Celebrate with us

Join us as we launch our anniversary year with a celebration where the University first began. We welcome our alumni, students, staff and the wider Deakin community to attend. Come and experience:

• Live children's entertainment
• DJ
• Food trucks and bar
• Free kid's activities and face painting
• Market stalls
• Spectacular fireworks display

This is a free, family-friendly community event. Bring along your picnic rug to enjoy the outdoor festival. Book tickets

From 12 February to 4 April 2025, this special curation of art pieces takes audiences on a journey through our 50 years of collecting. While the exhibition is on display, Deakin students, alumni and staff will be invited to express interest in developing a new work for display later in the year.

Learn more about the exhibition.

Come along to the Lighthouse Theatre at 11.50am to catch a glimspe of our latest graduates.

They'll mark their incredible student journey with a short walk through the township.

Delama Dja is a walking trail that enables staff, students and visitors to walk on Country and learn more about Wadawurrung culture as well as the Climate Ready Campus initiatives that are visible around the Waurn Ponds Campus. The trail is designed as a self-guided tour; however, in celebration of Deakin’s 50th anniversary, the Library is excited to partner with Deakin Sustainability to offer a series of guided walking tours.

As Deakin celebrates 50 years, it is fitting to recognise the efforts of staff and students who helped restore biodiversity to land that had drastically changed since the introduction of agricultural practices, transforming a once bare landscape into the lush campus we enjoy today. Delama Dja is available for all members of the community to enjoy. It is, at its heart, a walk on Country and provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with nature.

This tour is a shorter alternative to the full tour, which predominately utilises sealed sections of the trail. It is suitable for all fitness levels and accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility aids, as well as prams.

Meeting place: Meet at the Waurn Ponds Campus Library front desk five minutes before the tour start time.

What to bring:

• comfortable shoes for walking
• weather-appropriate clothes including a hat
• sunscreen
• water bottle.

Find out more about the accessible walking tour.

Delama Dja is a Waurn Ponds Campus walking trail that enables staff, students and visitors to walk on Country and learn more about Wadawurrung culture as well as the Climate Ready Campus initiatives that are visible around the Waurn Ponds Campus. The trail is designed as a self-guided tour; however, in celebration of Deakin’s 50th anniversary, the Library is excited to partner with Deakin Sustainability to offer a series of guided walking tours. 

As Deakin celebrates 50 years, it is fitting to recognise the efforts of staff and students who helped restore biodiversity to land that had drastically changed since the introduction of agricultural practices, transforming a once bare landscape into the lush campus we enjoy today. Delama Dja is available for all members of the community to enjoy. It is, at its heart, a walk on Country and provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with nature. 

Please note the walk comprises a combination of flat, slightly inclined, sealed and unsealed paths. For an accessible version of this tour, please join our Delama Dja Guided Walking Tour (Accessible Tour). 

Meeting place: Meet at the Waurn Ponds Campus Library front desk five minutes before the tour start time. 

What to bring: 

• comfortable shoes for walking 
• weather-appropriate clothes including a hat 
• sunscreen 
• water bottle. 

Find out more about the walking tour. 

Join us for the launch of 1974 to now: Deakin at 50 – a program of Deakin Library exhibitions that reflect the University's journey and achievements in research, distance education and community impact. Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor, will officially open all three new exhibitions to the public in our Waterfront Gallery at the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library. Rotating between the Burwood, Waurn Ponds and Waterfront campuses throughout 2025, each exhibition features historic materials and unearthed stories from the University Archives and beyond. These materials reflect Deakin’s journey and achievements, exploring themes that have shaped the institution and its communities. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this celebration. Find out more about 1974 to Now: Deakin at 50. Find out more about how to access the Waterfront Gallery, ADPML. Register for the launch event.

Delama Dja is a Waurn Ponds Campus walking trail that enables staff, students and visitors to walk on Country and learn more about Wadawurrung culture as well as the Climate Ready Campus initiatives that are visible around the Waurn Ponds Campus. The trail is designed as a self-guided tour; however, in celebration of Deakin’s 50th anniversary, the Library is excited to partner with Deakin Sustainability to offer a series of guided walking tours.

As Deakin celebrates 50 years, it is fitting to recognise the efforts of staff and students who helped restore biodiversity to land that had drastically changed since the introduction of agricultural practices, transforming a once bare landscape into the lush campus we enjoy today. Delama Dja is available for all members of the community to enjoy. It is, at its heart, a walk on Country and provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with nature.

Please note the walk comprises a combination of flat, slightly inclined, sealed and unsealed paths. For an accessible version of this tour, please join our Delama Dja Guided Walking Tour (Accessible Tour).

Meeting place: Meet at the Waurn Ponds Campus Library front desk five minutes before the tour start time.

What to bring: 

• comfortable shoes for walking
• weather-appropriate clothes including a hat
• sunscreen
• water bottle.

Find out more about the walking tour.

Celebrate our 50th anniversary with a free, family-friendly festival at Deakin’s Warrnambool Campus! Join alumni, students, staff, and the community for: 

• Children’s entertainment by The Dino Maniacs & Wildlife Xposure
• Live music
• Café and bar
• Free kids' activities and face painting
• Market stalls

Bring a picnic rug and enjoy the fun! The event is at Building H and the grassy area between Buildings H and B.  Register today. 

Join us for an enlightening discussion about how cutting-edge research at Deakin is shaping a more sustainable world. Learn from Deakin researchers who are leading the way in sustainability research on projects such as recycling, waste, renewable energy and other ecological initiatives. This event is running as a complementary experience to Deakin Library’s D50 Exhibition, Shaping the Future: Deakin’s Legacy of Research, currently displaying in the Burwood Library exhibition space. Panellists: Professor Tiffany Walsh is a professor of bionanotechnology. Her research interests and expertise focus on molecular modelling, chiefly of interfaces, using molecular dynamics simulations and first-principles calculations. Doctor Trevor Thornton is a senior lecturer in sustainability, education-focused. His research interests lie in the management of hazardous wastes, clinical and related waste, environment management systems – particularly in the healthcare sector, life cycle assessment, education for waste management (in particular waste minimisation) and municipal waste management. Professor Tim Dempster is a professor in marine biology and aquaculture. He is also director of the Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre. Find out more about the panel discussion.

Join us for an evening of captivating stories and reflection on what community means at Deakin. Hear from alumni, staff and students about the ways in which Deakin both nurtures community and creates connections. Take a step back in time as we explore what life was like when Deakin was just beginning before we reflect on the present day.

Speakers:

Sheryl Townsend is Deakin Alumni who was a student in the early days. She will share what student life was like back then and reminisce about the campus experience. Sheryl is also a current Deakin employee.

Antony Catrice is the current University Archivist who has also been around since Deakin's early days. He will share his reflections on the development of Deakin over the years.

Catia Abreu De Freitas is a research assistant with the School of Life and Environmental Sciences and will speak about community connection.

This event is running as a complementary experience to Deakin Library’s 50th anniversary exhibition, Beyond our Walls: Deakin’s Community Impact, currently on display in the Waurn Ponds Library exhibition space.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Find out more about the storytelling evening.

Join us for an exciting deep dive into the world of virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) at this Future Tech showcase event.

Expert academics from Deakin’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (A2I2) and Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI) will demonstrate the latest AI advancements produced by their institutions. You’ll learn about how this tech has been integrated in the real world and how it benefits our communities, shaping our future. You’ll even get an opportunity to try your hand at interacting with it.

You can expect to see:

A2I2 team: Trauma Reception and Resuscitation System (TR&R), Talk with Ted

IISRI team: FLAIM fire system, HotFire project

More demonstrators will be announced shortly.

This event is running as a complementary experience to Deakin Library’s D50 Exhibition, Shaping the Future: Deakin’s Legacy of Research, currently displaying in the Burwood Library exhibition space.

Find out more about the research showcase.

Deakin has fostered the development and wellbeing of communities locally, nationally and globally. In Geelong, Melbourne and Western Victoria, Deakin has contributed to regional growth through partnerships with organisations such as Ford, government bodies and rural health schemes. Internationally, the University’s 30-year relationship with India culminated in 2024 with the world’s first international teaching campus in India, underscoring Deakin’s global leadership.   

In addition to highlighting this history, the exhibition also celebrates alumni achievements and Deakin’s National Indigenous Knowledge Education Research and Innovation Institute (NIKERI), which promotes culturally responsive education and engagement. Through these stories, visitors will see how Deakin’s work has enriched both regional communities and global networks over the past 50 years. The result is a University that not only shapes lives within its walls but also enriches the communities it touches.  

Waurn Ponds: 20 March–11 May  

Burwood: 16 June–27 July  

Waterfront: 25 August–5 October   

Find out more about the Beyond Our Walls exhibition.

Experience Deakin’s evolution from an education-first University to a leader in research with real-world impact. While education remains central to its mission, Deakin has developed a research culture focused on practical applications that benefit communities. The exhibition traces this journey, from early academic efforts to world-leading innovations across diverse fields like health, technology and social sciences.

Featured stories will highlight key research achievements, including breakthroughs in carbon fibre technology, mental health initiatives and energy innovation hubs. Deakin’s strengths in sports science, engineering and nutrition also showcase its role in addressing global challenges. Through these examples, the exhibition demonstrates the University’s commitment to creating knowledge that shapes the future.

Burwood: 20 March–25 May

Waterfront: 10 June–20 July

Waurn Ponds: 28 July–7 September

Find out more about the Shaping the Future exhibition.

Deakin has established itself as a pioneer in distance education from its foundation in 1974. Embedded in the Deakin University Act 1974, off-campus study was integral to the University’s mission of broadening access to education. Inspired by models like Britain’s Open University, Deakin’s approach made higher education accessible to students in regional, remote and non-traditional settings.

This exhibition also highlights efforts to support First Nations students, address the challenges of isolation and promote social equity. Visitors will encounter examples of key milestones and personal stories, reflecting the evolution of distance learning over five decades.

Waterfront: 20 March–11 May

Waurn Ponds: 26 May–13 July

Burwood: 18 August–28 September

Find out more about the Bridging the Distance exhibition.

50 significant items will be buried on the Waurn Ponds Campus to be unearthed during the University’s centenary in 2074.

Event details coming soon.