Community Impact
REPORT 2026
For the future of Communitas
2026 St Hilda’s College Commencement Dinner Smoking Ceremony
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our college is situated. We pay our respect to all the Elders of Indigenous students who call St Hilda’s home. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community, the University of Melbourne, and the wider world.
Front cover: 2026 Full College Photo (silly edition) Photographer: Larry Pitt All other photos courtesy of: Organic Photography; Student Photographer, Tom Stevens; and, Carly Damen
2026 at a glance
2026 student population Overseas 15.3%
Metropolitan 20.3%
2026 student population*
Victoria 51.4%
Interstate 33.3%
Victorian students
Rural/regional 79.7%
*Includes Semester 2 intake students
2026 scholarship and bursary data
$1,170,227 total distributed in 2026 for scholarships
48%
of students received financial support in 2026*
$10,265
average assistance package per student
*based on 239 students in Semester 1, 2026
2026 donations
(calendar year to date)
$1,099,554 total donations
136 donors
18 confirmed gifts in wills St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026 2
James Hardiman with Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis and the 2026 Student Club Co-Presidents, Ashna Sharma and Simon Krupka at this year’s Industry Showcase Dinner
From the Principal 2026 has been a year defined by generosity. Time and again I have been moved by the willingness of our community to give back to St Hilda’s, and by the belief so many of you share in the transformational power of a residential college education. That generosity has taken many forms. Alumni and friends have returned to share their time, wisdom and experience with current students, opening doors and broadening horizons. Others have given through donations to our scholarship program, making a college education possible for students who might otherwise never have walked through our gates. Each of these contributions, given in the true spirit of Communitas, is changing lives. This year we also reached a remarkable milestone. For the first time in our history, our community contributed more than $1 million directly to scholarships in a single year. The last time total giving to the College passed this figure was in 2009, when a major gift made possible the development of H Block. To reach that level again, this time directly in support of scholarships to students, is a powerful statement of what this community values. We were also humbled this year to receive several significant donations towards our capital program, the first in many years. These gifts help us offer contemporary facilities that meet the needs of today’s students, and are a reminder that the spaces we live and learn in are shaped by the generosity of those who believe in this place. To every donor, volunteer, mentor and friend of the College: thank you. Whether you have given your time, shared your story or contributed financially, you are helping to transform the lives of the next generation. It is a deep honour to work alongside a community that believes so strongly in what a college education can do, and I am profoundly grateful to each of you.
James Hardiman Principal
3 St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026
Dr Lynne Williams (L) with 2026 Student Club Secretary, Georgia Shell at this year’s Marjorie Smart Oration
A year of consolidation It’s been another highly successful year for the College. Here at St Hildas we focus equally on academics and on developing the whole person in a safe environment. We also have a strong focus on preparing our students in terms of their workforce and leadership skills, and in being active, participating and respectful members of the community. 2026 has seen further expansion of this range of opportunities. As a footprint-constrained College, we have to be innovative about how we deliver on our aim to provide modern facilities. With our newest facility: the music room located in the ‘dining room basement’ now completed, we look towards the ‘refresh’ over Summer of the JCR. Standing still means falling behind, and no one could ever accuse our extremely competent senior leadership and student leadership team, and our staff, of that! My observation over the last few years is that the initiatives developed by Jimmy, Fe and others are often picked up by other colleges: it’s almost like we are the pilot program or the incubator for specific needs of the modern day young person?! Thank you to our College Board members, who give freely of their time to the Board, and to our various sub committees. Our amazing Co-Presidents of the Student Club, Ashna and Simon have provided the Board with a ‘student lens’ on college life and needs. I’d also like to thank our College Fellows, who provide a source of advice to Jimmy, and contribute too in so many ways through various programs. A special thank you to Matt Liston, who has been on the Board since 2015, and will finish up next month. Matt has provided invaluable advice on all things building, planning and delivery. To all of you: you are here because you care about the College, and your generous donations contribute significantly both to the scholarships we are able to offer, and to some of our specific building projects. Dr Lynne Williams AM
Chair of The Board of St Hilda’s College
St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026 4
St Hilda’s Laps for Change
Communitas in action At St Hilda’s, we believe that a university education is measured not only by what is learnt in the lecture theatre, but how we show up for the people and community around us. This is embodied by the spirit of Communitas, demonstrated in the way our Hildarians celebrate each other’s successes and support each other during life’s challenges. Most importantly, we see this spirit in our students beyond college doors as they contribute to our broader community. This year, our students have taken this to heart. They have given their time to local organisations, travelled onto Country to listen and learn, and pushed themselves physically and collectively for a cause they believe in. Each experience has been a reminder that a sense of Communitas is something we build intentionally, one shared effort at a time. Over the course of this year, our students partnered with both new and familiar community organisations to support causes they believe in. This included Farm My School, Magpie Nest Café, and Trust for Nature. Students also had the opportunity to spend three days on Gunditjmara Country at Budj Bim World Heritage site learning about one of the oldest aquaculture systems in the world. Closer to home, students spent a day learning on country with Wurundjeri Elder, Murrundindi at Healesville Sanctuary, formerly the land of the Coranderrk mission. Most recently, sixty students ran in St Hilda’s Laps for Change, covering 100 kilometres between them and raising money for Bayleaf Community Kitchen, in Geelong. This year, our students have shown what Communitas looks like in action, demonstrating how these experiences reinforce the transformative role St Hilda’s can play in shaping young people. We look forward to continuing to foster our Communitas spirit in 2027. Fiona Cadorel
Dean of Students & Vice Principal
5 St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026
Our Communitas Director & Student Club Charity Convenors at the 2026 Paddock to Plate event (from L-R): Ria Li, James Mulcahy, Liv Jones, Genevieve Power & Grace Doddrell.
Communitas in the Student Club This year has been an incredible year for Charity and Environmental initiatives at St Hilda’s thanks to the hard work of two incredible teams, the Environmental Convenors: Maddie Robins; Sam Kohler; Abby Heazlewood; and, Eva Westbrook, and the Charity convenors: Ria Li; Genevieve Power; Liv Jones; and, Grace Doddrell. Throughout the year, we’ve run events and initiatives to raise money and awareness for some very important causes. This year one of our primary focuses has been raising money and awareness for Trust for Nature, a conservation group based in Victoria focused on protecting wildlife and natural ecosystems. Trust for Nature has a genuine care for the environment and a focus on sustainable practice in an ever-changing world. Their work is truly admirable and we believe their values are shared here at Hilda’s. This new relationship provided a wonderful opportunity to combine the portfolios of the Environmental and Charity convenors and build a relationship through true collaboration and teamwork. We raised money through our annual Paddock to Plate event which provides a wonderful opportunity for families to understand Hilda’s and our values, coming together for a night of fun and connection. I’m incredibly proud to say that as a community this year we’ve raised over $12,000 for Trust for Nature and our other initiatives of the year, such as blood drives and biggest morning tea, have also been great successes. The unending generosity speaks to the genuine care that is present in our community and makes me proud to call St Hilda’s my home. It’s been an incredible year! I look forward to seeing how the student club continues to foster the incredible values of Communitas within our community in future! James Mulcahy
2026 Communitas Director
St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026 6
The Law & Public Affairs Panel at this year’s Industry Showcase event
Community and alumni engagement Students
58
Alumni & friends Whitby Dinners hosted by St Hilda’s Fellows Ben Hubbard in Semester 1 and Richard James in Semester 2 .
2
Fireside Fridays & Leadership Workshops
15
Industry Showcase Panels & Mentor relationships
47
150+ 141
The ability to connect our students with alumni, our Fellows and friends of St Hilda’s is one of the invaluable elements of a college experience. Our thanks to all who so willingly gave their time and expertise this year. 7 St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026
Back Quad activities during 2026 Orientation Week
Looking ahead We have been grateful to receive several significant gifts to enable the fit out and landscaping in and around the new Music Room this year. Providing students with an expanded space to practise, rehearse, create and perform enhances their experience of St Hilda’s and develops new skills and experiences to take into life beyond the College. Alongside our thriving Scholarship Fund, developing future capital works projects like this to maintain modern facilities in line with our strategic plan is paramount. Philanthropy supports these initiatives and in 2027 the Junior Common Room will be the next space to be renovated, adding further amenity to student life. Engaging alumni in the life of the College has seen over 65 of our community members return to the College this year to give of their time as mentors, panel members, speakers and facilitators. Making connections, sharing skills and knowledge, and exchanging stories and experiences enriches student life and is a rewarding way for alumni to give back in service to their community. Communitas continues to be a strong force at St Hilda’s and we encourage you to reach out if you would like to offer your support to the College.
St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026 8
The ammonite display in the Alice Paton Library
The Communitas Society Honouring the intention of its members to leave a gift to St Hilda’s College in their Will, in 2026 The Communitas Society met at the Ian Potter Museum of Art and at St Hilda’s College to share lunch, meet with each other and hear news of the College. We continue to present our new members with an ammonite in recognition of the legacy that they will leave to our College in years to come. Sourced from the coast near Whitby Abbey UK, where our namesake St Hilda nurtured her community of learners, half of the ammonite is gifted to our Communtias Society members and the other half is held on display in the Alice Paton Library to symbolise the partnership between us. This year we were honoured to have received a gift in Will in life. Bringing forward their gift in Will maximises the value of the gift to the College and we now have the opportunity to enable the donor to see the impact of their gift in the here and now. Should you wish to have a confidential conversation with us about a gift in your Will, please contact Principal, James Hardiman or Director, Alumni & Advancement, Kate Abraham.
Patricia Armstrong-Grant David Beswick Elizabeth Dax AM Mark Garkaklis & Barbara Wilson Barbara Green AM Simon Herd Cheryl Iser Janet Kay Fleur Nicholson Frank Paton Heather Schnagl AM Marian Simpson Nola Squire Lynne Williams AM
9 St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026
Anonymous (3)
Supporting the Hilda’s women’s cricket team
The Fivers We are proud of the scholarship support we were able to offer to students this year because of donors at all levels. In recognition that a small donation made regularly throughout the year may be an agreeable way of supporting our Scholarship Fund, this year we have launched “The Fivers: Small Change. Big Futures.” By contributing $5 a week, community members can join with others to ensure that more young people get the opportunity to be part of the St Hilda’s community. We aim to award a half scholarship for every 80 supporters of The Fivers. Because when Hildarians give together, even the smallest contributions become something extraordinary!
St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026 10
Thank you to our valued donors Your generosity ensures the future of Communitas and the transformation of students’ lives.
2026 Annual Giving Donors recognised alphabetically by surname Kate Abraham Sally Addison Katie Amos Wendy Bacon Tom Balmer Penny Barker Glenda Beale Suzanne Betts Rodney Biggs Susan Black Zodie Bolic Robyn Bradbury Graham Brown Margaret Browne Chrissy Burrell Sheila & Russell Byard Fiona Cadorel Joan Cashion Elizabeth Chapman Tim Chenoweth Jason Chequer David Copolov Ruth Coulson Alison Crossley Carly Damen Simon Davidson Elizabeth Dax & Hugh Taylor Richard Dent Anne Donaldson Jennifer Doubell Roslyn Drummond Laura & Simon Druskovich Jennifer Edwards Jennifer Elliott Felicia Eng David Envall 11 St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026
John Feddersen Daniel Fettell Heather-Anne Field Ben Fon Pratima Francis Anne Frankenberg Sarah Fusinato Mark Garkaklis & Barbara Wilson Amanda Gibbs Fiona Gordon Lindy Gordon Barbara Green Tim Greenall Geoffrey Grinton Michael Gurry Alexe Hamilton Latiefah Hanifa Di Hardiman & Bill Yeend James Hardiman Margaret Harrison Shayne Hateley Robyn Hateley Meredith Henkel Susan Henning & Vikram Rao Simon Herd Fi Hoban Fiona Hodges Brenda Holt Dorothy Howes Ben Hubbard Cheryl & John Iser James Judd Helene Juliff Janet Kay Merran Kelsall The Kempen Family Foundation
Susan Kenny Tien Dung Kieu Rob Lancaster Judy Layton Wendy Lewis Jim & Yvonne Lewis Janice Littleton Rod Lyle David Macauley Kim MacMillan Joy Manners Wendy Mattschoss & Chesley Taylor Anne McCamish Jane McDonald Trent McNeil Georgina McSweeney Oliver Merchant Janice Milhinch Tobias Miliankos-King Abbey Miller The Miller Foundation Ltd Rhonda Moore Holly Morrison The Myer Foundation Tim Naylor Fleur Nicholson Richard Nicholson Sarah Nickson Adrian Oats Tony O’Connell Rose Parente Frank Paton Christine Penfold Denise Probert Margaret Proctor Wendy Pryor Roderick & Diane McAllery Jake Rantino Elizabeth Redman
Diana Richards Annita Robson Jane Ross Jim Ross Phillip Roy Heather Schnagl Marian Simpson Robert Smith Kay Steel Liz Stevens Ross Stevenson Hayden Stockdale Robyn Sullivan Janet Taylor Doreen Thomas Steven Thompson Rajee Vissa Faye Walker Belinda Walton Annette Webb-Neckers Patricia Weickhardt Lynn White Alice Willee Lynne Williams Michael Williams Ruth Williams Robin Zeidler
This report lists donors to St Hilda’s College from 1/1/2026 to 21/10/2026. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Please accept our apologies if an error has occurred and contact communitas@hildas.unimelb.edu.au so that we can update our records.
St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026 12
2026 Gold Leaf Dinner
Save the dates Young Alumni Gathering Thursday 4th February 2027
International Women’s Day Luncheon Wednesday 10th March 2027
Marjorie Smart Oration Luncheon Saturday 17th April 2027
St Hilda’s Reunion Saturday 17th July 2027
Gold Leaf Dinner
Saturday 11th September 2027
Founders & Benefactors Dinner Friday 22nd October 2027
Inside Back Cover: Incoming 2027 Student Club Co-President, Emily Lee at the 2026 Rowing Regatta Back Cover: 2026 Student Club Treasurer, Alex Wackrow & 2026 Student Club Operations Director, Angus Lisle at the Marjorie Smart Oration
13 St Hilda’s Community Impact Report 2026
Community Engagement Team Kate Abraham - Director of Alumni & Advancement Carly Damen - Director of Marketing & Communications communitas@hildas.unimelb.edu.au +61 3 9248 8400 19-27 College Crescent Parkville, VIC 3052 www.hildas.unimelb.edu/support-us-today