Ormond College acknowledges the Country on which we are situated and pay respects to the Traditional Owners, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. The Wurundjeri People are the people of the wurun, the river white gum, who have been custodians of this land for thousands of years. 1 Towards 2035
Ormond College is a community where ideas are tested, values are formed, and students explore who they are and how they want to contribute to the world.
As we approach our 150th anniversary, our focus is on creating the conditions for students to grow academically and personally, alongside one another, within a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Built on strong foundations, this new strategy, Shaping Ormond’s Future: Towards 2035, sets out a deliberate path for the decade ahead. It affirms our commitment to sustainably investing in the foundations of College life, and to strengthening our distinctive Ormond experience through the spaces, programs, and relationships that foster belonging, growth, and excellence.
This booklet provides a high-level view of our strategy for the years ahead. Developed through broad consultation with our extended community, our strategy actively focuses on engagement, reach, and impact, with our students and their success being at the centre of all that we do. Supporting them in this endeavour is a community of dedicated staff, inspiring alumni, and passionate supporters who play a vital role in the life of the College.
This is an evolving strategy, designed to remain responsive to changing needs, emerging research and technologies, and the wider social and environmental challenges of our time.
I invite you to join us in shaping Ormond’s future together.
Dr Areti (Ari) Metuamate Master and Head of College
At Ormond College we create a community for students to build the intellect, skills, confidence and connections to pursue their boldest ambitions.
Students engage in academic, personal and social experiences, service and advocacy, and career readiness programs – expanding their heads, hearts, world and paths.
Ormond students know who they are and what they believe in, ready to make an impact on local and global communities.
Ormond’s future is grounded in values that have shaped us and continue to guide how we live and work together.
Community
We create a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and safe.
Respect
We treat everyone with fairness and dignity.
Integrity
We do what is right, over what is easy.
Learning
We foster curiosity and challenge the status quo.
Diversity
We celebrate our differences and learn from one another.
Heritage
We honour our past while embracing the future.
These three strategic focus areas guide how we will grow, invest, and make decisions over the coming decade.
We will invest in the physical, academic, and social foundations of College life to ensure Ormond continues to offer a rich, supportive, and future-ready student experience. This includes spaces, programs, and services that foster belonging, personal growth, and academic success.
Key initiatives
1.1 Reimagined Campus Master Plan
Bold, integrated, future-ready spaces for living, learning and connecting, fitting of a world-class institution.
1.2 Enhancing the Ormond Offer
A transformative Ormond experience, shaped for and with, talented students from across Australia and around the world.
We will empower the wider Ormond community to contribute meaningfully beyond the College through leadership, volunteering, service, and partnerships. By strengthening our commitment to Indigenous leadership, environmental action, and philanthropy, Ormond will deepen its role as a force for positive change.
2.1 The Campaign for Ormond College
A major philanthropic campaign, investing $30 million in student facilities and growing our scholarship endowment by $10 million.
2.2 Environmental Action Plan
Setting clear priorities for reducing our environmental footprint to net zero and embedding sustainability across our campus.
2.3 Centre for Indigenous Engagement and Leadership
A place for First Nations excellence that strengthens belonging, deepens understanding, and brings the Ormond community together.
We will extend Ormond’s reach and influence through education, entrepreneurship, partnerships, and cultural exchange, with a strong focus on the Asia Pacific. By building meaningful global connections and sharing what Ormond does best, we will open new opportunities for students and the wider community.
Key initiatives
3.1 Growing our Global Reach
Connecting our students and 10,000 strong alumni community to, and across, Asia Pacific and beyond.
3.2 Expanding Wade Institute for Entrepreneurship
Cultivating entrepreneurial leadership and impact to drive Australia’s innovation capability.
3.3 Showcasing Ormond through Conferences and Events
Sharing the Ormond campus experience through tours, dialogues, and events, connecting Ormond to Melbourne city.
These strategic enablers provide the foundations that support each initiative in our strategy. We are committed to these enablers to ensure Ormond remains a place where people can thrive, decisions are well informed, and the College is strong and sustainable for generations to come.
Leadership, capability, and culture for an engaged, healthy, and high-performing staff team.
Digital and data foundations for effective decisions and outstanding delivery of our services and programs.
Long-term financial and institutional strength for future generations of Ormondians.
This strategy is not something a small team at Ormond delivers alone. It will be shaped by the students who live here, the staff and fellows who support and guide them, the alumni and parents who remain connected, and the many partners who work alongside us.
As we look Towards 2035, we invite you to be part of this shared effort. To contribute ideas, energy, and care. To hold us to our values. And to help ensure Ormond continues to be an outstanding collegiate community where people grow, find their direction, and make a meaningful difference.
The future is not something we wait for. At Ormond, it is something we build together.
ormond.unimelb.edu.au/about/towards-2035
