Deakin's journey of giving: 50 years and counting

Philanthropy has been part of Deakin’s story from the very beginning.

In 1977—the same year our first cohort of on-campus students arrived—the Deakin University Foundation was established to strengthen ties between the University and the broader community, providing vital support for students and research. Just two years later, the Foundation surpassed $1 million in donations, a testament to the strong belief in Deakin’s mission from its earliest supporters. 

In 1980, a $1,000 gift from the late Lady Vera White, daughter of Alfred Deakin, led to the creation of the Vera White Centre for the Disabled, the first dedicated disability resource facility to support students living with a disability at an Australian university. A lifelong philanthropist and tireless volunteer, Lady Vera believed in the power of education to transform lives. Now known as the Disability Resource Centre (DRC), it supports thousands of on and off campus students living with a disability, health or mental health condition that affects their study or participation in university life. 

‘Philanthropy has been part of Deakin’s story from the very beginning.’

In the decades that followed, giving continued to shape Deakin. The Great Hall Appeal in the 1990s helped transform part of the iconic Woolstores building into our Geelong Waterfront Campus, made possible largely thanks to the generosity of the Costa Family. Re-named in their honour in 1998, the Geelong community continues to benefit from the renowned Costa Hall at Deakin today. 

More recently, the establishment of the Damion Drapac Centre in 2023, and supporting scholarships, are helping to ensure that aspiring rural doctors have the same opportunities as their city-based peers – supporting greater diversity within the medical profession. 

From donations to the Deakin University Art Collection to the funding of vital research equipment, the impact of philanthropy on education and research is visible right across Deakin. Some of our incredible philanthropic highlights include: 

• Improving farmers’ mental health through the National Centre for Farmer Health, made possible by the Helen and Geoff Handbury Trust 
• Global capacity building for humanitarian response through the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership  
• Support for First Nations education through the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation Institute (NIKERI, formerly the Institute for Koorie Education) commencing with a $1 million gift from the Harold Mitchell Foundation 
• Artwork to inspire, including internationally recognised Australian artist Andrew Rogers who has made a significant contribution to Deakin, having donated 119 artworks with a total value of over $10 million 
• Scholarships that enable students to access life-changing education and create generational change, and so much more. 

In 2017, Deakin launched its workplace giving program which empowers staff to contribute to causes they care about like providing emergency financial support to students in need or funding scholarships enabling refugees and asylum seekers to access education. Since its inception, more than 320 Deakin staff have donated over $470,500 reflecting our culture of giving back to the communities we serve. 

As we celebrate 50 years of Deakin, we acknowledge the many thousands of people whose generosity, vision and belief in what’s possible have helped shape our story and transform lives.  

Discover and celebrate the people behind the impact of philanthropy at Deakin in our annual dKin Difference donor impact report.