The Melbourne Graduate April 2020 (Annual Report 2019)

The Graduate Union Annual Report

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE Vol. 73 No. 1

April 2020

Annual Report 2019 The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.

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The Graduate Union Annual Report

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

— Edith Wharton

Annual Report of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated Editorial: The Publications Team The Melbourne Graduate April 2020 — Volume 73, Number 1 Periodical Publication of The Graduate Union Print Post Approved PP337834/00022 Incorporated Association Registration Number A0023234B Editorial and Photography by the Publications Team. All other images have been obtained from publicly sourced domains. Printed by: City Copy Page 2 | Volume 73, Number 1

The Graduate Union Annual Report

Contents 4

34

Messages from the

Membership in 2019

President Chairperson of Council

37

CEO/Head of College

Residents

9 2018–2019 Council Members

10 Governance and Nominations

14 Elections to Council

16

40 Year at a Glance

42 Fundraising and Benefactions

51 Buildings and Facilities

58 Our Team

Membership and Marketing

21 Meeting Services and GU Collegiate

60 Finance and Audit Financial report for the year ended 31 December 2019 Independent Auditor's Report

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The President’s Message

I am delighted to be making my first annual report to my fellow Members. Dr Ken Loughnan AO was the President for the last four years and I am conscious of the enormous contribution he made to The Graduate Union during that time. He was kind enough to spend some time with me explaining the structures and governance in place. I am honoured to be the first female President in a pantheon of very distinguished past Presidents, and have joined The Graduate Union at a very exciting time in its history. I am still in the process of meeting as many Members as I can and getting to know the organisation. If you haven’t met me yet, I hope we will do so in the coming 12 months. I can say that I am impressed with the efficiency and strong foundation of the organisation and particularly so with the unique culture of The Association which fosters the friendly and warm environment in which Members can and do, cement long-term friendships. The atmosphere in and around Graduate House with its friendly and homely facilities has impressed me enormously and the staff clearly create this environment. Graduate House is so much more than simply accommodation; it is truly a unique place for graduates to live. To continue this environment in a changing landscape must be our continuing challenge as needs and circumstances change.

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2018 saw the launch of the Diamond Jubilee Capital Fundraising Campaign. In the past year a lot of work has been done by our CEO and Head of College and her team to conceptualise and design the elements of the Fundraising Campaign. There is a continuing need for the type of accommodation facility which Graduate House provides, and in which it is unique. The percentage of overseas graduates studying in Australia in 2018 increased by 17%, and in Victoria in the same period increased by 22%. In Victoria, the percentage of overseas postgraduate students compared to domestic postgraduate students was 53% and the Victorian government describes itself as the Education State. Our facility lies in the heart of the Graduate Precinct, within University Square, The University of Melbourne and walking distance from many postgraduate medical research facilities and RMIT University. The development of the new Parkville underground station places our site at the centre of the Graduate Precinct. We are in the fortunate position of having land available upon which to develop a new 11 storey state of the art facility providing unparalleled accommodation, and a meeting and social facility for Members and future members which should become

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the postgraduate accommodation of choice in this Precinct. It is a truly remarkable opportunity and I will be devoting most of my efforts as President to ensuring it comes to fruition. I hope you will all see the amazing opportunity this presents and assist us in our fundraising in any way you can. There have been many vibrant and cultural events throughout the year, including the many GU Collegiate functions (Monthly Luncheons and College Tables), the AGM Dinner, the Donor Thank You Luncheon, the Chairperson's Cocktail Party and the various cultural/religious events (Christmas in both July and December, Diwali, Ramadan, Chinese New Year and many more). 2020 has an equally busy schedule of events and opportunities for learning, networking and socialising.

of our members and graduates is supportive and welcoming. Cr Pagone in particular should be thanked for his tireless contribution. He was unexpectedly cast into the role of Chairman of the Royal Commission into Aged Care and has an enormous workload he was not anticipating. Fortunately Deputy Chair Cr Mirabelli was willing and able to assist when necessary. I look forward to this exciting phase and to meeting more of you in the coming year.

The Honourable Diana Bryant AO QC President of The Graduate Union

I want to thank the Chair and members of Council and its subcommittees and the CEO and Head of College and staff for their contribution and stewardship of the Association and ensuring it is in a sound position to go forward with these exciting plans. The staff in particular ensure the experience

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The Chairperson of Council’s Message The period since the last Annual General Meeting has seen continued improvements and consolidation at Graduate House. We welcome The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC as President as we farewell Dr Ken Loughnan AO. Dr Loughnan served as President between 2015 and 2019 whilst also chairing a number of significant national and international organisations. The Hon Diana Bryant brings to Graduate House an immense knowledge and experience in the law and court administration. We also welcome her as our first female President after a distinguished career as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia from 2004 to 2017. Before that she was the inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia after a distinguished career as a Barrister. We are particularly honoured that she has agreed to serve as President at a time when so many new developments are occurring in and around Graduate House. Work continues on the proposed construction of additional accommodation. The Initial Project Control Group has obtained good results from geotechnical investigations and feasibility studies. Graduate House is fortunate in being in close proximity to The University of Melbourne. This prime location and the excellent facilities of Graduate House enable graduate students, and other academic visitors, unique, secure and prestigious facilities. The steps to expand that facility will continue to make Graduate House an ideal location from which to undertake leading research and for our Members to maintain contact with the university and fellow alumni. A strategic planning meeting was held in July 2019 for members of Council and subcommittees. We were assisted by a distinguished panel addressing questions of support and educational services that might be undertaken by the Association. The Association is fortunate in being able to draw upon the expertise and goodwill of leaders within education and allied fields to assist Council and

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subcommittee members with depth of thinking and analysis for the future of the Association. Graduate House is well placed within the education precinct and continues to attract talented students for education and support services. In that context it is important for the Association to harness its capacity to offer additional services beyond residence and for those who are resident. Many valuable ideas and helpful strategies were canvassed at the strategic planning day which will help focus and shape future directions. Each of these initiatives deepens the importance of Graduate House as an academic college well beyond providing only purpose-built student accommodation. The experience of our Members, and of our residents, is enriched by the college environment and activities which can be developed. In that regard we are fortunate in having a dedicated and hardworking Council and members of subcommittees who give their time, knowledge and expertise freely. They are, of course, served ably by the staff of Graduate House led by Dr Kerry Bennett who combines the roles of CEO and Head of College. One important thanks needs specific mention. It is to the many donors who have supported, and have continued to support, Graduate House with financial contributions. Graduate House has a strong and well managed financial base but the additional support of donors enables us to do many more things to assist in the development of impressive and hardworking students through scholarships, bursaries and awards. We look to them also for support in the exciting new phase of fundraising and construction for the new facility.

Cr The Hon Gaetano (Tony) Pagone Chairperson of Council

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The CEO/Head of College’s Message I am honoured to present my Annual Report to Members for the year 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019. In 2019, we commenced the third Strategic Plan (2019-2021) which revolves around five strategic priorities: Innovative Influential Membership, Culture of Giving, Planned and Achieved Major Projects, Well-managed Finances and Mitigated Risks, and Effective Responsive Stewardship. We continued to build on the membership initiatives introduced with the last Strategic Plan (20162018), and on the philanthropic spirit and active involvement of our Members that have made us thrive for over one hundred years. The continuous refinement of the Association’s governance policies and practices in accordance with contemporary principles means that we have transparent and accountable financial and risk assessment frameworks which ensures that embarking on any major project is well-managed, monitored and achievable. The 2019-2021 Strategic Plan will thus see us produce efficient and tangible results across all strategic priorities. The Association has maintained its local and global reputation as a quality graduate residential college which provides a positive atmosphere for graduates from all around Australia and the world to meet, live together, support each other, and grow. Towards strengthening this reputation, the Association advanced the delivery of both the G-House and the G-Union Master Plans. The G-House Master Plan has seen us expanding our assets beyond our historic terraces to apartments in Barry Street and Barkly Place. In 2019, we implemented infrastructure and building projects at these apartments and at our existing college wings. Over the last year, we thus welcomed more Resident Members to the Graduate House global family and were able to provide improved academic and social experiences for Members who use the facilities on a daily basis. The aim of the G-Union Master Plan is to build on our Association's status in the graduate education sector as the provider also of unparalleled education support services. The three proposed programs

for the G-Union Master Plan — Support Entry to Postgraduate Course, Graduate Employer Relation and Global Citizens Credentials — will expand our membership, support our in-house and incoming graduate Residents toward reaching their full potentials, and provide a platform for lifelong learners across all segments of our membership to keep contributing to social good. The expansion of our college is key to realising our G-Union Master Plan. The addition of a new, modern college wing will provide more accommodation rooms and increase our capacity to support the provision of the proposed education and support services. The results from a 2019 feasibility study (interviews and surveys) were very positive - our Members support the redevelopment, understand its importance and are confident that the capital campaign will be successful. With our sound and stable governance and a membership that is supportive of, and engaged with, the capital campaign, we are well placed to expand our Graduate House to give a home to many more leaders of tomorrow and to provide a unique meeting and learning place for lifelong learners. In conclusion, I welcome our new President, The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC and extend my deep gratitude to Dr Ken Loughnan AO for his significant contribution to the Association during his presidency. I thank Council and subcommittee members for their selfless contributions of time and expertise to the governance of this Association. I work with an incredibly dedicated team of staff members here at Graduate House and am deeply grateful for their hard work, commitment, professionalism and friendliness. Finally, I remain humbled and grateful to all Members and our many stakeholders. You make Graduate House vibrant and flourishing and The Graduate Union an important and influential contributor to education and global good.

Dr Kerry Bennett CEO/Head of College

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Council Members 2019 – 2020

The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC President

Cr The Hon Gaetano (Tony) Pagone Chairperson of Council

Cr Vincent Mirabelli Vice-Chairperson of Council

Cr Mary Kelleher Chairperson of Buildings and Facilities subcommittee

Cr Rhys Watson Chairperson of Finance and Audit subcommittee

Cr Molina Asthana Chairperson of Governance and Nominations subcommittee

Cr Keith Ryall Chairperson of Membership and Marketing subcommittee

Cr Kingsley

Cr Muan Lim

Cr Max Stephens

Davis OAM

Vice-Chancellor Representatives from The University of Melbourne

Cr Peter Rogers

Cr Sarah Banks

Cr Kylie O'Connell

appointed from December 2018

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Governance and Nominations Governance and Nominations Subcommittee The Governance and Nominations subcommittee is pleased to provide this report on its activities in 2019. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 33.2.

Strategic priority of ‘effective responsive stewardship’ The Governance and Nominations subcommittee assists and advises Council on the key 2019-2021 Strategic Plan priority of effective responsive stewardship. The key result areas (KRAs) of which are: •

sound and productive relationships with other groups working towards education and social good – locally and globally;

•

groups that convene at Graduate House seek involvement with other Member segments;

•

Council is renowned globally for ethical and sound leadership and governance;

•

diversity of representation of all segments of the membership on Council and its subcommittees; and

•

currency and relevancy in the purposes, rules, regulations and operations of the organisation.

The strategies proposed and progressed in 2019 to meet these KRAs have included the: •

identification, development and implementation of a communication and engagement strategy with key local, national and international stakeholders;

•

identification and formation of alliances with like-minded organisations to provide mutual services to Members of both organisations;

•

serving of the global membership, adhering to the Association’s purposes and to Council’s Code of Conduct;

•

reporting to Members of the results of Council performance reviews and quality control measures;

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•

appointment of Council Members with skills, experience and demonstrable outcomes in strategic planning, innovation and the implementation of feasible value propositions;

•

recruitment to Council and its subcommittees of Members from different cultures, disciplines, sexes and life stages;

•

provision of governance and leadership training opportunities for Members; and

•

application of continuous quality controls to ensure the Association meets the needs of Members.

The Association has invested much time and resources to the establishment of systems and structures to deliver on recommendations from previous governance reviews and agreed strategic objectives, and to meet the accountability and compliance requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and the ACNC Governance Standards. Following an evaluation of the process for reviewing the performance of Council members and of Council as a whole, an amended process was adopted by Council and implemented in 2019. In accordance with regulation 15.5 (which provides for each subcommittee to undertake periodic performance reviews) and regulation 15.8 (which provides for Council to take action to ensure that each subcommittee performs in accordance with the terms of reference) a similar process was undertaken with each subcommittee of Council. The results from these reviews pointed to an Association that has sound, comprehensive and contemporary governance, dedicated, principled and hard-working Council and subcommittee members, and a learning and collegiate culture in which is recognised the value of regular governance reviews and the collective responsibility for continuous improvements to stewardship approaches that benefit the Association. With respect to the KRA ‘Diversity of representation of all segments of the membership on Council and its subcommittees’, an analysis of the demographics of the Association shows a diversity amongst the membership that is not reflected in the composition of Council. In accordance with

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recommendation 1.5 of the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, Council (of this Association) has thus determined to express its commitment to inclusion at all levels of organisation, regardless of gender, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disabilities, ethnicity, religious beliefs, cultural background, socio-economic background, perspective and experience in a Diversity Policy. Council has also adopted and begun implementation of a Diversity Action Plan to take measurable steps towards representing its diverse membership. These steps include a self-assessment, the identification of areas in which diversity policies need to be introduced and of the required consequential amendments to the Rules and Regulations. Other steps are the inclusion of diversity related skills, experience and values in the Council Skills Matrix, the proactive recruitment and support of skilled individuals from diverse backgrounds to be appointed and encouraged to stand for elections to Council, the development of a Diversity Compliance Declaration form in the Council Induction Kit, the monitoring of adherence to the Diversity Policy, and succession planning and implementation so the process continues. With respect to the Association’s risk management framework, Council adopted a Risk Mitigation and Management Policy in 2013 and a Risk Mitigation and Management Register in 2014, the latter of which includes descriptions of each risk. To assist Council with risk management, each subcommittee has allocated roles and responsibilities (provided in the Regulations) for oversight of a group of risks from risk categories. Each risk is rated according to consequence and likelihood and shown on a ‘heat map’ to give a ‘point in time’ representation of current risk ratings under present controls. In 2019, the process of reviewing the list of risks associated with each subcommittee was continued; and target (residual) risk ratings were determined, along with the controls to monitor, prevent and manage each risk. In 2020, the intent is to realign the risks with key priorities of the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. Additionally, Council developed and adopted a Risk Appetite Statement to: •

‘set the tone at the top’;

•

express the amount of risk exposure (or potential adverse impact from an event) Council is willing to pursue to meet the Association’s purposes, goals or objectives;

Steps towards a more diverse Council

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•

consider the most significant risks to which the Association is exposed and provide an outline of the approach to managing those risks;

•

determine where the Association should operate on the risk-return relationship; and

•

align risk with strategy.

The Association is expanding in terms of its global membership across a variety of disciplines, life stages and backgrounds and of its buildings and facilities due to the acquisition of 31 apartments offsite together with the redevelopment project and the Capital Campaign — the latter requiring strong skills in the area of philanthropic strategy. Through this subcommittee, discussions have thus turned to the changes that are required to meet this expansion. In 2020 this subcommittee will thus review the Council Skills Matrix to determine whether the listed skills are appropriate at this stage of the Association’s history and anticipated future and that those appointed to Council meet required skill capacity and policy gaps and have appropriate industry knowledge and experience, technical skills and experience, and behavioural and governance competencies. Another task for this subcommittee in 2020 is a review of the structure of the Council subcommittees. Currently, there are six subcommittees of Council for which the Regulations of the Association provide roles, responsibilities and delegations. There are also working parties that are established by Council on an as-required basis (for example, the current Initial Project Control Group for the terrace redevelopment project and capital campaign). The establishment of ‘operationally’ focused subcommittees has served the Association well; and has brought governance and financial stability, as well as the capacity to build on solid foundations. As the Association grows, particularly should it intend to deliver education and support functions, it will be neither practical nor sustainable to continue to add function and operationally focused subcommittees. This review will thus serve to determine the appropriate subcommittee structure for an organisation of this size and purpose.

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Rules As mentioned in last year’s annual report, the Registrar of Incorporated Associations had reviewed the 2018 and previous amendments to the Association’s Rules dating back to the 2016 annual general meeting (AGM), and had advised that permanent provisions in the Rules for Special Resolutions to be made by postal ballot did not comply with the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic), SECT 66, and that, because postal voting had been used in the passing of amendments to the Rules at the 2018 AGM, all amendments made at that 2018 meeting had also been rescinded. At the 2019 AGM, motions put as Special Resolutions at the 2018 AGM to amend the Association’s Rules were thus re-submitted to Members, along with a number of others that were proposed to improve expression, clarity and compliance with the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) (the Act). In summary, these amendments, all of which were passed by Members and approved by the Registrar of Incorporated Associations, included to: •

allow for correspondence between the Association’s Rules and the model rules should the Association’s Rules not have provisions that are in Schedule 1 of the Act (rule 4.2);

•

ensure clarity and proper language use for rules about member cessation (19.1, 19.3, 21.1);

•

provide for Members to be sent an explanatory memorandum setting out arguments for and against the proposals being voted on as Special Resolutions in anticipation of a General Meeting at which Members will be asked to vote on those Special Resolutions (36.2(c));

•

improve expression and clarity in provisions for the types of voting that are accepted for determining whether a Special Resolution is passed and for the tabling of important matters at a subsequent General Meeting as Special Resolutions (42.1, 42.3, 44.1, 44.2);

•

clarify terms for Office Holders on Council, particularly for those filling casual vacancies, and the maximum consecutive period on Council as nine years, plus the term to complete a casual vacancy of less than one year (46.3, 49.1, 52.2, 52.3, 54.1, 54.3);

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•

provide for electronic voting, such as completion of a web-based ballot paper or the return of a signed ballot paper attached to an email (62.1, 62.3(b), 62.4);

•

provide for the authorities in determining the need for and calling of an urgent Council meeting, or a quorum as the presence of a majority of Council members, and for compliance with SECT 80 of the Act (that is, for a Council member who has a material personal interest in a matter being considered at a Council meeting to disclose the nature and extent of that interest to Council and thence to Members at the next General Meeting of the Association; 65.1, 68.2, 70.1); and

•

ensure consistency with the statutory indemnity pursuant to section 87 of the Act, particularly by extending the indemnity only to liabilities incurred in good faith and by not limiting the indemnity to ‘reasonable legal costs’ (83.1).

Amendments to the Regulations have been made to ensure compatibility with the amended Rules.

Council The Rules provide for the election of not more than nine Council Members, each with terms of (usually) three years. Cr Vincent Mirabelli, Cr Keith Ryall, Cr Max Stephens and Cr Muan Lim were elected in 2019 and their profiles are shown in the 2019 April edition of The Melbourne Graduate. The Vice Chancellor of The University of Melbourne appoints two representatives to Council. Cr Sarah Banks has been a member of Council since October 2015 and, in her role as Deputy Director of Alumni Relations, has assisted considerably with the strategic positioning of the organisation for membership recruitment and retention, and for advancement. Mr Martin McCurry joined Council from June 2018 to June 2019 as the second Vice-Chancellor’s representative. As Executive Director of Major Projects, Martin brought considerable experience and expertise to the terrace redevelopment. The Association thus extends to Martin deep gratitude for his contribution and wishes him all the very best with the next phases of his career as a senior executive and program director.

2019. Dr O'Connell is the School Executive Director at The University of Melbourne Law School and the Melbourne School of Government, where she oversees professional services and, working closely with the Dean and academic staff, drives the strategic direction and business objectives of the Schools. Previously, Dr O’Connell was Executive Director, Corporate Strategy and Business Services at the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources in South Australia; and has held executive positions in the areas of Policy, Research, Reform and Regulation in the Attorney General’s Department, the Office for Women, the Department for Families and Communities, and the Department for Water. She has held several NGO/Community board positions in areas of social justice and social inclusion including the Domestic Violence Sector, Community Legal Centres, Victims of Crime Service and Sexual Health. The Rules provide for up to three appointments to Council (rule 49.1(d)). Through this provision, Council re-appointed Cr Peter Rogers, the profile for whom was given in the 2019 April edition of The Melbourne Graduate, for a second term until November 2020. In 2019, we said farewell to Cr Simon Waters who was appointed to Council in September 2018. Cr Waters served on the Buildings and Facilities subcommittee, having extensive architectural expertise across all building types. We extend our gratitude to Simon for contributing his knowledge and experience to the maintenance of our existing buildings as well as the future expansion of our College through the terrace redevelopment. In conclusion, I thank the 2019 Governance and Nominations subcommittee members — Ms Radhika Agarwal (from June), Mr Kingsley Davis OAM, Mr John Green (Co-Vice-Chairperson to June), Dr Phillip Cobbin, Dr Brendan Grabau (Co-Vice-Chairperson from June), Ms Cheryl Kidston (to November), Ms Sobia Masood (from June), Cr Vincent Mirabelli (Co-Vice-Chairperson from June), Cr Gaetano (Tony) Pagone, Mr Leo Santalucia (Chairperson to June) and Ms Maggie Wang (from June), as well as the secretariat and administration staff at Graduate House.

Cr Molina Asthana Chairperson of the Governance and Nominations subcommittee

Dr Kylie O’Connell joined Council as the second Vice-Chancellor’s representative in September

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Elections to Council A Notice of Election was forwarded to Members in the January/February 2020 Newsletter mailout and on the website of The Graduate Union, calling for nominations to fill three (3) positions on Council. At the close of nominations on 12th March, 2020, three valid nominations had been received: These were from: *Asthana, Molina Comte OAM, Martin Gray, Natalie An asterisk indicates a retiring Council Member who has sought re-election. Since there are three vacancies to be filled on Council, I advise that a ballot will not be necessary and that the abovelisted successful candidates will be declared elected at the next Annual General Meeting. The term

of office for these appointments will be until the Annual General Meeting in 2023.

Personal Statements from Candidates The personal statements, which follow, have been standardised only by listing the surname first, followed by other names, the listing of degrees and diplomas and the inclusion of the names of the proposer and seconder of the candidate. A complete listing of Council membership during 2019-2020 is available under the About Us tab on The Graduate Union website: www.graduatehouse. com.au.

Ronald G Ritchie Returning Officer

Personal Statements from Candidates * ASTHANA, Molina BComm (Delhi), LLB (Delhi), LLM (Melb) I am currently on the Council and have been actively involved in Graduate House affairs, including as chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee. I am a lawyer by profession and also have significant experience on other boards including the Law Institute of Victoria, AFL South East Commission, Good Shepherd AusNZ and Gymnastics Victoria. I also founded the organisation Multicultural Women in Sport which aims to empower migrant women from multicultural backgrounds through sport. I am passionate about diversity and understand the issues of our diverse membership. I have good connections in community and government through my extensive community work and try to bring people of all walks and influence to GU. I have also spoken at GU events and actively spend time there to interact with Members and understand their needs. I have won multiple awards for my community work including the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence twice.

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Personal Statements from Candidates COMTE OAM, Martin BMus (Melb), BEd (Melb), MEd (LaTrobe), PhD (Michigan) I became a member of The Graduate Union after graduating from The University of Melbourne with degrees in Music (1969) and Education (1971); I rejoined more recently. I have experience across three residential colleges as a student and member of leadership teams. During PhD studies (University of Michigan) I lived in a predominantly ‘black’ college. This helped shape my understanding of the importance of colleges with respect to minority groups. I am vigorously committed to student/staff wellbeing, supporting gender diversity, and exploring new possibilities for quality cultural, social and educational experiences at Graduate House. I believe strongly in the ‘added’ benefits of college life. University appointments have included Dean of Faculty of Education, and Associate Dean, Cultural Development. Other experience includes the Board of The Australian Ballet School, and National Council of Musica Viva. Currently I chair the Advisory Committee for Worawa Aboriginal Girls College, Healesville.

GRAY, Natalie BTRP (Hons) (Melb), GradDip (Property) (RMIT) I joined The Graduate Union as a Life Member immediately following graduation from the Bachelor of Town Planning with 1st Class Honours in 1983. Over the years, I have been watching the organisation, whilst being preoccupied with my career in property and finance. I now have the space to contribute to the organisation which I believe makes a significant contribution to facilitating thinking and learning. My work requires a strong understanding of ethical governance processes and accepting the time necessary to carry out due diligence for each stage. My involvement at this time is particularly fitting as my skills are relevant to the proposed redevelopment. Much of my work these days is for not-forprofit organisations such as non-government schools, health facilities and places of worship. I have also established two charitable Foundations linked to education and research. I enjoy the people and activities at The Graduate Union.

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Membership and Marketing Membership and Marketing Subcommittee The Membership and Marketing subcommittee is pleased to provide this report on its activities in 2019. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 34.2.

Membership in 2019 As at the end of 2019, The Graduate Union had a 16% increase in membership with a total of 5,083 registered members in comparison to 4,357 at the end of 2018. The number of Life Members is significantly higher than previous years, with 206 new members enrolled in 2019 bringing the total to 1,623. We acknowledge all our Life Members who have been

part of The Graduate Union since the early 1900s, including those who sadly passed away in 2019. The number of Regular and Associate Members has also seen growth in 2019. There were 210 Regular and Associate Members at the end of 2018. An increase of 70 members (89.18%) by the end of 2019 brought the total number in this membership division to 280. The number of Organisation and Daily Members decreased by 15.63% and 22.93%, respectively. The number of Resident Members increased by 10.11% in 2019 — 13 Resident Members above the 188 in the previous year. The increase in the number of Resident Members means an increased number of Graduate Union College Alumni (GUCA). As at end of 2019, we had 2,590 GUCA Members. Simultaneously, we continue to digitise records from 1962 of our College (Graduate House) Alumni.

Number of new Resident Members for each month of 2018 and 2019

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The number for Resident Members varies each year as residents join Graduate House before residing and many change their membership division from Resident to Graduate/Associate, Life, Organisation or Daily membership at the end of their residency. The line chart on page 16 shows the number of new Resident Members in each month of 2018 and 2019. The total number of new Members in 2019 was 650, an increase of 85 (15%) on 2018 (565). Overall, the average number of new Members added per month in 2019 was 54 (range 22-71), 6 above the average for 2018. The total number of Members in each division is shown in the pie-chart below.

Membership Strategic Priorities and G-Union Master Plan The Membership and Marketing subcommittee monitors and delivers on the ‘Innovative Influential Membership’ priority of the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. The key result areas for this priority are: •

Graduate House is the place and The Graduate Union the network in which graduates want and need to be;

•

Members and their network groups connect to satellite groups of influence and innovation around the world;

•

the Association is renowned globally for delivery of activities that advance education for the benefit of the community; and

•

generations from the same family are Members.

In 2019, the Association continued to make progress on the strategies identified for each of these key result areas. The 2019 activities included a review of the branding for the different service units of the Association; needs analyses across identified market segments; working with and thus better capitalising on the multinational resident and non-resident membership to develop collegiate programs for local and international good; making networks of influence visible for graduates to access for their benefit and for the benefit of others; and the fostering of generational membership through the gaining of family narratives of involvement since 1911. The ‘Innovative Influential Membership’ priority of the Strategic Plan has also been aligned with the G-Union Master Plan through the strategies of implementing programs that support lifelong sharing of knowledge and skills with graduates as both mentees, trainees and mentors/trainers; designing and delivering educational outcomes that are for

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the wider public benefit; and acting as facilitators and enablers for self and community development through multi-disciplinary teams. The G-Union Master Plan has been in development (in parallel with the G-House Master Plan) for a number of years. It focuses on people and minds, education, the local and international collegium and lifelong learning. The goals of the Master Plan are to design an inspirational education vision which would allow for the Association to collaborate with others and contribute to social good while ensuring growth, independence and long-term sustainability of The Graduate Union. The Association held its annual Strategic Planning Day on the 6th July 2019 to determine the feasibility and capacity for the organisation to provide some of the education and support services envisaged within the G-Union Master Plan. One of the proposed services is to assist students through the experience of finding and entering into their desired postgraduate courses across the world. Another is to work with graduates before and after they enter careers, by providing them with networks and contacts, as well as guidance and opportunities for job-seeking, internships, career changes, promotions, etc. A third proposed service is provide micro-credentialling opportunities for graduates to add core competencies and skill sets to their degrees and to be recognised as ‘global citizens’. The Strategic Planning Day saw robust and constructive discussions on each of these three components; and it was determined that the model to be adopted by the Association would: •

build reputational capital as a trusted advisor in the postgraduate sector;

•

demonstrate financial stewardship in line with the Association's charitable aims and purposes;

•

deliver financial returns to advance the charitable aims and purposes;

•

generate a membership recruitment and retention opportunity to ensure longevity;

•

support the Association’s moderate risk appetite for exploring innovative and quality solutions to diversify and grow; and

•

not tarnish the Association’s viability, credibility, sustainability and values.

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Following the Strategic Planning Day, Council resolved to adopt an oversight structure, including a statement of the roles and responsibilities of each subcommittee in delivering the G-Union Master Plan. The Membership and Marketing subcommittee was delegated the tasks of articulating and developing the strategic direction of the G-Union Master Plan, and to initiating and overseeing the actions through other subcommittees for the launch of that strategic direction. Specifically, the roles and responsibilities of the Membership and Marketing subcommittee in this regard are to: •

advise Council on the development of education and support services/programs that strengthen the Association’s offerings to Resident Members, non-resident Members and the general public;

•

assist Council in communicating to Members the rationale and principles behind prospective developments, with a view to elicit their support and future involvement;

•

determine the likely demand for education and support services/programs amongst Members and non-members;

•

determine the conditions for education and support services/programs for Members and non-members and for adoption by Council;

•

identify potential partners and collaborative opportunities for development of education and support services/programs;

•

advise Council on the protection of the Association’s charitable status in the development and marketing of education and support services/programs;

•

advise Council on marketing and communication strategies for education and support services/ programs; and

•

monitor the mitigation and management of risk which applies to the membership and marketing of proposed education and support services/ programs.

Over the next few years, the Membership and Marketing subcommittee will continue thus to work closely with Council and the other subcommittees in developing and implementing the G-Union Master Plan; and in communicating progress with this aim transparently to Members.

The Graduate Union Annual Report

GU Collegiate In 2019, the Association also continued its longstanding commitment to the provision of academic, professional and social development through Monthly Luncheons and College Tables, as well as JobFocus Group meetings which assist Resident Members with their job seeking and application processes. Resident and non-resident Member collegiate and social experiences were also fostered through Resident Meet and Greet functions, significant cultural and religious celebrations (Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Easter, Diwali, Christmas in July, the Members’ end of the year Christmas Party) and major Association events, including the annual General Meeting Dinner, the Chairperson’s Cocktail Party and the Donor Thank You Luncheon.

Information Technology The growth of membership and advancement activities has led to the need to improve the Association’s approach to information collection and administration. Developed in 2013, the current Customer/Client Relationship Management (CRM) system enables integrated management of all Association services: accommodation, membership, finance and the booking and scheduling of events and functions. This CRM was continuously monitored and amended in 2019, resulting in automated datafield entries, more efficient data management, the clearing of redundant data and, thus, a cleaner and more accurate database. New components were also added. These included a human resource time sheet entry and management portal, as well as an advancement platform for the recording, responding and management of all donations/bequests, and for campaign planning. More contemporary tools for data analytics, market research and mobile communications were also incorporated. A restructuring of the CRM system to Structured Query Language (SQL) is the next stage. The cloud computing technology to be used as part of this upgrade means that data will be better shared, managed and analysed across the Association's platforms. This change will increase the Association’s capacity to administer a larger membership database and to deliver more efficiently and effectively the membership services envisaged in the Strategic and Master Plans.

In conclusion, I extend my gratitude to the 2019 Membership and Marketing subcommittee members — Ms Rosie Maddick (Co-Vice-Chairperson), Cr Sarah Banks (Co-Vice-Chairperson), Ms Molina Asthana, Mr Kingsley Davis OAM, Ms Jan Hocking, Ms Merium Kazmi, Ms Mary Kelleher, Ms Mehak Masood and Mr Rhys Watson. I thank also the dedicated and hardworking staff at Graduate House for their warm hospitality, professionalism and dedication.

Cr Keith Ryall Chairperson of the Membership and Marketing subcommittee

COMMUNICATIONS Website The Association’s website is a significant point of reference and is thus designed to provide relevant information quickly and clearly. In 2019, the website continued to be monitored and updated regularly to ensure improved accessibility, easy navigation across different pages and quick/appropriate responses to all queries. The benefaction ('Give Here') section of the website was simplified to provide for different donor preferences and giving schedules (weekly through to annually). Increased security measures were applied to enable online payments and donations. The website hosts (at least) 600 users daily – these users come from different demographics and access the website from different platforms. To meet the needs of these visitors, the website design was upgraded for enhanced compatibility with mobile phone, desktop and tablet devices and thus to ensure functionality across all operating systems. The site is most often visited by people in Australia, India, the Philippines, the United States and China. Most visits in 2019 were for the purpose of enquiring about accommodation, with the number of such enquiries being higher than in 2018. The bar graph on the next page shows the fluctuations in the number of new visitors to the website during 2019, as well as the total number of visits.

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Social Media

At the end of 2018, the Association launched its Instagram profile. This photo-sharing platform is increasing in popularity, particularly with Resident Members who use this platform in conjunction with Facebook to follow and to post about the latest events and notices around and about the College.

number of new visitors

In 2019, the Association maintained a strong presence on its social media platforms as another way of communicating and engaging with its global and diverse membership. The bar graph at the bottom of this page shows the continued popularity of these platforms, with YouTube showing an increased number of visits, particularly to view the

GU Collegiate (e.g., Monthly Luncheon presentation) videos that are uploaded each month.

Unique Visits

Number of Visitors

The number of new visitors to the website and the total number of visits in 2018 and 2019

Twitter

Facebook End of 2018

Youtube End of 2019

The number of followers/links for the Association's established social media platforms

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LinkedIn

The Graduate Union Annual Report

Meeting Services The hospitality team had another very busy and successful year with 1,242 meeting services bookings for special events, seminars, conferences, workshops, planning days and graduations. This is an increase of 241 from 2018. In 2019, 223 clients from various organisations booked with us and their events were attended by 25,346 delegates (compared to 22,796 in 2018). These figures do not include the number attending GU Collegiate functions, governance meetings and individual/group bookings in the dining room and bistro on a daily basis. To all our clientele, the hospitality team is grateful for the opportunity to be of service to you. We truly appreciate your business and know that our working relationship will continue to be successful in the years to come. The organisations that use Graduate House range from alumni groups, schools, research units and faculties from various universities to groups from the charitable and not-for-profit sectors and government departments at state and federal levels. The following gives a brief outline of some of the groups that convened functions throughout 2019. The Victorian branch of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL) held events in February and April with 84 attendees. ANZAPPL members consist of practitioners in these disciplines who have an interest in the relationship between mental health and law. The Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) Victorian committee meets here every month in

Australian Asian Association Annual General meeting

the evenings. The role of ASME is to encourage and advance music education at all levels as an integral part of general education and community life, and as a profession within the broad field of music. The Australian Asian Association (AAA) committee meets here monthly. The AAA of Victoria has had a proud tradition for over 60 years of building intercultural awareness in an atmosphere of friendship and relationships. For over two decades AAA has also promoted the learning of Asian languages by annually sponsoring the AAA Asian Language Awards to the highest achieving first year student in each Asian language taught at each Victorian tertiary institution. A full story on AAA was published on pages 42-45 of the December 2019 edition of The Melbourne Graduate. Mental Health First Aid Australia (MHFA Australia) again held several events throughout the year. MHFA is a Melbourne-based, not-for-profit that develops and delivers evidence-based mental health training courses for workplaces and the community. It works towards a world where everyone has the first aid skills to support people with mental health problems. At Graduate House, MHFA Australia conducts instructor training courses which involve the training and accrediting of instructors to teach others how to have supportive conversations to help their friends, family and colleagues, grow their knowledge and confidence, and reduce the stigma around mental health problems. International Women's Day was celebrated at Graduate House in March 2019. Organised by GU Members Mrs Margaret Sawyer and Ms Lesley Bawden, the event saw an attendance of 60 women, with guest speaker Dr Anita Goh, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Research Fellow from The University of Melbourne.

Melbourne School of Professional and Continuing Education (MSPACE) forum

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Another regular and valued client, Arts Access Victoria (AAV), held full day events in 2019. Established in 1974, AAV has since become the state’s leading arts and disability organisation. It is dedicated to an ambitious agenda of social and artistic transformation for people with disability, the communities in which they live and the arts sector in which they aspire to participate without barriers. Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) booked 29 times with us in 2019. Established in 1996, DHSV is the leading public oral health agency in Victoria. Funded by the State Government to provide clinical dental services to eligible Victorians, DHSV provides Victorians with quality oral healthcare through The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne (RDHM) and more than 50 community health agencies throughout the state. The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne is Victoria’s leading dental teaching facility, working in partnership with The University of Melbourne, RMIT University and La Trobe University for the education of dental and oral health professionals.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) Victorian Section began as a sub-section in 1975 to the then ‘Australia Section’. Driven by staff from the now historic Telecom Australia (Telstra) Research Laboratories located in Clayton while it lay dormant for a few years, it was rejuvenated and reformed as a Section in 1983, and has since remained one of the outstanding IEEE Sections in the AsiaPacific Region. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IEEE Victorian Section was conducted at Graduate House in December 2019. Looking back at what was an active year of more than fifty activities and events across the state of Victoria, the AGM saw a good mix of engineers, academics, entrepreneurs and other professionals attending, as well as the announcement of new office bearers and of intentions for the strategic planning ahead. Carlton Gardens Primary School (CGPS) held their Year 6 graduation on the 17th December. The 161 attendees included parents and guests, school staff and 49 students who were graduating from

From left: Margaret Sawyer, Dr Anita Goh and Lesley Bawden at the International Women's Day Luncheon

IMD Alumni Melbourne Chapter luncheon event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landing on the moon

The Carlton-Parkville Probus Christmas-themed Luncheon in July

Carlton Rotary Club's Global Leadership program in October

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Year 6. CGPS is a historic state school in inner Melbourne. Overlooking the Carlton Gardens, it is one of the closest schools to Melbourne's CBD, the Melbourne Museum, RMIT and The University of Melbourne, with which the school has historic links. A large number of the students' parents work at The University of Melbourne and at RMIT. Graduate House has been the venue for the CGPS graduation since 2016 and we look forward to welcoming all graduates and the great dance moves again in 2020. The John Cain Foundation Monthly Lunches continued in 2019 on the third Wednesday of each month with notable speakers and topics. Established as an independent and not-for-profit organisation in mid-2013, The John Cain Foundation is a think tank on political affairs of relevance in Victoria. It is also a fund raising engine for the promotion of research on issues of public policy of importance to Australia’s future. A central purpose of the Foundation is to honour the name of a great Australian who made such an important contribution to public administration and policy, and, of course, to our own Association as President from 2005 to 2011. The Rotary Club of Carlton also continues to hold their weekly Tuesday lunches at Graduate House, again with an excellent series of speakers and topics. Many other Rotary Club functions and events were also held throughout the year. One was the inaugural Global Leadership program on 7th October which featured Ian Riseley, President of Rotary International 2017-2018. The event featured a question and answer session with panelists including Dr Kerry Bennett (CEO/Head of College of The Graduate

Melbourne School of Health Sciences staff awardees

Union) and Dr Parisa Shiran (Friend of Rotary Club of Carlton and Advancement Officer of the Association). Numerous faculties, departments and units of, or affiliated with, The University of Melbourne convened meetings at Graduate House in 2019. Among the many was the Academic Services and Registrar Office which held a function for 100 guests as part of the launch of the Respect Week campaign. Melbourne School of Professional and Continuing Education (MSPACE) returned in 2019 and booked 74 full-day conference events at Graduate House. The end of year is a busy time as most organisations hold events to celebrate their successes and to wrap up the year. The Melbourne Medical School (MMS) 2019 Research Symposium was held in December with 100 attendees. The symposium also heard from the winners and finalists of the School’s Publication Prizes across the early career researcher and student categories. Professor John Prins, Head of the Melbourne Medical School and Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne, officiated the event at Graduate House. Another end of year event was a cocktail party on the 10th December organised by Melbourne School of Health Sciences to congratulate the award recipients and to recognise excellence in research, learning, teaching and professional support throughout the year. The event was attended by 60 delegates.

Prize winners and finalists at the third annual Melbourne Medical School (MMS) Research symposium

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The Graduate Union Annual Report

Organisations at Graduate House The logos for organisations and groups that used our facilities in 2019 shown on these two pages illustrate our commitment to assisting other not-for-profits with charters also for the advancement of education for community benefit. From all of us at Graduate House, we thank you for your patronage in 2019 and look forward to serving you again in 2020.

Australian Asian Association (AAA)

Australian Association of Social workers (AASW)

Arts Access Victoria (AAV)

Australian Calabrese Cultural Association (ACCA)

Australian Centre for Heart Health (ACHH)

Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER)

Association of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies (AGES)

Association of German Teachers of Victoria Inc (AGTV)

Australian Hemp Manufacturing Company (AHMC)

Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL)

Australian Psychological Society (APS)

Alpine Resort Co-ordinating Council (ARCC)

Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM)

Australian Society of Music Education (ASME)

Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM)

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)

Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN)

Australian Professional Thermography Association (AUSPTA)

Business Builders Group - Consulting and Advisory

Canada Club of Victoria

Career Education Association of Victoria (CEAV)

Catholic Education Melbourne

David Morris Consulting

Duntroon Society

Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV)

Ex-Principals of Victoria (PAV) Group

Global Post-Merger Integration (PMI) Partners

Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria (GTAV)

Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)

International Coach Federation (ICF)

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International Institute for Management Development (IMD)

International Student Advisers’ Network of Australia (ISANA)

John Cain Foundation

Journal of Spatial Science

League of Women Voters of Victoria

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Melbourne Underground Rail Loop (MURL)

Modern Greek Teachers’ Association of Victoria (MGTAV)

Mosaic Lab

Order of Saint John

Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM)

Parkville Conference St Vincent de Paul

Phoenix Australia

Probus Carlton

Retired Veterinarian Group

Rhodes Scholars’ Association Victoria

Ripponlea Institute

Rotary Club of Carlton

Rushall Consulting Group

Social Education Victoria (SEV)

Social Work Department Writing Group

Turkish Teachers Association of Victoria (TTAV)

The University of Melbourne

Ultrasound Education iHeartScan

University Lodge

MELBA GROUP Monthly meetings

SLAVERY LINKS Royal Children's Hospital

The Graduate Union

The Peter Doherty Institute

Victorian ALP University of NSW Australia (Canberra)

Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC)

Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge and Innovation (VESKI)

Victoria State Secondary Past Principals Inc (VASSP)

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Other groups that met here regularly throughout 2019 included Social Education Victoria (SEV), the Australian Italian Lawyers Association, the Calabrese Cultural Association, the Order of St John, the Melba Group and Probus of Carlton. Graduate House is also a popular venue for Member celebrations, anniversaries and reunions.

50th wedding anniversary of Dr Ken and Mrs Jan Loughnan

Past President of The Graduate Union, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO and his wife Jan celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary dinner in grand splendour and with the attendance of many family members. The 481 Hostel Boys convened in June for their annual reunion. The 13 boys were residents at the Education Department Hostel for Country boys while studying from 1955 to 1957. The family and friends of the late Olive Hamilton (Life Member) came together at Graduate House to celebrate her life in a memorial service in April. The service was attended by 85 people in the combined Stillwell and Ian Potter rooms.

481 Hostel Boys reunion

Visiting Dignitaries The Consul General of India and the Honorary Consul of Malawi On Thursday, 19th September we welcomed the Deputy Consul General of India, Mrs Anuradha Sundaramurthi (standing in for the Consul General Mr Raj Kumar), the Vice-Consul, Mr Nadeem Ahmad Khan, and the Honorary Consul of Malawi and the Secretary of the Consular Corps, Mr Trent Smyth to Graduate House for dinner in the Main Dining Room/ Phillip Law Members Lounge.

Victorian Fellow end of year lunch

The President of The Graduate Union, The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC, Members of Council, Dr Max Stephens and Ms Molina Swarup Asthana and the CEO/Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett, also attended, together with staff and Resident Members who are from India. The Consul General, Mr Raj Kumar, forwarded to Graduate House his message of apologies for not being able to attend, and his desire to understand better the issues faced by students from India in Melbourne. He has urged all to register with the Indian Consulate so that they might assist in times of need.

Celebration of the late (Life Member) Olive Hamilton's life

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Dr Rafael A. Cabredo

The Consul General of India and the Honorary Consul of Malawi visited Graduate House in September

Dr Rafael A. Cabredo is an educator with 18 years experience teaching computer science. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from De La Salle University in the Philippines and his PhD in information science and technology from Osaka University in Japan. He currently serves as the Dean of the College of Computer Studies. He has also been involved with various organisations that cater to the needs of the IT and game development industries, as well as the education sector. Through the United Board Fellows Program, he intends to share ideas and experiences with peers, develop management skills, and discover innovations for higher education institutions.

Dr Raymond Nung-Sing Sze Dr Raymond Nung-Sing Sze The United Board Fellows welcome lunch in October in the Johnson Library is associate professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University United Board Fellows - Dr Rafael Cabredo (PolyU). He obtained his PhD in mathematics at and Dr Raymond Sze the University of Hong Kong, and has been actively involved in program management, curriculum We are proud to continue our ongoing collaboration development, and learning and teaching projects at with, and support of, the United Board Fellows PolyU. Program, which is designed for the leadership development of mid-career faculty and “A good leader in higher education should require administrators from Asian colleges and universities. himself/herself to become a lifelong companion for students and should motivate his/her teammates In 2019, we welcomed two visiting United Board to do the same. He or she should be committed to Fellows, Dr Raymond Sze and Dr Rafael Cabredo, nurturing the next generation of leaders,” Dr Sze said. who stayed with us at Graduate House from Through the United Board Fellows Program, Dr Sze October to December. hopes to enhance his leadership skills, especially in team management and communication - he regards nd Attending their welcome lunch on Tuesday, 22 collaboration and teamwork as critical to university October was the President of The Graduate Union, service. The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC and members of Council.

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GU Collegiate GU Collegiate events, particularly the Monthly Luncheons, have been convened since 1911. Our single date events, i.e., Influenza Vaccination Day, Iftar Banquet Dinner, Donor Thank You Day, Chairperson's Cocktail Party and Members' Christmas Party, are those which have the highest attendance. Each requires months of planning. The table on the following page shows attendance rates according to membership division for some of the GU Collegiate events.

Resident Members enjoying Diwali Night in October

The numbers shown in this table are exclusive of the regular self-organising groups: the once-a-week Bridge Night, fortnightly Italian Conversation Dinner and the monthly Women’s Forum, as well as of the Resident Member events (JobFocus, Residents’ Christmas in July Party, Welcome tables, cultural dinners, Movie Nights and special occasions). In 2019, there were approximately 135 GU Collegiate functions. For the 23 events tabled on the following page, the total attendance was 1,721 for the year inclusive of 317 Life Subscriber Members, 406 Regular and Associate Members, 154 Resident Members and 364 non‑members.

Strategic Planning Day in July

Culinary Team In addition to catering for academic and professional development meeting services and GU Collegiate events, over 85,000 meals (more than 300 each day) were prepared at Graduate House in 2019. The catering for Resident Members — seven breakfasts and five dinners each week — accounts for about 90% of these meals, the remaining being for those who come to Graduate House for group lunches, dinners and after work catch ups, as well as the Association's regular clientele of non-resident Members, non-members and Loyalty Card holders.

Influenza Vaccination Day in April

The Association is very grateful for the professional services provided by our dedicated and talented culinary team.

Residents Christmas In July party

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Events and Participation

Number of events in 2019

22

Life and Honorary Life Members

Regular and Associate Members

Resident Members

nonmembers

Total

293

347

292

247

1,679

February Monthly Luncheon

February

19

40

1

27

87

March Monthly Luncheon

March

15

18

2

10

45

Summer BBQ/Residents and Members

March

0

5

123

0

128

College Table (Agriculture)

March

7

5

0

5

17

April Monthly Luncheon

April

11

23

2

11

47

Influenza Vaccination Day

April

College Table (Social Studies)

April

4

8

0

5

17

May Monthly Luncheon

May

12

22

1

8

43

College Table (Higher Education)

May

2

12

0

2

16

Ramadan Iftar Banquet

May

7

11

124

14

156

Annual General Meeting Dinner

May

32

33

9

9

83

June Monthly Luncheon

June

4

20

1

9

34

August Monthly Luncheon

August

18

9

0

7

34

College Table (Public and Preventive Medicine)

August

0

8

0

2

10

September Monthly Luncheon

September

12

12

0

11

35

October Monthly Luncheon

October

10

19

1

19

49

Donor Thank You Day

October

39

21

5

25

90

November Monthly Luncheon

November

15

16

1

9

41

Chairperson’s Cocktail Party

November

51

48

12

57

168

Members’ Christmas Party

December

35

17

10

17

79

Estimated numbers of 500 vaccinated on the day — managed by Vaccin8@Work

500

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2019 Monthly Luncheons We are honoured to continue the 1911-initiated tradition of 'lectures by distinguished visitors and others' in our Monthly Luncheons and apologise again for charging more than 9d!

Mr Mark Fittock

To Infinity and beyond - Working with the Mars Space team

6th February

Mr Fittock talked about his involvement in the development of the Mars space probe InSight, designed to investigate the heat flow and other thermal properties of Mars. Through a digging instrument called ‘the mole,’ which burrows up to five metres below Mars’ surface, the probe gathers information about Mars and will shed light on how the planet was formed and give us a better understanding of how the solar system works.

Mr Edward Tudor Creating a place of belonging for remote Indigenous students in Melbourne

6th March

One way to support indigenous communities is to ensure that they have access to equal and quality education by facilitating Indigenous students’ transition from remote and regional areas to big cities and to Melbourne schools. Mr Tudor tells us how the original concept for the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School was devised in his family kitchen in 2008 and was fully materialised in 2015, with 22 students now being enrolled in the School each year.

Associate Professor Kate MacNeill Collecting and exhibiting the works of Women Artists

3rd April

Talking on the topic of ‘Collecting and Exhibiting the Work of Women Artists’, Associate Professor MacNeill discussed the place of female artists in society and the discrepancy in how we attach value to the artistic works by men and women because of gender stereotypes and traditional notions of artistic genius and the canon.

Dr Helen Szoke AO Oxfam: Tackling Poverty Together

1st May

Chief Executive Officer of Oxfam Australia, Dr Szoke AO spoke about Oxfam’s global aim of eliminating poverty. Dr Szoke's presentation covered the history of Oxfam, some of the key projects the organisation has undertaken in Australia and around the world so far and the positive impact that they have had on many communities. The indigenous leadership program ‘Straight Talk’ which has empowered many indigenous women to be political change-makers and the provision of water and sanitation services in the refugee settlements of Myanmar are just two examples of such invaluable works.

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Ms Jen Hutchison

5th June

Living every minute

Ms Hutchison shared the story of the tragic loss of her son and how that changed her perception of herself as a mother and re-ignited her passion for writing as a means to express the pain and angst of her loss. She published her powerful autobiography Motherling: A Walk (2019) following her 800 kilometre pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago route with her son’s ashes.

Dr Caitlin Barr

Everyone says that they are providing personcentered care, but are they?

7th August

Sharing some surprising statistics about the prevalence of hearing loss in Australia, Dr Barr discussed the findings of her research on the status of patient-centred care in Australia and the ways in which the current gaps in the provision of this type of care among patients with hearing loss could be improved.

Ms Kerri Lee Sinclair

4th September

Investing Innovation

Where are private wealth management companies directing their money? Which industries are receiving the largest amounts of funding? Ms Sinclair gave an example of one such company, Kin Group, explaining the reasons why the future of capital growth is in technology. Kin Group’s research suggests the huge disruption of technology across many industries, and thus informs their future investment in such areas as intelligent manufacturing.

Dr Deborah Towns OAM and Dr John Andrews The writing of 'A Secondary Education for All'?: A history of state secondary schooling in Victoria

2nd October

Discussing the publication of their award-winning book ‘A Secondary Education for All’?: A history of State Secondary Schooling in Victoria (2017), Dr Towns and Dr Andrews shared the resources they used and the topics covered in their publication, as well as a fascinating story about the development of secondary schooling in Victoria.

Dr Ross McMullin

Will Dyson, Australia's radical genius

13th November

William Henry Dyson (1880-1938), Australian illustrator and political cartoonist, is one of the lesser-known historical figures of World War I despite his years of frontline experience and influential works. Dr McMullin introduced the life and work of Dyson, analysing Dyson’s writings and cartoons on the evils of the war, his love for Australian soldiers, post-war economy and culture, and social injustice in general.

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2019 College Tables The Graduate Union thanks our College Table guests for their generosity of time and expertise and for enabling robust and interesting discussions.

Associate Professor Gregory Harper Agriculture

15th March

Consumers are increasingly concerned to know where their food is coming from and the associated production costs – whether that be to individuals, animals or the environment. Associate Professor Harper addressed the topic of the future of the Australian food and agriculture industry, noting that innovation opportunities within the agricultural industry will become more important as the nation addresses pressing factors such as climate change, population growth and food security concerns. Informed conversation between all groups in our community, including Indigenous landowners, civil society, government and industry, is vital to effecting change.

Dr Harry Blutstein Social Studies

12th April

Politics and sport are two topics that might, on the surface, seem unrelated. Presenting his latest book, Cold War Games (2017), Dr Blutstein showed the interconnection between the two and discussed the politics that existed behind the scenes at the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne — in particular how the USSR and the US used the Melbourne Olympic Games as an opportunity for propaganda — thus providing an alternative view on history.

Dr Angelito Calma Higher Education

17th May

The challenges of quality assurance have become a rising concern within the university and higher education sector. Dr Calma’s College Table talk gave an overview of international quality assurance organisations within the field of business education, and some of the most important factors, including, for instance, assessment design, student’s engagement and tutor training, that contribute to the quality of tertiary education delivered at universities.

Dr Deborah Glass Public and Preventive Medicine

16th August

Introducing the field of Occupational Health and Hygiene, Dr Glass explained that this type of research involves investigating how occupational situations increase the likelihood of certain diseases in one group of people rather than the general public and then trying to figure out the exact relation between that occupational risk and disease to implement preventive measures. Some of the examples of this type of work were the connection between breast cancer and night shifts, silicosis and mineral dust, and leukaemia and benzene exposure.

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2019 Women’s Forum The Women's Forum involves a lively and robust discussion which continues with conversation over lunch in the Bistro for those who are able to stay.

As shown in this following summary of topics covered throughout the year, discussion can range from current affairs to contemporary society issues.

The Forum is a good example of, and exercise in, attentive and disciplined listening!

20th February

21st August

Why is academic accomplishment undervalued in Australia in comparison with, for example, sport?

The importance of languages

17 April

18th September

th

Who is responsible for the cladding mess? Privacy

16th October

15 May th

What is a suitably good life as I age? Gardening and the place it has in our lives

19 June

20th November

th

Is democracy in trouble? Coping with the changing seasons

17 July

18th December

th

End-of-year session to share laughter The importance of bees

The Women’s Forum group convenes for lunch in the Dining Room after their discussion

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Membership in 2019 New Members We extend a warm welcome to the new Members of our Association.

Life Members

Ms Sara Sorola

Ms Judit Boros

Ms Elspeth Fink-Jensen

Ms Jane Southwell

Ms Karis Britton

Mr Ian McCredie

Ms Tong Sun

Dr Rafael Cabredo

Honorary Members

Professor Mile Terziovski

Ms Maria Cahill

Mr Martin McCurry

Mr Alex Thomas

Dr Michelle Castro

Ms Kylie O'Connell

Mr Yinghui Tian

Dr Yuet Yee Chee

Mr Geoff David Todd AM

Mr Shilun Chen

Professor Garry Warne AM

Ms Yujia Chen

Ms Anitra (Ani) Wierenga

Ms Huiying Chua Mr Pablo Cordova Baya

Care Connect Ltd

Non-resident Student Graduate Members

DCA Advisors Pty Ltd

Ms Kayla Heffernan

Miss Amanda Daniella

Department of Social Work

Dr Soon Swan Kim

Ms Sushmita Deb

J Kundu

Ms Ava Lane

Miss Griet Decorte

University Lodge No 171

Ms Bing Liu

Mr Zhiming Deng

Associate Members

Mr Liam Petrie- Aubutt

Miss Dulani Denipitiya

Mr Reginald Flanigan

Ms Lipsa Samantaray

Mr Daniel Dos Santos

Ms Min Jiang

Resident Members

Ms Lyn Morgain

Mr Fahd Achahbar

Members

Miss Mabel Acosta

Ms Katherine Karas

Miss Radhika Agarwal

Ms Cheryl Lacey

Dr Hareth Alkateb

Ms Miu Kuen Lee

Dr Sana Alsarghali

Ms Micah Maglaya

Mr Abhishek Anand

Mr Michael Moignard

Mr Niklas Andersen

Mr Tim Murray

Mr Rahul Ashiya

Mr Sankar Nadeson

Mr Benjamin Avanzi

Mr Gary Nolan

Miss Neharika Bajracharya

Mr Dennis Norgard

Ms Prachi Bametha

Ms Katrin Ogilvy

Ms Barbie Barbie

Dr Geoffrey Prince

Dr Helen Baxter

Mr Noel Saines

Ms Deeksha Beniwal

Dr Lilian Sakalo

Miss Kathleen Bergonia

Mr George Saltis

Ms Ashlee Bodger

Organisation Members Australian Psychological Society Australian Skeptics (Victorian Branch) Inc

Mr Atilla Csala

Miss Laurijn Durt Ms Irene Edenton Mrs Elva Einarsdottir Mr Zhiyu Fang Ms Marah Fares Mr Ash Finn Dr Jaimie Frazer Dr Anbar Ganatra Miss Saakshi Gandhi Miss Charlotte Gerling Mr Udit Goel Mr Ishan Goyal Ms Kirrallee Grace Dr Claes Granmar Mr Ajeeth Gunna Ms Cecillie Hansen Dr Rebecca Harding Ms Carol Haybarger

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The Graduate Union Annual Report

Ms Amy Heim

Dr Cathal McGowan

Mr Qi Rui Soh

Dr Simone Hendriske

Mr Eamon McKenna

Mr Roland Somlai

Professor Randall Henning

Dr Ramshekhar Menon

Miss Ran Song

Miss Jessica Hine

Mr Markus Metz

Mr Alexander (Sandy) Steel

Mr Tom Hyatt

Miss Ka Man (Carmen) Mok

Mr Pihong Sun

Ms Beenish Imtiaz

Mr Tse Yu Clement Mok

Mr Victor Wei Sun

Dr Yoshihiro Ito

Dr Devaki Monani

Dr Raymond Nung-Sing Sze

Miss Jimena Jaramillo Correa

Mr Kazumasa Nakase

Ms Ge Tang

Mr Bonny John

Ms Rosa Napolitano

Miss Ezechiel Thibaud

Ms Victoria Jordan

Dr Hasan Nasir

Mr Owen Thomas

Mr Mie Jorgensen

Ms Ura Natsuko

Ms Jackie Toh

Ms Maria Kamal

Miss Jiasen Niu

Professor Yoichi Tominaga

Mr Weilin Ke

Mr Joel Ochoa

Ms Anja Trifkovic

Dr Janette Patricia Kelly-Ware

Ms Kseniia Ovadenko

Mr John Tzanavaras

Mr Muhammad Khalid

Miss Sarah Paloni

Ms Rina Ueshima

Ms Heewon Kim

Ms Andja Pani

Ms Maria Jose Florido

Dr Paul Klauser

Dr Mi Yung Park

Ms Pia Maria Van Gen Hassend

Dr Katharine Knowlton

Mr Alexandre Pereira

Mr Mariano Venanzi

Miss Soh Young Ko

Miss Andrea Picaso

Dr Bindu Venugopal

Miss Margarita Kousteni

Mr Salaar Pirzada

Miss Shubhangi Verma

Ms Patricia Kowara

Ms Roslyn Pruden

Mr Owen Waits

Mr Nils Krakow

Ms Antra Pushpin

Professor John Wallace

Mrs Puneeta Kumar

Mr Miguel Quitral

Miss Linda Xiangyu Wan

Miss Chuiki Jasmine La

Mr Talha Rahman

Mr Kang-Hsu Wang

Mr Song Lam

Mrs Chandrakala Ramakrishna

Ms Maggie Yachao Wang

Ms Maria Lara

Mr Avinash Rao

Ms Hsin-Hui Wang

Miss Yi-Ching Lee

Ms Salome Romero

Miss Wenyen Wei

Dr Qiuliang Lei

Mr Javier Sandoval

Miss Aelish White

Mr Jingheng Li

Ms Caitlyn Ryan

Dr Tak Wai Wong

Dr Kathy Liddell

Mr Sujay Sadanandan

Miss Hiao Ching Wong

Mr Toh Han Lim

Mr Josh Salvador

Miss Yue Xin

Ms Shao Qi Lim

Ms Bangone (Cindy) Santavasy

Miss Zhang Xuan

Mr Chun-Ta Lin

Dr Catherine Schieve

Ms Kathryn Yammine

Miss Shu-Chi Liu

Mr Simon Scutts

Ms Yijun (Katerina) Yao

Miss Kashan Mangory

Mrs Maria Sevilla

Dr Yusuke Yonamine

Ms Yifei Mao

Ms Farhat Shah

Dr Xiaowen Yuan

Professor Sandra Mariano

Miss Yukti Sharma

Judge Maiko Yukawa

Ms Kylie Martin

Mr Xinnan Shen

Dr Jeong-In Yun

Ms Sobia Masood

Ms Swati Sinha

Miss Anahita Zehni

Ms Naomi Matsumoto

Mr Akash Sivaji

Mr Yuanzhe Zhu

Dr Mayur Mayank

Dr Rebecca Smith

Mr Xiao Bai (Mike) Zhu

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Our Members Remembered Valete Our condolences are extended to families and friends. The year of joining is indicated. Dr Geoffrey James Bishop AM, 1975

Mrs Lesley Isobel King, 1975

Dr Marian Edith Lindesay Brookes, 1964

Ms Miriam Heather Kudeviita, 1962

Dr Kester Thomas Christopher Kenneth Brown, 1981

Ms Monica Mackintosh MacCallum, 1959

The Honorable John Cain, 2005 The Reverend Mr Stephen Cherry, 1955 Mr John Forrest Haymen Clark, 1957 Mrs Elizabeth Margaret Clarke, 1945 Mr William James Edward Davey, 1954 Mr Leon Frank Dawes, 1954 Dr Alan Maxwell de Clifford, 1978 Mr John Riddoch Franklin, 1951 Bishop James Alexander Grant, 1954 Ms Olive Marion Hamilton, 1967 Dr Dale Furneaux Hebbard, 1951 Prof Emeritus John Howard Hensler, 1959 Dr Thomas Henry Hurley, 1954 Mrs Betty Elnor Ives, 1960 Mr Gordon Verey Jones, 1954 Dr John Robert Lyall Kelly, 1956 Ms Helen Mildred Keneley, 2015 Mr Jeffrey Stephen Kiddle, 1958

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Dr Raymond David Marginson, 1954 Ms Zelda Jean Martin, 1975 Mr Kenneth Charles Mawson OAM, 1966 Dr James Donald Merralls, 1959 Dr Geoffrey Edward Miles, 1975 Mr Arthur Stanley Morieson, 1956 Dr John Barrie Morley, 1968 Dr Lynnette Jean Peel, 1963 Mrs Joan Mary Pretty, 1962 Dr Michael Ernest Regan, 2007 Mrs Louisa Joyce Richards, 2010 Mr Giovanni Scomparin, 1969 Mr Alan Thomas Scott, 1990 Mr Keith Walter Stott, 1956 Mr Francis George Taylor, 1979 Dr Lloyd Douglas Thomson, 1951 Mr Ian James Tyler, 1968 Mr Geoffrey Keith White, 1961

The Graduate Union Annual Report

Residents Graduate House Student Group Formed in 2014, The Graduate House Student Group (GHSG), has a continuous succession committee that is responsible for facilitating events at Graduate House, such as cultural dinners, movie and music nights, card games, night and day outings and fundraising events. Much gratitude is extended to the 2019 Committee: Chittesh Shukla (President), David Musoff (Vice President), Mugdh Setia (Secretary), Mohammad Ahmed (Treasurer), David Smith (Event Coordinator), Radhika Agarwal (Sports Coordinator) and Merium Kazmi (Publicity Coordinator).

2019 GHSG Committee

Annual General Meeting Dinner

Card Games Night

Influenza Vaccination Day

Residents' Christmas In July Party

Members' Christmas Party Photo booth

Members' Christmas Party Photo booth

Diwali Night

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The In-House International Collegium

Graduate House is one of the most international residential colleges worldwide. Every year, hundreds of postgraduates from around Australia and the world choose to stay in our great college, creating a truly multicultural environment. This map shows the number of residents from each country in 2019. These numbers are exclusive of visitors booked in by our organisation members, such as visiting academics and researchers and others here on universityrelated collaborations. For the new and lone postgraduate student or visiting academic, this means instant immersion into a welcoming and diverse ‘united nations’. Once they leave residence, they are integrated and active within an influential worldcaring network.

Here's what our residents say: Graduate House provided me with the cultural exposure at a very diverse level, plus a unique experience of sharing a home-like environment with people coming from varying backgrounds. Sharing common anxieties and concerns regarding studies tends to bring residents closer as they are, more or less, in a similar situation. My lovely wife, Amna, and I feel fortunate enough to live this kind of experience where we can interact with so many wonderful people on a very personal level. - Muhammad Mossavir Ahmed The quality of residency here at Graduate House is excellent. My time here was relaxing and very satisfying. The staff members were very helpful to me given that my laptop computer was in for servicing. The Kitchen staff members were also helpful and the meals very satisfying with great diversity. - James Henshall Page 38 | Volume 73, Number 1

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2019 Year at a Glance

JAN

feb

Graduate House welcomes in the year 2019

Monthly Luncheon with Mark Fittock

President Dr Ken V Loughnan AO and his wife Jan’s 50th wedding anniversary celebrations

Life Member Dr Bottomley graduates with a PhD at age 94 years

apr

may

Insights into meditation by Venerable Dr Vimokkha Mendhino

Ramadan Banquet Iftar

GU Influenza Vaccination Day

AGM dinner with Ombudsman Deborah Glass

Jul

aug

GU Strategic Planning Day

Monthly Luncheon with Dr Caitlin Barr

Residents' Christmas In July

oct

nov

Monthly Luncheon with Dr Deborah Towns AM and Dr John Andrews

Monthly Luncheon with Dr Ross McMullin

Diwali Donor Thank You Day

mar Monthly Luncheon with Mark Tudor International Women’s Day Luncheon

JuN Monthly Luncheon with Jen Hutchison

sep Dinner with the Consul General of India and the Honorary Consul of Malawi

dec Chairperson’s Cocktail Party Members’ Christmas Party

The Graduate Union Annual Report

Fundraising and Benefactions Fundraising and Benefactions subcommittee

•

Members are driving advancement and the engagement of influential networks with the Association.

The Fundraising and Benefactions subcommittee is pleased to provide this report on its activities in 2019. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 32.2.

•

Major funds have been secured from bequests, donations and other endowment sources.

•

Major projects for Buildings, Facilities (G-House) and the Membership (G-Union) are defined for targeted advancement funding and campaigns.

•

The crowdfunding site is a platform for academic, economic and social good, research, development and sustainability for People, Programs and Places.

Strategic priority of ‘culture of giving’ With the introduction of the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan, the name of the strategic priority ‘benefaction’ was changed to ‘culture of giving’. This change reflects the increasing involvement and engagement by our Members in the giving opportunities and charitable activities of our Association. It signifies that we have in place strong foundations and the necessary platforms (policies, procedures, systems) for the administration of ‘benefaction’; and that we are shifting strategically in response to the call from our value-driven Members to share a voice and work jointly for greater impact and global social good. Of course, a ‘culture of giving’ is not new for our membership Association. For many decades, we have been fortunate to have had donations and bequests from Members and other stakeholders that have enabled us to increase our offerings of individual opportunities (scholarships; awards, etc.) and to expand and improve our accommodation and meeting service facilities. Indeed, the relative strength of our ‘culture of giving’ has increased. We have norms, models, traditions and opportunities that show continuity and persistence of our advancement approach. Equally, we are responsive and adaptable with respect to new and major initiatives such as that for our capital campaign towards the terrace redevelopment. The key result areas for this ‘culture of giving’ strategic priority are:

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Capital campaign for redevelopment of the terraces Together with the Initial Project Control Group, this subcommittee has focused predominantly in 2019 on the capital campaign for the terrace redevelopment from 222 to 234 Leicester Street. The Melbourne City Council permit for this redevelopment was obtained in July 2018. After reconfirming the preliminary quantity surveyor estimates for this redevelopment, we thence undertook detailed financial modelling to determine the target amount to raise from the capital campaign.

Feasibility Study An external agency was then engaged to undertake a fundraising feasibility study to canvas perceptions, the appeal of, and the levels of support for the redevelopment, to test the fundraising target and to commence developing and promoting the ‘case for support’. Many Members and a number of other ‘friends’ of our Association participated in this feasibility study, either through face-to-face and telephone interviews or via an online survey. We were very pleased to read in this agency’s report that, overall, the willingness to participate in the study was positive.

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All other results in the report were similarly encouraging. There was genuine interest from our Association’s community in the campaign and a high degree of acceptance of the proposed fundraising target. The redevelopment was viewed as important and timely, and the vast majority of respondents rated the services provided by Graduate House, as well as the redevelopment of the terraces, as ‘highly important’ or ‘important’ (97% and 89%, respectively). ‘The development is very much needed.’ ‘The precinct is developing and it’s timely for Graduate House.’ The primary recommendations in the report were thus to continue with the campaign multimillion dollar initiative and to implement a contemporary capital campaign model commencing with a ‘reset and refresh’ period over 2019 and 2020 and allowing for a period of four to five years to nurture and enlist financial support. The target is big but so is the vision. I think it can be done. The report concluded by noting that, yes, the vision set for the redevelopment of Graduate House is ambitious, bold and forward-thinking, and that the project has the potential to generate high levels of giving. The project has resonated with a high proportion of our supporter groups – it is compelling, with a strong case for support. Our Association, particularly Graduate House, is viewed with affection and esteem.

Campaign Plan Based on the results of the feasibility study, the external agency also presented a roadmap for the strategic direction and future implementation of the capital campaign, the approach being underpinned by the Association’s longstanding philosophy of personalisation, stewardship – with all Members responsible for the sustainability and growth of this

Welcoming

Warm and Inclusive

Friendly

Convenient

Unique

Stimulating

Valuable

Diverse

Collegiate

Participants were asked how they would describe Graduate House in three words

organisation – and the active involvement of our Members in peer-to-peer influencing, advocacy and the gaining of financial and other support. The capital campaign plan included five pillars that were seen as crucial to the success of the campaign and that should shape its development. These were vision, leadership engagement, strategy, case for support and ‘askers and givers’. In 2019, much work was thus done to address and progress the strategies for each of these building blocks.

Case for support – a market need and a unique ‘value proposition’ The Association has an increasingly compelling case for support of this expansion of its graduate-only residential college. Our research demonstrates that there is a clear increase in the number of domestic and international students partaking in postgraduate coursework and research diplomas and degrees in this precinct – our residents predominantly being enrolled at The University of Melbourne, RMIT and at other universities that have campuses in the central business district of Melbourne. Statistical analyses and economic forecasts point also to continued increases in this number and thus increasing demand for support services and accommodation. Though there are many private student accommodation buildings also being built in this

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Domestic

A POSITIVE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Overseas

60,000

55,723

73%

40,000

30,530

In 2019, international students rated their satisfaction with university accommodation in Australia at 57/100. 50% of PBSAs (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) are single, small bedsits in large complexes. There is little to no community. This experience is isolating and lonely. Graduate House provides meaningful and lasting experiences for all our Residents. This college is inclusive, welcoming and friendly. It is a strong community. — SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT AT GRADUATE HOUSE.

precinct, these often have in mind the interest of investors. Sometimes this interest does not translate to interest in, and focus on, student livelihood, wellbeing and collegiality – the hallmarks of our Graduate House.

20,000

In terms of the future, this growth in graduate student numbers will continue. The net economic benefit from just this student segment in this precinct over the next ten years is predicted to increase by 89% to approximately $10B; and more than 40,000 jobs will be created.

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24,430 2029

2019

Ten-year forecasted growth ingraduate student numbers in this precinct

Recognition opportunities The Association has a strong tradition of recognising major donors and contributors via naming rights and other honours. We have, for example, the Stella Langford Wing, the Phillip Law Members Lounge, the Barbara Funder Lounge, the William Berry Terraces, the Ian Potter Room and the Stillwell Room. All donations and bequests to the capital campaign will be put to fund construction of the building – the target of the capital campaign is thus very clear. However, recognition possibilities range from those that relate to the building and its spaces to those that relate to the support of graduates and programs/initiatives. These opportunities, particularly through naming, thus hold the potential for a donor - in-life or through a bequest - to: •

enhance public recognition;

•

honour and strengthen an individual or family legacy;

•

commemorate a loved one;

•

increase awareness of a particular cause or initiative; and

•

support our purposes – and thus to support graduates, education and social good.

“We must increase opportunities for collegiate living.” In 2018 - the most recent year with full records available from the federal government - of the 135,469 students in this precinct, 52,909 (39%) were enrolled in postgraduate studies at The University of Melbourne and RMIT. Since 2013, the number of postgraduate students has surpassed the number of undergraduates.

39,108

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Hence, and as reported last year, we shall be recognising leading and lead donors Neil Taylor and Roger Brookes through the naming of spaces within the redevelopment – respectively staff offices and a residential ‘room with a view’ on the 11th floor. These named spaces followed discussions with each donor. Two other 2019 significant donors have chosen to remain anonymous, however we are working closely with both to gain their views on the specific spaces and initiatives that they seek to support. Over 100 building and space recognition possibilities have been identified – from the name of the entire building, through to the naming of Member-only spaces, residential rooms, areas and corridors, and meeting and function areas.

The previous reception area has been refurbished and named the Barbara Funder Lounge to honour our Founding College Mother.

Similarly, we have identified a range of endowment recognition possibilities. These include named residential fellowships (for visiting academics, for example) and scholarships, collegiate activities, graduate education and development programs, United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goal initiatives, research and other academic programs, etc. Such opportunities will be implemented by investing a small percentage of the revenue generated through operations of the constructed building/space in the 2019-established managed investment portfolio. In time, the principal of this investment will increase and so too will the earning capacity and thus the ability to release funds to expend on the named endowment target. This approach thus allows for in-perpetuity funding of the named endowment, as well as the potential for greater and more sustained impact.

The Sylvia Plath Poet in Residence Fellowship

Graduate House Society Established in 2016, The Graduate House Society acknowledges those who have provided for our Association in their wills. Thank you to those who have let us know that the Association is listed as a beneficiary. These bequests are very much appreciated. They help to sustain and

We invite you to join a Society of those, like you, who have remembered our ‘Union’ and our ‘House’ in their will.

grow our 110-year-old membership association and our 58-year old graduate-only residential college. Conversations during the lifetime of a Graduate House Society member help us to learn more about the wishes of a potential donor and, of course, to honour bequests properly. Though such discussions might feel awkward, we always feel very grateful to have the opportunity to understand and to clarify the donor’s intentions and preferences. For example, one of our Members has indicated intent to fund a program of residential scholarships for graduate students who face socioeconomic difficulties. Others have asked for their bequests to be put towards specific spaces (residential room; offices; music rooms) in the terrace redevelopment.

Annual Appeal The 2019 Annual Appeal was towards the annual Graduate House Research scholarship and bursaries, which were awarded to one postgraduate research student and five graduates enrolled in coursework degrees.

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Ms Hema Preethi

Ms Hui Ping Yaw

Graduate House Research Scholarship

Margaret Watson Travelling Fellowship

The 2019 Graduate House Research Scholarship was awarded to Resident Member Ms Hema Preethi Subas Satish who is undertaking her doctoral research with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at The University of Melbourne. The title of her research is: Engineering antibodies to trigger BAK-mediated apoptosis in cancer.

The 2019 Margaret Watson Travelling Fellowship which support travel to further the postgraduate research was awarded to talented Resident Member Ms Hui Ping Yaw.

Originally from Chennai, Hema holds a Bachelor of Technology, Industrial Biotechnology degree from Anna University, India and a Master of Biotechnology degree from the University of Queensland. Her doctoral research aims to develop and/or use delivery systems to shuttle 7D10 (an antibody) into - and trigger the death of - cancer cells. The Graduate House Research Scholarship was instrumental in enabling Ms Preethi to attend and present at a key 2019 antibody conference ‘Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics’ in San Diego, California.

Hei Man (Helen) Kwok, Master of Animation, Games and Interactivity, RMIT

Xiaoyu Sun, Master of Information Technology, The University of Melbourne

Page 46 | Volume 73, Number 1

Now graduated, Dr Yaw was undertaking her doctoral studies at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and in the Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne. Her research looked at the blood (specifically platelets) of critically ill children placed on a heart-lung machine called ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) with the aim of determining individualised management approaches based on the patient’s platelet profile and thus their risks of bleeding and clotting. Dr Yaw resided at Graduate House from 2015 to 2019. She used the Fellowship funds to return to Melbourne to attend and present her research findings at the 27th ISTH (International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis) Congress in Melbourne,

Merium Kazmi Global Media Communication, The University of Melbourne

Muhammad Ahmed, Master of Development Studies, The University of Melbourne

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Premier’s Literary award and The Genome Generation in 2012. Her journalism has earned her numerous awards, membership of the order of Australia (AM), and in 2019, a medal by the Australian Society for Medical Research.

Graduate House Bursaries The 2019 Graduate House Bursaries and an Acknowledgement Award were awarded to Resident Members Hei Man (Helen) Kwok, Xiaoyu Sun, Merium Kazmi, Muhammad Ahmed and XiaoJun (Anna) Chan

Xiaojun (Anna) Chan Juris Doctor, The University of Melbourne

Dr Finkel is a Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at La Trobe University and on advisory committees for La Trobe University Press, two centres of excellence (OzGrav, and CABAH) and the Melbourne Zoo. Dr Finkel spoke on the topic of gene therapy, a method for correcting DNA coding errors and for delivering correctly coded DNA into the body’s cells. She spoke of the tragic story of Megan Donnell who has two children with a terminal genetic illness and who formed the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation in 2013 to undertake gene therapy research, including clinical trials, in Australia. Guest Speaker Andrew Abercrombie, a former lawyer who gained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Switzerland, is Chairman of FlexiGroup Limited, an ASX-listed and key player in the Fintech sector. A businessman, Mr Abercrombie has diverse commercial interests also in real estate, telecommunications and web-trading.

Dr Elizabeth Finkel AM

Mr Abercrombie spoke on the great value of his degrees in enabling and underpinning his successful career and many achievements. Noting his directorship of the Menzies Research Centre, he pointed to the role held by the late Sir Robert Menzies in 1919 (101 years ago) as treasurer of our Association, and the importance of the principles of freedom. Mr Abercrombie outlined how his life’s experiences – philosophical, commercial and philanthropic – guide his approach of continuing to try to make the world a better place and concluded with the reflection ‘Bad things happen when good people do nothing’.

Mr Andrew Abercrombie

Donor Thank You Day Celebrating the generosity of our benefactors, the Association held its Donor Thank You luncheon on Sunday, 6th October. Guest speaker, Dr Elizabeth Finkel AM, is a former biochemist who switched to journalism, and Editor at Large of Cosmos magazine. Dr Finkel published Stem Cells in 2005, which won the Queensland

An extract from the minutes of an Executive Meeting held in November 1919 showing the attendance of then treasurer of our Association, Robert Menzies.

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Ms Maggie Wang

Two Resident Members also spoke at the Donor Thank You luncheon. Ms Maggie Wang, a Master of Law candidate at Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, and a member of the Association’s Governance and Nominations subcommittee, explained that she chose Graduate House originally because of its location and affordability. She then found much more – a community and network of "scholars and graduates who have a shared vision for diversity and lifelong learning". Mr Shubham Rawal, recently graduated with a Master of Engineering (software) degree from the Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, explained that he had been residing at Graduate House for the last three years. He particularly enjoyed the "culture that we have for everyone sitting together, having dinner, talking with each other" and "the opportunity to meet people from various skills and at different stages of their lives and to interact with them".

Ms Aparna Nair

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Mr Shubham Rawal

MV Anderson Award Donated by the family of Magnus Victor Anderson, the MV Anderson Award recognises the achievements of graduates who have developed the skills and insights from their field of study for the benefit of the wider community. In 2019, this award was received by Ms Aparna Nair and Mr David Smith. Ms Aparna Nair is a Master of International Business student from Indonesia. She has made significant contributions to the collegiate experience by creating the first ever Graduate House Singers Club to bring residents together and to relieve their stress through music. She holds a Bachelor of Business Management from RMIT and BBM Honours from Pelita Harapan University, Indonesia. She has volunteered in various orphanages and worked with Red Cross and UNESCO in Indonesia; and received

Mr David Smith

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a Leadership Certificate from UNESCO UNITWIN Training program. Aparna intends to pursue her future studies in Organisational Behaviour. David is a Master of Science student at The University of Melbourne from West Gippsland, Victoria, specialising in biophysics. He was a Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar in high school before completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in physics and an Advanced Graduate Diploma in physics, both at The University of Melbourne. David has taken on the role of Events Coordinator on the Graduate House Student Group Committee with great enthusiasm and always makes newcomers feel welcome.

and productive year for this subcommittee of Council and we are thus extremely grateful for the time, advice and support that you give so willingly to the governance of the Association’s advancement activities.

Cr Vincent Mirabelli Chairperson of the Fundraising and Benefactions subcommittee

Crowdfunding Progress continued to be made with the Association’s crowdfunding platform over 2019. The logo and the branding for this fundraising site have been changed and the platform has been tested by users from different segments of the membership and amended accordingly. A comprehensive marketing plan has been developed to underpin further releases, tests and the launch of this exciting initiative. The site provides the Association, as well as its individual members and the general public, with an alternative means of fundraising. It gives a global reach to raise funds in the education, research and social good sectors. The site is arranged to allow for funds to be raised for: • People – helping individuals to make their vision a reality; • Programs – supporting research and social good activities undertaken by more than one person; • Places – enabling the creation of spaces to promote lifelong learning (such as our Association’s terrace redevelopment). In conclusion, I extend my gratitude to the members of the subcommittee) for 2019: Shelley Jones (CoVice-Chairperson), Muan Lim (Co-Vice-Chairperson), Muhammad Mossavir Ahmed, Nanette Gibson, Attiya Malik, Fausto Marasco, Wal Reid, Peter Rogers and Rhys Watson. 2019 was another busy

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Thank you for your support Donations and bequests In 2019, donations and bequests were received from the following generous supporters: Mr Leonard Bailey

Miss Jimena Jaramillo Correa

Miss Ann Rusden

Mr Michael Barden

Ms Shelley Jones

V N Sanders Charity Trust

Mr Paul Barnett

Ms Mary Kelleher

Mrs Margaret Sawyer

Mr Alan Bell

Ms Helen Keneley

Ms Jocelyn Seccombe

Lady Josie Blyton

Mr John Kilmartin

Mr Frank Shaw

Mr John Brearley

Mr Edward Kingston

Dr Elizabeth Shaw

Mrs Nancy Burns

Dr Zoltan and Mrs Elfrida Kiss

Mr Peter Sholl

Dr Allan Casey

Mr Brian Krahnert

Mr John Skuja

Mrs Andrea Casey

Ms Cheryl Lacey

Mr Ross Smith

Dr Edward Cherry

Mr Kenneth Lee

Professor Richard Snedden

Mr John Cleeland

Miss Teresa Leung

Professor Richard Southby

Miss Wendy Cobcroft

Dr Sharon Lierse

Dr Max Stephens

Mr Ewan Colson

Mr Douglas Marshall

Mr Timothy Stephens

Mr Stuart Colvin

Dr Lynette Martin

Professor Kevin Stevenson AM

Emeritus Professor Martin Comte

Ms Kylie Martin

Mr Victor Sun

Mrs Mary Maslen

Dr Rodney Taft

Mrs Margaret Mayers

Professor Brian Tress

Miss Valerie McDonald

Dr Ben Wadham

Mr Edward Miller

Professor John Wallace

Mr Philip Moss AM

Ms Maggie Wang

Mr Edward Muntz

Mr Rhys Watson

Mr Mac and Mrs Marg Nicoll

Mr Brian Webb

Miss Linda Notley

Miss Joy Wellings

Mr Graham Ogilvy

Mr Chris White

Ms Katrin Ogilvy

Dr Sumitra Wickramasinghe

The Hon Gaetano (Tony) Pagone

Mr Mark Worsnop

Dr Patricia Phair

Estate of Mrs Margaret Hendy

Miss Judith Price

Estate of Miss Olive Hamilton

Ms Katie Price

The William Berry and Barbara Funder Postgraduate College Trust

Mrs Grietje Croll Mrs Emily Cross Professor David de Kretser AC Mrs Margaret Dean Mr Edward Dickinson Mr Lindsay Doig Dr Graeme Duke Ms Patricia Elvins Associate Professor Joseph Epstein AM Dr Jochen Feldmann Mr Ted Gallagher Dr Czesia Geddes Professor Kerry Gibson Mr Francis Goding Dr Claes Gustav Granmar Dr Richard Harcourt Mr Roy Hardcastle AO Dr Rebecca Harding Ms Pauline Henthorn

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Mr Ian Proctor Dr Joanna Pyper His Hon Judge Peter Rendit Mrs Caroline Richardson OAM Mr Ronald Ritchie Dr Peter Rogers

In addition to the donors, estates and trusts listed above, we extend also our deepest gratitude to the 23 donors who have requested to remain anonymous.

The Graduate Union Annual Report

Buildings and Facilities Buildings and Facilities subcommittee The Buildings and Facilities subcommittee is pleased to submit this report for the year 2019. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 30.2.

inclusive of the Barry Street apartments. Coming to market fully by March 2019, the median occupancy for the remaining months for the Barkly Place apartments was also 84.2%.

Need for college accommodation in this 'Precinct'

Occupancy The 2019 average occupancy for the Graduate House facility on Leicester Street (three wings; 114 rooms) was 88.7% as compared to 91.7% in 2018. The 13 apartments on the seventh floor of 50 Barry Street - acquired late 2016 and refurbished in the first months of 2017 – had an average occupancy of 84.2%. In October 2018, The Graduate Union settled the purchase of eighteen apartments at 24 Barkly Place. Seventeen residents continued tenancy until the end of 2018 and these apartments were refurbished early in 2019. With a total of 31 offsite apartments, Graduate House thus now comprises 145 rooms with capacity for up to 180 residents per night. The bar graph shows the average monthly occupancy for 2019

The precinct, for the purpose of this report, is the metropolitan area that encompasses The University of Melbourne and RMIT. Predominantly, the graduate students and visiting academics who reside at Graduate House are enrolled at and/or work/ volunteer at these two major universities.

Comparison chart to show the average occupancy at Graduate House in 2018 and 2019

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The bar graph on the right shows the number of graduate (not undergraduate) enrolments at all universities in Victoria (grey bars) from 2008 to 2018 (the last for which full year results are available from uCube, a website made publicly available by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training – see http://highereducationstatistics. education.gov.au/). The purple bars show the increasing number of graduates enrolled at just The University of Melbourne and RMIT, and thus the graduate student market need/demand for accommodation, including that which is in a college like Graduate House. Of note is that 38% of the state’s graduates were enrolled for study in this precinct.

Postgraduate enrolments at all universities in Victoria from 2008 to 2018.

This precinct-specific growth in graduate student enrolment numbers is shown in the line graph on the right. The unbroken lines show the numbers for The University of Melbourne and the dotted lines the numbers for RMIT. The ten-year growth is 267% and 103%, respectively. The number of domestic graduate students has plateaued over the last few years, while the number of graduate students from overseas has increased significantly. Of the 135,469 students in this precinct in 2018, 52,909 (39%) were enrolled at the graduate, as opposed to undergraduate, level at The University of Melbourne and RMIT University. As shown in the ring graphs at the top of the next page, The University of Melbourne had more (by 10%) graduate than undergraduate student enrolments.

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Precinct-specific growth in graduate student by enrolment numbers

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Domestic

Demand for our college graduate accommodation has thus continued to be strong and is forecast to increase. This is notwithstanding the large amount of development in this precinct which is predicted to see another 5,000 to 7,000 beds come onto the ‘market’.

Overseas

The value proposition of our existing college remains very clear. The case for support of our proposed redevelopment of the terraces holds this same value proposition.

Total Number of Students 67,345

Total Number of Students 68,124

Enrolment number of post graduate students at The University of Melbourne and RMIT University

Assuming all past trends continue, our ten-year forecasts are for a 73% total increase in the number of graduates, with the number of international students (at an estimated 56K) exceeding that of the domestic students (39K). It is estimated that the net economic benefit to the precinct will increase by 89% to $10B and that approximately 41,000 jobs will be created.

Graduate House – including its future 136-bed development – is a graduate student residential college and gathering place owned and run by a charity. It is not classified or operated as purposebuilt student accommodation (PBSA). PBSAs are typically funded and built by large for-profit consortiums that offer investors returns on their investments (ROI) – these returns being gained from students who enter into fixed-term residential tenancy agreements. Thus, another feature in Graduate House’s value proposition is its humanistic ROI focus on the support and education of its residents and other members.

FOR GRADUATES

COLLEGIATE, SAFE, CONVENIENT

ENHANCING THE REPUTATION OF VICTORIA AND AUSTRALIA

Since 1911 our graduate membership has included:

Graduate House is:

Graduate House prides itself on being:

•

all disciplines

•

all life stages

•

all ethnicities

At Graduate House we welcome residents from all over Australia (~70%) and from overseas. We are a home where people learn models of working together for the benefit of the nation and of the world.

•

safe

•

a community

•

collegiate

• •

•

welcoming and inclusive

•

a place where ideas flourish and innovation abounds

next door to The University of Melbourne

•

a five-minute walk from RMIT

diverse (in the broadest sense)

•

a place where the world comes together

•

positive impressions spread back home and open doors to global opportunities

Graduate House provides meals, housekeeping and laundry facilities. It is well-maintained with repairs and maintenance undertaken promptly and to a high standard.

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Terrace Development In last year’s annual report, we were pleased to announce success in having been granted a planning permit from Melbourne City Council in late-July 2018 to construct an 11-storey, five-basement level graduate student college wing behind and counterlevered over the terraces from 222 to 234 Leicester Street. Subject to the raising of our $40M target, construction is to commence by August 2021 and the redevelopment is to be completed by August 2023.

and environmental investigators and of a legal service provider to draft the templates for the consultant and builder contracts. In July 2019 we engaged Douglas Partners, geotechnical engineering consultants, to test the ground behind 222 to 234 Leicester Street. Three holes were drilled at the rear of the terraces, one in the courtyard and two in the laneway to the immediate west. Drilling was to a depth of 30 metres to collect rock and soil samples. The conditions of the footings for the late-1800s terraces were also investigated by taking samples from small excavations to a depth of ~80cm. The results were positive. The redevelopment can be built on this site of (predominantly) weathered siltstone; and there are minimal (and manageable) health and ecological soil contamination concerns. Groundwater was found at depths of between 12 and 14.5 metres, with predictions that this could rise to a depth of 5 metres. Consideration is thus being given to the best number of basements, to the drainage and tank systems required and to the underground structural design (e.g., spread foundation, piles).

With key oversight of fundraising and project management for this redevelopment, the Initial Project Control Group (IPCG) met on seven occasions in 2019. We are very grateful for the pro-bono support of all members of this very active working group including Council Members Pagone (chairperson), Mirabelli (alternate chairperson), Lim, Rogers and Santalucia, as well as Association Members Natalie Gray (precinct planner), Ted Gallagher (major project management professional) and David Pitt (ex-CFO of Monash University). Gratitude is extended also to the various consultants who contributed to this pre-demolition stage in 2019. These include structural engineer Stephen Payne of Meinhardt-Bonacci who has been advising also on the structural impact from the neighbouring station works on the current and future buildings; and quantity surveyor Anthony Prowse of Prowse Quantity Surveyors Pty Ltd who has confirmed the original cost estimates for the redevelopment. Gallagher Jeffs, a project management firm, was engaged in 2019. We thank particularly Shlomo Behar and Rob Purdue for their sourcing, engagement and management of the geotechnical

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Drilling platform in the courtyard of Graduate House

Cylindrical soil and rock samples from the courtyard of Graduate House at depths of 8 to 13 metres below ground level (some estimated as being 400 million years old)

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It is important to establish sound, industry standard agreements for the engagement of the various pre-demolition consultants as well as a design and construct contract for the future engagement of the main builder. In October 2019, we thus engaged Hall and Wilcox to design these template documents in a manner which would facilitate the novation of the relevant consultants to the builder at the stage when the latter is engaged. These documents are now being used by Gallagher Jeffs when seeking fee proposals from the primary consultants who contributed so generously of their time and expertise to the planning application – specifically, MGS Architects (with thanks to Eli Giannini, Catherine Ranger and Rob McGauran), Prowse Quantity Surveyors, Meinhardt-Bonacci for Structural and Civil Engineering, Irwin Consultants for Environmental Sustainable Design, Services Engineering and Façade Engineering, Cardno for Land Surveying and Tract Consultants for Town Planning. Working towards the detailed design, particularly with respect to internal features, the IPCG has also been monitoring student accommodation design trends, sustainability and innovative technology initiatives and the changing expectations/needs of the graduate student market. This research will inform the brief for the architects and other consultants as they prepare the detailed design in 2020.

Parkville Rail Station 2019 saw much progress with construction of Parkville Station under Grattan Street from just west of the Leicester Street t-intersection to just west of Royal Parade.

After completion in 2019 of the piling (~500), station box anchors and the top deck (roof) to minimise noise and dust impacts, the next phase over 2019 was the excavation of more than 200,000 cubic metres of earth from inside the station box – a 24-hour 6-day a week program. The tunnel boring machines arrived at the Arden Street end of the railway lines and, following assembly, were used to bore two tunnels to the western portal. Tunnelling to and through the Parkville Station is scheduled for September/October 2020. The Association has been meeting fortnightly with representatives from the Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP) (Lendlease, John Holland, Bouygues Construction, Capella Capital), the main contractor engaged in 2017 to build the stations and tunnels from 2018 to 2025/2026. Consultation has been on a variety of topics relating to current and anticipated construction activities, and the obvious impacts (air quality, noise, vibration, etc.) on Graduate House and Resident Members. Vibration, property movement and noise level monitoring equipment have been installed at Graduate House to assist in the assessment of these impacts. Stephen Payne of Meinhardt-Bonacci has been providing regular independent reviews of these assessments, as well as assessing details about the station anchors in relation to the redevelopment. Representatives of the Association have been on site tours of the new Parkville Station in 2019. We thank CYP representatives for arranging these visits, in particular, Peter Hunt (Precinct Manager – Parkville), Alexandra Keppel (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead), Bronte Clark (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor) and Kate Masters (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor).

The above photograph (looking from north to south) taken late July 2019 shows a crane on part of the deck, and the other components of the station roof. The southern (Stella Langford) threeterrace wing of Graduate House is visible on the left of the photograph.

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The schematic diagrams show the progress with excavation of the station box by the end of 2019. The deeper part to the right of both diagrams is east – and just across the road from Graduate House. The lower diagram is a view from above south to north (overlooking the triradiate medical building).

The base concrete slab and station structural works were commenced in October 2019

Back row: Mr Ted Gallagher, Dr Kerry Bennett, Cr Vincent Mirabelli, Cr Rhys Watson, Mr Stephen Payne Front row: Ms Natalie Gray, Cr Molina Asthana, Ms Hema Preethi Subas Satish, Ms Sujata Manandhar, Mr David Sparks

From left to right, back: Victor Das, Muhammed Mossavir Ahmed, Merium Kazmi, Sally Hull, Hang Yu. Front: Priya Rajoo, Zaneta Subrata, Sobia Masood, Attiya Malik.

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The Association has also been attending the Parkville Reference Group (PRG) meetings with representatives from a range of university, research institute and health industry stakeholders; and has participated in the Metro Tunnel Creative Program Storytelling Project. The following image by artist Alice Lindstrom is on a 5m wide, 2m high station hoarding panel and is in a publication entitled The Parkville Storytelling Project (see the Victorian Government’s Metrotunnel website), along with a delightful short article about Graduate House by award-winning local writer, Sonja Dechlan.

Reimagining University Square Following adoption of The University Square Master Plan in 2016, Melbourne City Council began the major project to ‘reimagine’ this park in May 2018. Stage 1 was completed by the end of 2019 and the park is now open for use. It has about 3500m² of new public open space, a 3000m² reduction in the total amount of asphalt, 2024m² of biodiversity planting, 76 new trees and activated park edges (seating and terraces) and 34 park benches in the lawned areas. A new larger central lawn area was planted in June, providing vital park space to all residents, students and visitors. The Pelham Street Gateway plaza area is now complete, with the

The Graduate Union Annual Report

University Square looking from the north to the Law School on Pelham Street

pavement and seating also now in use. Leicester Street is complete and open to pedestrians and vehicles. It is now one-way, heading north, and lined on both sides with trees and native vegetation. An official opening was held in January 2020 for Stage 1 of the park. Stage 2 will progress after Parkville Station is completed. This will result in activity spaces just across from Graduate House, including a basketball court, a table tennis and chess area, barbecue and picnic tables and a range of shelters and shades. A cafĂŠ and retail premise is intended for the Barry Street (west) side of this northern plaza, and a water terrace for its southern side as a new transition space between the plaza and ‘The Green’.

Major Projects, Repairs and Maintenance 2019 was another busy year of major projects and repairs/maintenance that were undertaken by our small and hardworking Building Services team. Following acquisition of the 18 apartments at Barkly Place in October 2018 and the conclusion of tenancies of existing residents, significant refurbishments were undertaken in all rooms to bring them to our high college standards. These refurbishments included shower door replacements, repairs to plumbing and air conditioners, carpet replacements, plastering/painting and equipment/ furniture replacements. All rooms were available for residency by the end of March 2019. 2019 also saw refurbishment of 16 of the central wing accommodation rooms. Originally built in 2005, these rooms needed removal of old vinyl bathroom floors and replacement with new floor tiles which extend now also into the entrance foyer of each room. The carpet was replaced in

Looking from the south, the one-way Leicester Street lined with trees and native plants

many rooms and all rooms have been repainted. At the beginning and end of 2020, the remaining accommodation rooms will be refurbished. Other 2019 projects involved the replacement of hot water units in both the central and the southern (Stella Langford) wings, upgrades to the office computer and the meeting services audio-visual systems and the replacement of the cladding on the foyer entrance at 210 Leicester Street. Planning for 2020 projects began in the early months of 2019 and continued throughout the year to ensure a comprehensive multi-disciplinary consultative process and the quantification and timely entry to the 2020 capital expenditure budget. Projects envisaged for 2020 include continued refurbishments of the central wing residential rooms, an upgrade to the intercom and carpark entry systems, improvements to the dining room bar to ensure design compatibility with the reception desk, and a possible upgrade to the air conditioning chiller unit in the main dining room. In conclusion, I thank the members of the Buildings and Facilities subcommittee for 2019: Mr Robert Heaton (Co-Vice-Chairperson), Mr David Cowie (to May), Cr Vince Mirabelli (to May), Mr Nouman Daud Sharif (to May), Mr David Sparks (to May), Cr Max Stephens (from June), Mr Simon Waters (to November) and Cr Rhys Watson (to May). 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 Mary R Kelleher Chairperson of the Buildings and Facilities subcommittee

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Our Team CEO/Head of College Dr Kerry Bennett Operations Manager Daniel Clark

Executive Assistant to CEO

Finance and Human Resources

Parisa Shiran

Finance Systems Officers Punam Kunwar, Zaneta Subrata

Development and Analysis

Business Development Analysts

Advancement and Fundraising

Analyst Programmer

Advancement Officer

Crowdfunding Officer

Niraj Bohra

Parisa Shiran

Rebecca Abraham

Jaimy Skaria-Jose, Alice Widdowson

GU Collegiate/ Membership

Membership Relations Officer Priya Rajoo

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Publications

Editorial Coordinator Shirley Ho

Content Writers Ken Chau, Angela Perez

Graphic Designer Sally Hull

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Accommodation

Hospitality

Accommodation Officers Victor Das, Sujata Manandhar, Anne-Katrin Sterling, Vanessa Naudi, Zaneta Subrata

Hospitality Manager Rosie Ellul

Functions and Guest Services Managers Bill Mihelakis, Marwa Tantawy

The Culinary Team

Head Chefs Nelson Hu, Basma Tantawy

Guest Services Staff James Cole-Sinclair, Ramy El-Maghraby, Connor Hadley, Amna Khan, Sushmita Manandhar, Olivia Pititto, Amity Stafford, Alejandra Franco Botello, Rahul Marar, Morgane Jaulin

Chef

Kitchen Services Staff

Jessie Tai, Keith Turney, Titis Marra

Mehmet Celik, Nabin Gautam, Draga Jeftic, Xiaoguang Sun, Travis Hall

Housekeeping

Building Services

Head Housekeeper Anne Ladkins

Housekeeping Staff

Building Services Officer

Sabina Maharjan Singh, Jacquelin McGregor, Sarojini Sahai, Stana Stojanovic, Carolina Olave

Dileep Sankar David Leonardo Leano Arcila

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Finance and Audit Finance and Audit subcommittee The Finance and Audit subcommittee is pleased to provide this report on its activities and the financial performance of the Association in 2019. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 31.2.

Strategic priority of ‘wellmanaged finances and mitigated risks’ The key result areas of the strategic priority of ‘wellmanaged finance and mitigated risks’ in the 20192021 Strategic Plan are: •

sound financial controls, risk mitigation and management and unqualified audit reports;

•

debt reduction; and

•

financial performance that enables both operations and development.

In 2019, the activities towards these KRAs were thus to continue with transparent and accountable financial controls and policy development and reviews, to continue the bricked loan arrangement with a staged amortisation schedule and to manage a budget that allows for current operations, capital expenditure and development initiatives to meet current and future graduate markets.

Policy and Internal Financial Controls The Association continues adherence to, and development/refinement of, internal controls. Finance and audit related policies include those in relation to appointment of the auditor, the operating accessible reserve, the surplus and operating reserve, deductible gift recipient status, financial delegations, capital expenditure, capital projects management, debt management, entitlements and expenses for governing body members, asset management, pricing, risk management, fraud prevention and management, conflict of interest (finance), information security and acceptable use (finance) and budget development. Oversight of the key risk categories of Market Factors to Income and Expense Exposure continued

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also in 2019 with measures to monitor, prevent, mitigate and manage each identified risk being outlined and reviewed regularly. The subcommittee will be working in 2020 to realign all identified risks of relevance to its charter to the strategic priority of ‘well-managed finances and mitigated risks’.

Financing The Association has loan facilities with two finance providers. Opened in 2016, the National Australia Bank (NAB) loan is a five-year facility with limit of $7.3M and interest-only variable (floating) components. Interest costs and facility fees for this facility in 2019 totalled $234,879. Noting the conclusion of this facility on 29th March 2020, the Association sought proposals in 2019 from a number of finance providers and has secured ongoing finance provision with NAB for a five-year $7.5M facility with interest-only payments in the first three years. Bank Australia has provided finance for the acquisition of the 13 apartments on the seventh floor at 50 Barry Street (November 2016), and of the 18 apartments at 24 Barkly Place (October 2018) to a total of $4.4M. Both loan structures have been established with fixed and variable components and a set interest and principal reduction payment schedule. In 2019, interest costs for these facilities were $92,241 and $90,363 respectively and reductions to the principal amounts were $45,510 and $37,729.

Auditor At the annual General Meeting held on 31st May 2019, Mr Sam Claringbold of JTP Assurance was reappointed as the auditor for the independent audit of the year ending 31st December 2019.

Financial Performance For the year ending 31st December 2019, The Graduate Union achieved a surplus of $673,403. Operating revenue in 2019 of $3.797 million (M) was $58,052 (1.6%) higher than in 2018 ($3.739M), with the dominant sources of income being Accommodation and Catering, increasing by 5.9% and decreasing by 3.8% respectively compared to 2018. Donation revenue was 11.1% greater than

The Graduate Union Annual Report

in 2018. Investment Income revenue of $32,384 was 105.2% greater, and the investment unrealised gain (reported separately) of $80,642 reflected the positive market value movement by year end, compared to the negative return at the end of 2018. Total operating expenses of $3.922M were 2.7% higher ($3.82M), with increases in Interest and bank fees, Depreciation, Rates and government taxes, Communication expenses and Insurance expenses, being offset by lower expenses across all other line items, particularly for Repairs and maintenance, Professional fees and Legal expenses. Cash Flow from Operating Activities in 2019 was positive at $104,511, and $136,817 less than in 2018. The negative Cash Flow from Investing Activities of $76,833 and the positive Cash Flow from Financing Activities of $64,158 reflect predominantly Funds expended on development and renovations (and those drawn down for this purpose) across all facilities. Cash and Cash Equivalents by year end had increased by $91,836 to $208,392.

Operating Income A breakdown of operating income is shown in the pie chart below. Revenue from donations and bequests of $430,570 (compared to $387,637 in 2018) is not illustrated.

In conclusion, I thank the members of the subcommittee for 2019 — Phillip Cobbin and Hong Muan Lim (Co-Vice Chairpersons from June), John Green and Leo Santalucia (Co-Vice Chairpersons until May), Gaetano (Tony) Pagone, David Pitt (from June) Keith Ryall and Akriti Sharma (from August) as well as our accountant, Kay Gulenc, our auditor, Sam Claringbold, and the dedicated and hardworking management and operations team.

Cr Rhys Watson Chairperson of the Finance and Audit subcommittee

The Association’s total Property, Plant and Equipment were valued at $39.736M in 2019, an increase in value of $191,705 (0.5%) compared to 2018 ($39.544M). Total Equity increased by $665,910 (2.34%).

Subscriptions $106,750 - 2.8% Property rentals and other income $58,970 - 1.5%

Breakdown of operating income in 2019

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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 2019, 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 significant 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 2019 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 the 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 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.

ABN: 13 488 640 554. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

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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 level 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, individually 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. 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.

Signed at Melbourne this 26th day of March 2020

ABN: 13 488 640 554. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

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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

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