of 2024, which include:
• demand for services continuing to grow;
• student groups being re-activated;
• an alliance with GSA (Graduate Student Association) in the development process;
• opportunities being investigated to enliven the Graduate House community;
• Meeting services continuing to grow strongly;
• the precinct that will change dramatically when the Parkville Station is commissioned and that Graduate House will be in a good position to be a part of that.
The General Manager thanked the staff for their ongoing support of The Graduate Union.
Financial Report For The Year Ended 31 December 2023
The Chair of the Finance and Audit subcommittee, Cr Muan Lim, spoke on the Association’s Financial Report for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Cr Lim reflected on the last two years as being extremely challenging for the Association, but
with close monitoring of finances, the Association had managed to continue operating albeit with limited capacity. Revenue grew by $1M which was excellent, but the challenge was the high operating and maintenance costs. It was difficult to make a high surplus and to grow the Member’s Fund. The Association made a surplus in 2023 which was gratifying for the hard work done to keep the Association growing.
Cr Lim advised that it was time for him to finish up on Council and as Chair of the Finance and Audit subcommittee. He thanked the subcommittee for their work during the year.
Election of Council Members
There were three vacancies on Council and the Returning Officer, Stephen Luntz received two nominations. Therefore, there was no requirement to hold an election. The President advised the outcome of the call for nominations being:
• Cr Jane Tisdall
• Cr Michael Lynch
• Vacant
The President congratulated Cr Tisdall and Cr Lynch on their appointment to Council for a period of three years from Thursday 30 May 2024 to 29 May 2027.
Appointment of Auditor
The President spoke of the Finance and Audit subcommittee’s satisfaction with the work of the Association’s auditor, noting his thorough and unbiased auditing of the 2023 financial operations. The President recommended to Members the re-appointment of the current auditor and it was resolved for the appointment of Mr Wayne Tarrant, of MVA Bennett, to undertake the independent audit for the financial year ending 31 December 2024 be approved.
Motion for Special resolution: Proposed changes to the Rules of The Graduate Union
The President spoke of the need to change the Association’s Rules, to amend the Council subcommittee naming convention. The motion changes:
• the use of “subcommittee” to “Committee”;
• changing the name “Finance and Audit subcommittee” to “Finance Committee”; and •changing the name “Disciplinary subcommittee” to “Accountability Committee”.
It was resolved that the amendments to the Rules of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated, as outlined in the Explanatory Memorandum for motion for special resolution be adopted.
Launch Of The Strategic Plan 2024-2026
The Chair of Council introduced The Graduate Union Strategic Plan 2024/2026 to members. The Chair commended the work undertaken by Council and the thorough approach to the development of the new Strategic Plan.
The process for the development of the plan included a thorough examination by Council on where it felt the Association should be by 2026. It also included a renewed focus on members, not just accommodation and meeting services. The development of annual work plans for Council’s Committees will ensure that the plan becomes a reality.
The President commended Council on the thorough approach it took to the development of the Strategic Plan.
Recognition of service
The President commented that The Graduate Union exists because people volunteer their time and their skills and that the Association is very fortunate to have people who maintain their commitment to The Graduate Union. The President acknowledged three Councillors who had finished a long commitment to the Association:
• Cr Vincent Mirabelli – finished his term as past chair of Council. Cr Mirabelli had done an outstanding job in steering the Association through COVID and very difficult times;
• Cr Mary Kelleher – finished her term after nine years on Council. Cr Kelleher was commended for her astute and generous contribution and service;
• Cr Muan Lim – finished his term on Council but will remain a member of the Finance Committee.
Cr Lim was commended for his generous and knowledgeable service as Chair of the Finance and Audit subcommittee and six years on Council. It was noted that Cr Lim was the right person in his position during COVID.
Master planning update
The Chair reiterated how the Master Plan accords with the Strategic Plan. She advised that COVID had forced a delay in planning and that there was therefore a need to apply for an extension to the
Planning Permit. The Association is now awarded an extension of permit for four years.
Council is now in a position to call for Expressions of Interest for partner organisation to work with the Association and to ensure that the building will be an asset which ensures the strongest legacy for the Association. Underlying the construction, Council wants to ensure that the asset will facilitate the connection of people to make The Graduate Union more dynamic and fiscally sustainable into the future.
The underlying principles for any partnership proposal are:
• The Graduate Union is committed to retaining its current operation as a facility for graduates with wider services to members and the community;
• The Graduate Union is committed to retaining ownership of the current site which will become increasingly desirable following the opening of the Parkville Station in Grattan Street; and
• The Graduate Union is committed to entering into discussions with potential partners with whom it can work to achieve mutually agreeable goals for the future development of the site.
Questions from members were invited. To a question about why the City of Melbourne rejected the permit extension application. It was explained that it was to do with overshadowing of The University Square and heritage provisions. Both of these issues were dealt with in the tribunal hearing.
To another question about whether Council had any concerns about the Federal Government’s planned visa changes to cap international students, The Chair advised that the current international student numbers for The University of Melbourne are growing consistently and that it is envisaged that this will continue to be the case due to the University’s international reputation.
The next AGM is scheduled on Thursday, 29th May 2025
The meeting closed at 6.30pm.
Members proceeded to the Member’s Lounge for pre-dinner drinks and canapes and then to combined Ian Potter and Stillwell Rooms for the AGM dinner. w
Graduate House - Stage 1
Master Plan Development
History of the project
The Stage 1 Master Plan is the re-development of the seven terrace buildings forming the William Berry Wing and the original home of Graduate House. The Stage 1 redevelopment began in 2016 with concepts and discussions, resulting with the approval of the Planning Permit for the potential construction of an eleven storey and five basement building. This was slated for three levels of collegiate amenities and 136 accommodation rooms.
The Graduate Union Council, Committees and Management worked through these initial years on several avenues for the project delivery including philanthropic activities (including the Capital Fund campaign) and funding it ourselves. A fundraising assessment and strategy were commissioned with aims and goals set for the project. Other avenues of funding and partner relationships were explored, includding discussions with key stakeholders within the precinct.
COVID-19 hit in 2020 and all works were ceased while the association focused on its viability and future. During these years the City of Melbourne accepted and extended the Planning Permit to July 2024.
Revival of the project
After COVID-19, the Association and College slowly regained the lost business during 2022 and 2023. Demand was seen as Graduate students returned, meetings were returning to face-to-face format and in larger numbers and the members had returned to lunches and Collegiate events.
This growing confidence enabled the Council to highlight in the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan the need to activate the Stage 1 Planning Permit. Considerations turned to finding a partner with like-minded values for several partnership options including a ground lease agreement. This was seen as the best option for the Graduate Union as would enable a good financial outcome for the future, while producing the building of which it had always dreamt.
What is a Ground Lease?
A ground lease is an agreement between the owner of the land and a development partner/s, whereby the partner constructs and funds a building on the land, and operates an agreed portion of it (upon completion) under the agreed terms of a long term lease arrangement.
Importantly for The Graduate Union, freehold ownership of the property is retained or preserved,
and upon conclusion of the lease, the property and building fully reverts to Graduate Union ownership.
A possible ground lease model leverages private sector expertise, funding and development capability whilst ensuring The Graduate Union has the opportunity to benefit from the redevelopment project.
Under the proposed model, if finalised, a new building will be developed in accordance with agreed parameters and conditions. Our vision is for an exemplary building that makes a strong contribution to the Parkville precinct and delivers high quality accommodation outcomes and member facilities. There is also a great opportunity to work with our neighbours and the interface with University Square to promote excellent urban design outcomes.
A range of possible different financial returns from the Project are being explored, including capital payments, rental payments and new facilities (in lieu)
2023 and 2024 actions
During 2023 the Council saw the opportunity for the Ground Lease and began discussions with consultants and potential partners on the possibility of a Ground Lease agreement. At this stage, the Planning Permit for the redevelopment was due to expire in July 2024. This was seen as a major hurdle for any potential partner.
Therefore, the Graduate Union applied for an extension to the planning permit. This was initially denied by the Melbourne City Council on several grounds with which the Graduate Union did not concur. Due to this the Graduate Union took the case to VCAT and the decision of the tribunal was in favour of the extension. We successfully obtained a four year extension.
With this extension in hand the Graduate Union engaged a professional property/commercial advisor to undertake a closed Expression of Interest (EOI) tender process. This was released in July 2024 with over 15 submissions received from potential partners and letters of interest from Precinct Partners (Hospital and Research Institutions with the Carlton/Parkville area). At this stage a shortlist of 3-4 partners were identified. To date considerations and refining of the submissions continue and Council hopes to engage a preferred partner following comprehensive due diligence and final agreement discussions in late 2025. for June/July 2025.
The future
The Graduate Union might look very different in the future following the redevelopment of Graduate House. However, the core offering to Members will remain; dining facilities and a quiet place to meet; function spaces for improved GU Collegiate events and access to new modern accommodation. Access to other building amenities such as a gym, private dining and roof top terrace are some of the additions that might be on offer.
Election to Council
Above Quota Elections (AQE) were contacted on October 24, 2024 in regard to acting as Returning Officers for the Graduate Union annual election to be held from March to May 2025.
We provided a quote on October 28, which was accepted. We were informed that the Graduate Union wished to move its elections online, as had been discussed previously. Several meetings were held to map out the process for doing this. An entirely online election would require all members to have email addresses and have provided those to the Union. Since this is not the case, it was felt necessary to start with a hybrid system, with options for postal and in-person voting in at least the first year.
Plans were agreed upon as to how to conduct such a hybrid election, as time would have been short to organize this if planning started after nominations closed.
However, with only three nominations for the three positions, no contest was required.
Consequently, once again the election was very straightforward. Our role was restricted to the taking and verifying of nominations and dealing with candidate queries.
The nominations received were from Kylie O’Connell, Walter Maxwell (Max) Stephens and Lawrence Grima. Although one nomination contained an error, we deemed this minor enough that it could be fixed after the close of nominations.
Consequently, all three members are declared elected unopposed.
Stephen Luntz Returning Officer
Personal Statements from Candidates
O'CONNELL, Kylie
I was appointed as Vice Chancellor's representative on the Council six years ago. I recently left the University of Melbourne but wanted to continue my work with the Union. I was fortunate to be appointed to the Council as a member. I am pleased to be able to continue my engagement with the Graduate Union and Graduate House. I will continue to sit on the Advancement and Governance Committees and will continue to contribute to the fine tradition that is the Graduate Union.
Personal Statements from Candidates
GRIMA, Lawrence (Lawry) GAICD, JP, MEI
I am honored to have been re-elected to the Council of our graduate college. Over the past three years, I have been committed to the success and sustainability of our institution, working on both the Finance and Facilities Committees to ensure we continue providing a high-quality living and learning environment for our graduate students.
As Chairperson of the Facilities Committee, my focus has been on maintaining and improving our infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of our students and members. I remain dedicated to ensuring our college offers a safe, comfortable, and inspiring environment that fosters academic excellence and personal growth.
Looking ahead, my vision is to further enhance our facilities through thoughtful planning, sustainable improvements, and efficient use of resources. I will continue to advocate for investments that strengthen our college’s long-term future while upholding our mission as a not-forprofit, member-owned institution.
STEPHENS, Max PhD (Melb), MA (Melb), DipEd (Melb)
Dr Max Stephens now enters his third term as an elected councillor of the Graduate Union. Max has been co-chair of the Advancement Committee of Council and along with Martin Comte has supported Council’s mentoring program for residents at Graduate House. Max also helped to promote the very successful end-of-year appeal which will support a visiting Indigenous scholar-in-residence at Graduate House. He is also a point of contact with the Graduate Students Association of the University.
Governance
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee is pleased to provide this report on its activities in 2024. The roles and responsibilities of this Committee are provided in regulation 33.2.
Strategic priority of ‘continuing to develop our legacy’
The Governance Committee played a key role in assisting Council with the governance-related aspects of the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, including the development and implementation of changes to the governance structure of the association’s Committees.
The changes made to the Constitution (the Rules) and supporting Regulations over the past decade continue to enable the Association to have; sound systems, well developed and implemented policies and procedures; and contemporary governance operations. These all have been subjected to repeated and continuous quality control measures.
All governance meetings of the Assocation were held in hybrid format: face-to-face and via video conference throughout the year. The annual General Meeting was held on the 30th May 2024 with good attendance of Members and with the opportunity for Members to attend online.
Throughout 2024 The Governance Committee has played a pivotal role in the Stage 1 development project and the expression of interest process. This was to ensure that the probity of the process was fair and all confidentiality aspects were adhered to for this very important process and project.
Rules
At the 2024 Annual General Meeting, minor
changes to the Rules were proposed and passed by the Members. These rule changes redefined the governance structure of the Council’s Subcommittees (to Committees) and included the streamlining of each Committee’s roles and responsibilities and the creation of the Advancement Committee. This new Committee takes over the role and responsibilities of the Membership and Marketing and Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittees.
Council performance, subcommittees and composition
The Association continued to enhance its governance structure, with the refinement of the Subcommittees to Committees and the reduction from five to four Committees; this has allowed a more refined roles and responsibilities of each to be made.
The Council, Management and Staff have worked closely to ensure that Members, Resident Members and Guests are well looked after at Graduate House.
The Governance Committee has worked throughout 2024 to assist with the review, revamp and develop the many policies of the Graduate Union. A policy review, development and amendment process has been developed to ensure each Committee of the Association is working towards continued review and understanding of policies under their mandate.
2024 also saw the introduction of a Council performance review process, conducted by an external agency, which provided a benchmarked assessment of the effectiveness of Council’s governance performance. Recommendations following this process will inform Council’s upcoming professional development.
The Rules provide for the election of not more than nine Council Members, each with terms of (usually) three years. In 2024, we saw the retirement of Cr Mary Kelleher after nine years of service on Council and we thanked her for the service and dedication given to the Association. Cr Jane Tisdall was reelected for her second three-year term and we welcomed Cr Michael Lynch to Council for his first three-year term.
In March 2024, and in accordance with rule 49.1(d), Council appointed Mr Russell Maisner as a Coopted member of Council for the term of one year. Mr Maisner brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in commercial finance for over 30 years working independently with many clients. His skill set will greatly assist with the Finance and Facilities Committees as well on the Stage 1 development.
In October 2024, and in accordance with rule 49.1(d), Council appointed Ms Virginia Ross as a co-opted member of Council for the term of one year. Ms Ross is a qualified architect and brings building and planning experience to the Facilities Committee and the Stage 1 development.
In conclusion, I thank the 2024 Governance Committee members —Dr Kylie O’Connell (CoVice-Chairperson), Cr David Israel, Cr Natalie Gray, Mr Greg Carter (Secretariat Support), Cr Vincent Morfuni (to May 2024), Cr Vincent Mirabelli (to May 2024), Cr Jane Tisdall (to May 2024) and Prof Sally Male (from October 2024), as well as the secretariat and administration staff at Graduate House.
Cr Molina Asthana Chairperson of the Governance Committee
Advancement
Advancement committee
The Advancement Committee was created from the activities and roles of the Membership and Marketing Subcommittee and the Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittee. At the May 2024 Annual General Meeting, rules and regulations were adopted to form the Advancement Committee under regulation 30.
The overall activities and roles of the Advancement Committee centre on the advancement of membership and philanthropic activities for the association. This includes, but is not limited to, membership, marketing, GU Collegiate activities, fundraising campaigns and donations.
Graduate Union Strategic Plan 20242026
The Advancement Committee monitors and delivers on the ‘Innovative Influential Membership’ priority of the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan.
At the Strategic Planning Day in July 2024, some of these goals for the future were clearly identified:
- Understand the expectations of current and future Graduate Union members;
- Carry out an analysis of the Graduate House website and communication avenues;
- Develop programs to engage current members to spend more time at Graduate House;
- Prepare a strategic plan (2023-2026) to engage and increase the membership of early and mid-career graduates.
Membership in 2024
The Advancement Committee undertook a review
in 2023 of the Association’s members, with the analysis allowing the association to evaluate the active members of the association and to provide recommendations for future development of the GU membership offering
By 31st December 2024, the Association had 1395 registered members comprising,
~Life Members 826 (2023 – 944)
~Graduate Members (non-resident) 272 (2023 –366)
~Resident Members (resident) 252 (2023 - 245)
~Associate Members 14 (2023 – 25)
~Organisation Members 31 (2023 - 57)
GU overall membership fell slightly. There is a clear need to attract non-resident members and this will be a focus for the Advancement Committee in 2025. With the increase in accommodation occupancy during 2024, we saw a small increase to 252 Resident members.
Fundraising in 2024
The fundraising campaigns for the year focused on - Advancement Support, including the re-establishment of the Scholars in Residence Scholarships for 2025; and
- A Scholarship in Residence for 2026 in conjunction with The University of Melbourne’s Indigenous Law and Justice Hub - Melbourne Law School
In November 2024 we released the Eminent Visiting Scholar Program with the intention of this commencing in 2025 with assistance from the
Indigenous Law and Justice Hub - Melbourne Law School. This program was initially conceived after a bequest received from the McCredie Family on behalf of David and Yvonne McCredie. This bequest provides accommodation at Graduate House to a visiting Australian Indigenous Scholar over several years to come. Please look out for announcements of the Scholars in Residence program in 2025.
To all donors of The Graduate Union, we thank you for your ongoing support to the association and our programs.
Mentor programs
In 2024 a Pilot Mentoring Program was launched for Graduate House Resident being paired to Graduate Union Members, with the aim of improving residents' experience of living and studying in Graduate House – and in Melbourne. It was a great success with all mentees and mentors coming away with a positive experience. A thank you to each mentor and mentee who was part of the pilot program and provided essential feedback for future programs. A more extensive mentoring program will commence in Semester 1, 2025.
Master Class series
Leading on from the successful Master Classes held in 2023 for PhD residents, entitled ‘The Doctoral Journey’, in the second semester of 2024 we ran several workshops relating to academic writing and communication skills which all residents were invited to attend. The workshops assisted several residents in writing essays, reports, conference presentations, and preparing resumés and job applications. This proved to be a great initiative and we were most grateful to all who participated.
Membership pin
Over twelve months ago, it came to the attention of Graduate Union Vice-Chair Emeritus Professor Martin Comte OAM, that the Graduate Union
could benefit from a thoughtfully designed Lapel Pin. As mentioned in his announcement at the celebration of this coming to fruition last November, conversation often begins by curious observers of a lapel pin asking: “What does your pin represent?”.
The competition was open to any fine art/design student at the honours or postgraduate levels. After further consultation with universities, students in RMIT’s Gold and Silversmithing programs were specially identified.
In September 2024, the semi-finalists (Ingrid Tseng, Michelle Stewart, Juliette Wehling Wrathall and Sue Buchanan) presented their designs and mock-ups to the panel of judges. Each of the submissions was impressive in its own right. One design and mock-up particularly encapsulated the vision and values of The Graduate Union: that by Ingrid Tseng. A PhD student, she produced a pin that is an ideal size, with appeal to a variety of ‘tastes’ representing the broad demographic of The Graduate Union and Graduate House; further, it represents our values of intellectual and academic pursuit, local and international exchange, hospitality, camaraderie and belonging.
Ingrid took inspiration from the symbol of the mortarboard (graduate hat) and the location pin found on digital maps. In her own words, “The graduate hat indicates that the union is renowned as the pre-eminent Australian membership association of graduates of universities from around the world. The red pin-point is often used as a way to show travellers they have arrived at their destination. Within my design, the icon engages with the idea that members have arrived at their second home for living, meeting and learning within a vibrant and active collegium which advances education for the good of society.”
Thank you, Ingrid, for your wonderful contribution to The Graduate Union and Graduate House, and congratulations on your winning Lapel Pin. May your artistic talent and ingenuity take you far in your design pursuits!
We intend to produce the pin in 2025 for our members to purchase. It will be launched at the 2025 AGM. We were most appreciative of an anonymous member donor who provided the prize money for this competition.
Meeting services and GU-Collegiate events
In 2024, we saw the expansion of the GU Collegiate events with the reintroduction of the Twilight Lecture Series. This series provided another event for members to attend, especially if unable to attend the monthly luncheons. The popularity of the series, with three outstanding speakers, was encouraging and we look forward to continuing it in 2025. We are most grateful to Advancement Committee member, Dr. Heather Wheat, for initiating and guiding this endeavour.
The collaboration with the radio station 3MBS created the Graduate House Music Series in which 3 pianist concerts were held with a great turn-out of 3MBS subscribers and Graduate Union members. The success will see the series continue into 2025 with 3 concerts.
The Annual General Meeting on Thursday 30th May 2024, saw close to 50 members present at Graduate House, and 5 members online, with a great number attending the Dinner afterwards with speaker Margot Foster.
On the 4th September, Graduate Union played host to a dinner with the Australian India Business Council with speaker Ambassador Anil Wadhwa of India. This important collaboration and presentation acquainted us with the past and future vision of the Australian and Indian economic relationship.
2024 saw the End of Year Celebration for all members held on Friday 29th November. This event was well attended with close to 80 people present; it offered great food and entertainment from talented singer, Piera Dennerstein.
Thanks goes to all members who attended GU collegiate functions during the year, or came in for
a drink or meal in the Dining Room, and for your continued communication with and contribution to The Graduate Union.
2025 activities
In line with our strategic objectives, the Advancement Committee will continue to make strides to strengthen the connection to Graduates not only of The University of Melbourne, but worldwide, and enhance the benefits for members through the programs and events we hold as well as additional benefits including our reciprocal clubs nationally and internationally.
In conclusion, we extend our gratitude to past members of the Membership and Marketing Subcommittee and Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittee who include: Cr Molina Asthana, Cr Mary R. Kelleher, Mr Keith Ryall, Cr Fausto Marasco, Ms Rosie Maddick, Mr Wal Reid, Cr Vincent J Mirabelli and Mr Rhys Watson. We also record the passing in March this year of our esteemed former member, Ms Shelley Jones.
Thank you also to the members of the Advancement Committee, including: Ms Jan Hocking, Cr David Israel, Mrs Cindy Huang (from May 2024), Mrs Heather Wheat (from May 2024), Cr Kylie O’Connell and Cr Natalie Gray.
Finally, we thank the dedicated and hardworking staff at Graduate House for their warm hospitality, professionalism, hard work and support to the members of the association.
Emeritus Professor Martin Comte OAM & Dr Max Stephens
Co-Chairpersons of the Advancement Committee
Thank you for your support
Donations and bequests
In 2024, donations and bequests were received from the following generous supporters:
Dr Kingsley Allen
Mr Peter Andrews
Mr Russell Byard
Mrs Sheila Byard OAM
Mr Daniel Carmody
Ms Elizabeth Carvosso
Mrs Emily Cross
Mr Thomas Davey
Mr Richard Dent OAM FAICD
Mr Sean Dong
Mrs Patricia Elvins
Brigadier Konard Ernest
Mrs Jill Francis
Mr Murray Geddes
Assoc Prof John Harcourt OAM
Dr Kim Hassall
Mrs Li Xin Huang
Dr Helen Irving
Mr Andrew Johnson
Ms Margaret Kelleher
Mr Michael Lynch
Mr George Markou
Mr Douglas Marshall
Mrs Margaret Mayers
Mr & Mrs David & Yvonne McCredie
Mrs Margaret Medew
Dr Zaffar Sadiq Mohammed
Ms Van Thi Tuyet Nguyen
Mr Graham Ewan Ogilvy
Dr Lazaros Papadopoulos
Ms Deborah Schoolland
Dr Max Stephens
Mr Casey Tan
Dr Mile Terziovski
Mr Chenxi Wang
Mr Rhys Watson
Mrs Amanda Watson
Ms Joy Wellings
Mr Mark Worsnop
Ms Eva WulczewskiTrust
Thank you also to the generous donors who decided to remain anonymous and to those who have donated into our donation box at Graduate House.
Memberships in 2024
We extend a warm welcome to the new Members of our Association.
Organisation Members
ForestWorks Ltd
Asialink, University of Melbourne
Global Business College of Australia & Edvantage Institute
Australia
Associate Members
Mr Emma Carroll
Shashank Kataria
Miss Caitlyn Lehmann
Taoyang Liu
Richard Luger
Dr Chethana Patabendige
Members
Mrs Bridget Arkless
Ms Laurice Asmar MBA
Mr Yannick Aubree
Ms Helen Bannister
Dr Christopher Barry
Mrs Karen Benson
Ms Anne-Mary Bodin
Dr Goce Bogeski
Dr Robyn Brennen
Ms Janet Broadhead
Mr Daniel Carmody
Ms Birute Don
Mr Sean Dong
Dr Mary Ellis
Ms Jennifer Everist
Professor Doseena Fergie
Mrs Catherine Foster
Ms Sarah Francis
Maiya Geddes
Mr Mark Grant
Mr Vijay Gudla
Ao Han
Mr Simon Harle
Professor Don Henry AM
Ms Zoe Hernstadt
Dr Kathryn James
Dr Mahima Kalla
Mrs Rafal Kezraj
Miss Ji Hyun Lee
Professor Yee-Kwong Leong
Mr Like Lin
BSc Ken Ling
April Madrial
Catherine Marsden
Mr Nathan McKenzie
Ms Francis Miller
Dr Jane Moon
Dr Stefano Morara
Dr Berni Moreno
Dr Sara Murphy
Mr Is Haaq Nazeem
Dr Barry O'Connor
Professor Shin-Yi Peng
Tony Pitman
Mr Pierre-Louis Plumejeau-Wilby
Mrs Shirley Reynolds
Virginia Ross
Mr Gary Sampson
Ms Deborah Schoolland
Mr Reg Shelley
Dr Kristen Steele
Ms Van Thi Tuyet Nguyen
Dr Judith Wade
Mr Mark Wall
Miss Zixuan Wang
Yajun Wang
Mr Chenx Wang
Dr Amy Weber
Ms Eva Wilczewski
Dr Nicole Woodrow
Dr Alfred Zerfas
Professor Linus Zhang
Mr Bohuan Zhao
Mr Joshua Zhao
Mr Yu Zhou
Mr Antun Jankovic"
Resident Members
Mr Ernest Cheung
Mr Gary Dean
Ms Fei-ming Liu
Mr David Watkins
Zitan Zhou
Mr Ravi Acharya
Mr Deepak Adhikari
Mr Rafsan Al Mamun
Ms Ana Aldaz
Ms Zoie Alexiou
Miss Grace Arblaster
Mr Divyam Arora
Mrs Karen Auweiler
Dr Ellen Backman
Mr Michael Bacus
Audrey Balaska
Mr Maheswaran Balasubramanian
Ms Ayla Baydan
Mr Sanjit Bhattarai
Mrs Annette Blanch
Ms Taylor Broadbent
Dr Sam Brooke
Professor Marjo Brunila
Mr Flynn Cassells
Ms Anwesha Chakraborty
Ms Cheryl Chang
Kun Chen
Ms Ann Cheng
Mr Ho Lun Cheung
Ms Deepthi Chintala
Phisanuwat Chinthanakornnarong
Mr Yi Kit Chui
Shibu Clement
Mr Frantz Clermont
Ms Karen Dahlitz
Mr Jun Dai
Mr Jonathan De Brusse
Ignacio De Garcillan
Ms Rosaline De Koning
Ms Yangyang Deng
Mr Tony Di Fabbio
Justin Domingo
Dr Mary Kate Donais
Nicholas East
Dr Fikri Zul Fahmi
Dr Justine Fasquel
Mr Isaac Flake
Charles Gao
Ms Ioulia Gazis
Dr Elham Ghazimatin
Ms Julia Giesinger
Ms Alyson Gilmore
Mr Guy Ginciene
Mr Anoop Gopalakrishnan
Miss Anna Gordeeva
Ms Elnaz Gordeh
Miss Portia Graham
Lisa Gregg
Mr Xiaoming Gu
Mr Yichen Guo
Ms Diya Gupta
Ms Sana Hagiwara
Ms Jasmin Hennrich
Ms Imogen Howe
Miss Rebecca Howitt
Mr Mohamed Hussain
Dr Rajeeb Jaleel
MrsThisaakhya Jayakody
Ms Kadawatha
Jayasinghe
Mr Bhavya Johari
Mr Pei-Hsiu Kao
Miss Pei Chieh Kao
Mr Kengo Kasai
Mr Atsuhito Kawabata
Tattukolla Kiran
Shouhei Kobayashi
Mr Felix Kumaradoss
Mr Chun Him Kwan
Ms Nuria Laherrán Cantera
Miss Ying-An Lai
Ms Joanna Lean
Miss Marta Leon Del Campo
Miss Katie Elise Leslie
Ms Noa Levi
Mr Zexi Li
Mr Zijian Liang
Ms Jennifer Liao
Mrs Susan Lindsey
Noah Lordi
Ms Ainhoa Lorenzo
Mr Han Xiang Low
Mrs Haoran Lu
Mr Karl Lundgren
Mrs Natalie Lynch
Miss Dhananga Madurapperuma
Andong Mao
Mr Luc Marsden
Professor James Martel
Mrs Sandra Martinez
Mr Arthur Merkel
Ms Jennifer Messieh
Miss Maddison Mohr
Ms Haritha Mullathody
Ms Sathya Muthusamy
Mr Junwon Nam
Mr Siva Nara
Ms Nannerl O'Connor
Mr Stephen Okai
Miss Marta Pardo De Vera
Mrs Miriama Peklanska
Mr Kim Pil
Théo Poncelet
Mr Jayanth Potharaju
Mr Allan Pothen
Ms Andira Putri
Ms Liqinrui Qu
Mr Pon Rajabomman
Mrs Nadine Rassmann
Professor Johann Reger
Dr Jennifer Reilly
Mr Olly Rhys Parker
Ms Alexandra Ridgway
Mr Jorge Romay
Miss Celia Romero Del Rincon
Mr Lohit Roy
Dr Ritvana Rrukaj
Mr John Russell
Ms Fadhila Sabiry
Ms Sharuda Saeed
Mr Nishant Sahoo
Ms Saakshi Salian
Dr Beulah Samuel
Mr Giorgio Santanatoglia
Mr Shun Sasaki
Ms Naru Sato
Ms Rebecca Scholz
Dr Lavanya Selvaganesh
Miss Indira Senthil Ajeetha
Shubham Shandilya
Mr Ankit Sharma
Ms Lianju Shen
Miss Liziyun Shen
Mr Malhar Shenvy Priolakr
Dr Siddharth Shirsat
Mr Dylan Shum
Mr Harvinder Singh
Mr Dinesh Siva
Dr Caglar Soylu
Mr Michael Stephanou
Mr VetriVelan Subash
Ms Lisa Sumi
Ms Nanami Takeda
Mr Samrat Tawde
Ms Julia Teufel
Mr Arvind Thakur
Mr David Yi Xiang Tok
MissYi-Shan Tsai
Mr Nga Wing Tsang
William Tulloh
Dr Santosh Varughese
Mr Shayan Vazirieh Lenjani
Mr Nattawin Wachirapornprut
Linan Wang
Mr Niam Watson
Ms Liangyu Wei
Miss Abigail Wilson
Mr Leoni Wirth
Mr Jonathan Wong
Kai Wulff
Mr Wangxi Xu
Miss Chen Yin
Dr Constantine Yu Chua
Miss Yiqing Yuan
Ms Vanessa Zervogianni
Mr Zhishuo Zhang
Richard Koh
MrShivjeet Parthasarathy
2024 Monthly Luncheons
As it is tradition, we had a number of distinguished speakers during last year's Monthly Luncheons. As Graduate House we had the honour of welcoming the following guests:
Julie Fisher
The importance of inclusion
March
Dr Ross McMullin
On his book "A life full of promise"
April
Professor Alfred Poulos
Obesity in the 21st century
May
Dr Ross Bastiaan AM RDF*
"You must remember this" a commemoration of Australian history
June
Captain Rob Anderson
Life as a Sea Captain
Christopher Lamb
Myanmar and Humanitarian Diplomacy
August
Dr John Lewis
Battling Barnacles, Biofouling and Biosecurity: Insight into risk, regulation and reality
September
Dr Barbara Murray
A Graduate Women Victoria retrospective
October
November
Twilight Lectures
Last year we saw the successful return of our series of Twilight Lectures, presented by exceptional speakers.
The Honourable Jennifer Coate AO
Shining a light on the sexual abuse of children in institutional settings: What did we learn?
April
The Honourable Jennifer Coate AO, currently Acting Chair of the Victorian Law Reform Commission, has hel many judicial appointments over the last 27 years, including Magistrate, Deputy Chief Magistrate, the inaugural President of the Children's Court of Victoria, Judge of the County Court of Victoria and as the first woman in Victoria to be appointed as State Coroner.
Dr Maurita Harney
Artificial Intelligence: a philosophical perspective
May
Dr Maurita Harney is a philosopher who has taught and researched philosophy at the ANU, at Swinburne University of Technology whre she was Head of Philosophy and at the University of melbourne, where in recent years she has been Honorary Senior Fellow. Her specialization has been in the philosophy of mind, brain and consciuousness.
Lyn Allison
Introduction to the world of fungi
August
Lyn Allison is an outspoken campaigner on women's issues and environmental reform, she was elected to the Australian Senate from 1996 to 2008 and in 2012 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. politician and campaigner, Lyn is highly respected for her contribution to environmental reform. She was recipient of an Australian Humanist of the Year award and continues her work as Chair of The Accountability Roundtable and President of the Australian Democrats.
Meeting Services and Organisations at Graduate House
In 2024, we welcomed a total of 587 bookings ranging from large to small meetings and private event celebrations. These are some of the organisations that were with us, we thank you all and hope to keep serving you in the future.
Association of German Teachers of Victoria (AGTV)
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
Australian-Asian Association of Victoria Inc. (AAA)
Australian Italian Lawyers Association (AILA)
Australian Psychological Society
Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV)
Rotary Club of Carlton
Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM)
John Cain Foundation
Royal Melbourne HospitalClinical Haematology
Carlton-Parkville Probus Club Inc DCA Advisors Pty Ltd
Mental Health First Aid Australia (MHFA)
Order of St. John
Social Education Victoria (SEV)
The University of Melbourne
Graduate House 2024
3MBS Recital 19th June
Tze Jian Chin celebrates his graduation with family and Vice-Chair of Council, Martin Comte OAM.
April Monthly Luncheon
Residents mid year party
Ambassador Anil Wadhwa presents on trade and dines Graduate House
of year celebration
On behalf of the Graduate House team, we thank our members, guests and visitors for an amazing year
Graduate House at the Metro Tunnel tour
Residents mid year party
March Monthly Luncheon
Farewell to our dear Shirley Ho
AGM Meeting and dinner
End
Facilities
Facilities committee
The Buildings and Facilities committee is pleased to submit this report for the year 2024. The roles and responsibilities of this committee are provided in regulation 30.2.
Accommodation occupancy
2024 saw Graduate House continue to build occupancy throughout the year to levels seen prior to 2019. Even with multiple new student accommodation offerings within the precinct, it is encouraging that demand for the college is still there.
As shown in the bar graph below, occupancy continued to grow in all months with the average
occupancy for the year being 88.4%, compared to 84.5% in 2023.
Growth was seen in all the different room types and the college community was vibrant, inclusive and multi-national group of post-graduates and visiting academics.
Parkville Rail Station
Construction of the Parkville Station (one of 5 new stations of the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel) saw the completion of major building works in May & June 2024. Grattan Street reopened to pedestrians in early 2024 and then after 6 years reopened to traffic in June 2024.
Minor reinstatement works continued through 2024 and 2025 within the precinct. The testing and
commissioning of the stations plant and equipment and the trains itself will continue throughout 2025. The opening of the station and network is slated for mid to late 2025.
After the completion of the major building works, CYP conducted a condition inspection of the Graduate House buildings to ascertain any damaged caused by the construction activity. No damage was found or reported.
The Parkville station’s opening is greatly anticipated and will be tremendous for the Melbourne Health and The University of Melbourne Precinct.
Master planning and stage 1 Terrace redevelopment
2024 saw major work and development of the Stage 1 project. The Graduate Union Council made the decision to apply for an extension of the planning permit for the Terrace buildings. The Graduate Union was awarded the extension of the application at a VCAT hearing against the City of Melbourne. The extension of 4 years has allowed the Graduate Union Council to move forward with a closed expression of interest campaign to gauge the interest of partners in the project. Delightedly, the EOI campaign received over a dozen submissions with submissions from precinct partners also interested in potential collaboration within the building.
The Facilities Committee was delegated the task of overseeing and assessing the EOI process with the help of a Property Professional. The Committee has met more than 10 times throughout 2024 to analyse and evaluate each of the submissions, with a final group of partners asked to submit phase 2 proposals. The Graduate Union plans to assess these submissions and choose a preferred partner for initial due diligence discussions.
The Graduate Union Council envisages further communications to members during 2025 on the partnership proposals.
Major projects, repairs and maintenance
No capital projects were undertaken in 2021 due to the need to maintain a positive cash flow. Regular preventative and ongoing maintenance were undertaken with rooms being painted by staff. Essential building and required maintenance under contract remained and was completed on time and to schedule.
The Buildings and Facilities subcommittee, together with the Finance and Audit subcommittee, has developed a prioritised capital works plan for 2022, and has acknowledged that the need for continued expenditure prudence will necessarily require only works of an urgent and top priority to be undertaken.
In conclusion, I thank the members of the Buildings and Facilities subcommittee for 2021: Cr Natalie Gray (Co-Vice-Chairperson) and Cr Max Stephens (Co-Vice-Chairperson), Mr Robert Heaton, Cr Vince Mirabelli, Mr Michael Lynch and welcome to the subcommittee from June 2021, Mrs Fiona Nolan and Dr Brendan Grabau.
I extend appreciation on behalf of this subcommittee also to the management, accommodation, housekeeping, building services and culinary teams who make Graduate House a welcoming and vibrant home and gathering place.
Cr Lawry Grima
Chairperson of the Facilities Committee
Meet the Graduate House team
My sincere gratitute is extended to all staff of The Graduate Union for their hard work and dedication.
Also, my deepest appreciation to the staff who helped us keep growing on 2024 and have left the organisation: Iris Forero-Ramirez and Shirley Ho (enjoy your retirement!)
Daniel Clark General Manager
Office administration
Accomodation and reception Building services
Paula Pena Editorial Officer
Rebecca Broadhead Editorial Officer
Rohan Stroud Accommodation Officer
Anne sterling Social Media and Membership
Shahana Urmi Accommodation Officer
Aaron Edwards Technician and Maintenance
Connor Hadley Technician and Maintenance
Shirley Ho Editor GU Collegiate Membership (Retired)
Wendy Pang Website Maintenance
Punam Kunwar Finance System
Greg Carter Secretariat for Council and Governance meetings
Rosie Ellul Hospitality Manager
Functions and guest services
Culinary team
Housekeeping team
Nelson Hu Co-head chef
Justine Tolosa Chef
Basma Tantawy Co-head chef
Daniele Massa Kitchen services
Chamarra Jayasinghe Kitchen services
Ramy ElMaghraby Kitchen services
Olivia Pititto Guest Services
Daqlan Lee Guest services
Sobia Masood Guest services
Marwa Tantawy Manager
Bill Mihelakis Manager
Janine Seludo
Alejandra Becerra
Melissa Angwin
Karla Akiatan
Rysa Quinquino
Mary Jane Ibo
Gabriel Chan Guest Services
Nachiketa Kukreja Guest services
Jihan Ubaid Guest services
Richard Xiao Guest services
Finance
Finance committee
The Finance Committee is pleased to provide this report on its activities and the financial performance of the Association in 2024. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 31.2.
The Finance Committee worked closely with the Council, the Advancement Committee, and Management throughout the year to implement the Association’s strategic plan and enhance its offerings after facing several challenging years due to COVID.
Demand for services continued in 2024, supported by a growing demand for graduate student accommodation and catering services. Member engagement increased during the year, evidenced by event attendance, signalling a desire for community and connection.
Financial performance - Statement of Comprehensive Income
The Association delivered an operating deficit before a revaluation of land and buildings of $166.5k in the 2024 year (2023: $288.4k deficit), a 42.3% improvement from the 2023 year. After adjusting for building amortisation, the Association produced an operating surplus before revaluation of land and buildings of $114.4k (2023: $39.4k surplus).
Operating revenue from accommodation, catering, property rentals and member subscriptions for the year totalled $3. 9mil, $430.8k more than the 2023 year. A summary of revenue sources is illustrated below:
Accommodation and catering services continued to support the Association in returning to preCOVID operating conditions. Revenue from accommodation services totalled $2.3 mil (2023:
$2.2mil) while catering services delivered revenue of $1.5 mil (2023: $1.2 mil) during the year.
Strong financial market conditions in 2024 saw investment earnings deliver $45.7k revenue (2023: $35.4k), an increase of 29.2% from the previous year. An unrealised gain in market value of investments (reported separately) totalled $105.4k (2023: $92.1k gain).
Although donation income decreased by $24.1k compared with 2023, the Advancement Committee is actively developing new fundraising initiatives to complement the Association’s traditional appeal programs.
Operating expenses totalled $4.3 mil for the year, 7% more than 2023 (2023: $3.9 mil). With the exception of a 7% decline in rates and taxes and a 20% reduction to communication expenses, total operating costs increased in proportion to revenue from operating activities. Despite inflationary pressures throughout 2024, management was able to diligently manage expenditure across a majority of service lines.
A summary of expenditure from operating activities is shown below:
Financial performance - Statement of Cashflows
A negative cashflow position of $14.8k from operating activities was realised in 2024, a $19k improvement from the previous year (2023: $33.7k shortfall). Cashflow from investing activities was $38.6k lower than 2023. The reduction was primarily due to costs incurred in connection with the proposed building development and upgrades to the wifii internet network and room air conditioners. Cash outflows from financing activities totalled $25k, reflecting funds drawn down from loan facilities and recommencement of principal repayments for the National Australia Bank (NAB) facility. Overall cash and cash equivalents reduced by $95.6k for the year.
Financial performance - Statement of Financial Position
Total current assets reduced by $175k, primarily due to a reduction in cash and cash equivalents and call on the investment portfolio to support capital expenditure and costs associated with the
proposed building development. Property, plant and equipment increased by $390k during the year, driven by upgrades to the existing facilities in the wifi internet network and room air conditioner replacements and costs associated with the proposed development.
Land and Buildings Revaluation
A revaluation of land and buildings was performed as part of the annual reporting cycle. Note 9 of the financial report provides an explanation of the basis on which the valuation was conducted. This was accepted by the external auditor and the Graduate Union Council.
A revaluation increase of $280.9k for land and buildings was recognised in the statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Borrowings
Total borrowings reduced by $25k during the year. Bank Australia (BA) agreed to extend interest-only payment terms until April 2025, while quarterly principal reductions on the NAB facility resumed in 2024. Despite multiple interest rate increases implemented by the Reserve Bank of Australia throughout 2024, the total interest payable on the BA and NAB facilities amounted to $774.4k, reflecting a 1.1% improvement compared with 2023.
Auditor
Mr Wayne Tarrant of JTP Assurance was appointed as the Auditor for the independent audit of the financial year ending 31 December 2024 at the Annual General Meeting held on 30 May 2024.
Closing
I would like to express my appreciation to all members of the Finance Committee for their support throughout the year. I extend a special thank you to Mr. Muan Lim, who served as Chair of the Committee until May 2024 and now serves as Vice-Chairperson. I also extend my appreciation to the valuable contributions of Mr. Rhys Watson, Mr. Russell Maisner (from May 2024), Mr. Leonard
Santalucia (until May 2025), Dr. Phillip Cobbin, Mr. Vincent Mirabelli, Mr. Nicholas Quinn, Mr. Keith Ryall, and Councillor Lawrence Grima (all until May 2024) for their contributions. Additionally, I would like to thank Mrs. Kay Gulenc from Sovereign Taxation Services for her external accounting and taxation advice, our external auditor Mr. Wayne Tarrant from MVA Bennett and the Management and Operations team for their continued commitment to the Association.
Cr Jane Tisdall Chairperson of the Finance Committee
AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION UNDER SECTION 60-40 OF THE AUSTRALIAN CHARITIES AND NOT FOR PROFITS COMMISSION ACT 2012
To the Members of The Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne Incorporated:
I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 31 December 2024, there have been:
(i) No contraventions of the independence requirements of the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commision Act 2012 in relation to the audit; and
(ii) No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the review.
MVAB Assurance
WAYNE TARRANT
Chartered Accountants Partner
Signed at Melbourne this 31st day of March 2025
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements 4
INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATE UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE INC. ABN 55 610 664 963
Report on the Audit of the Financial Report
Opinion
We have audited the financial report of The Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne Inc. (the Association), which comprises the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2024, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity and the statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes comprising a summary of material accounting policies and other explanatory information, and the certification by members of the Council on the annual statements giving a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the Association
In our opinion, the accompanying financial report gives a true and fair view of the financial position of the Association as at 31 December 2024 and of its financial performance for the year then ended in accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements and the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We are independent of t he Association in accordance with the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110: Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.
We confirm that the independence declaration, which has been given to the council members would be in the same terms if given to the directors as at the time of this auditor ’s report.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Emphasis of Matter – Basis of Accounting
We draw attention to Note 1 to the financial report, which describes the basis of accounting. The financial report has been prepared to assist the Association to meet the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012. As a result, the financial report may not be suitable for another purpose. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Responsibilities of the Council for the Financial Report
The Council is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and for such internal control as the Council determines is necessary to enable the preparation and fair presentation of a financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial report, the Council is responsible for assessing the Association’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relating to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Council either intends to liquidate the Association or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high le vel of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, indi vidually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.
As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. Further information about our responsibilities can be found at http://www.auasb.gov.au/Home.aspx This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
We communicate with the Council regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
MVAB Assurance Wayne Tarrant Chartered Accountants Partner
Signed at Melbourne this 2nd day of April 2025
Australian Business Number: 55 610 664 963 Incorporated Association Registration Number: A0023234B
220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
Telephone: +61 (0) 3 9347 3428
Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au Website: www.graduatehouse.com.au