It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Federation University Australia.

I would like to begin by congratulating you on taking this momentous step in your learning journey.

Commencing at university or TAFE is an amazing achievement in itself, and we are proud to welcome you into our award-winning community.

Perhaps one of the reasons you chose Federation is because we are Australia’s leading regional university, we transform lives and enhance our communities, while building a strong and sustainable university.

We are rated the number one university in Victoria for graduate full-time employment and skills development. Our graduates thrive, because Federation is deeply embedded within industries and employers. We are so focussed on these relationships that we are the first Australian university to commit to co-operative education – education designed and delivered with industry – in every university degree and TAFE course.

This connection means our students have access to invaluable work experience – regionally, nationally and globally. We also have the largest regional Technology Park of any university in Australia, giving you access to invaluable workplace experience in global organisations.

Our purpose is to transform lives and enhance communities. A qualification from Federation University or Federation TAFE does just that.

We support our students to succeed and prepare them for the future. Our incredible careers team is dedicated to helping you find and prepare for employment; that’s support for when you are qualified as well as support right now in part time employment or in a volunteer capacity. I encourage you to take advantage of all the support available to you here at Federation.

We provide the learning, innovation and research our communities need to survive and succeed.

Our internationally connected research collaborations are focused on solving real-world problems and making a difference in people’s lives. Our research is world class in all our major disciplines. By tackling the complex challenges facing our regions through world-leading expertise, we can provide our students with curriculum that is genuinely transforming lives and enhancing communities.

We are also recognised internationally for our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Partnership for the Goals, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Good Health and Wellbeing, and Reduced Inequalities.

As a Federation University student, you are now part of all of this – part of a supportive, inclusive and thriving community of more than 18,000 students and 123,000 alumni, from all backgrounds and cultures, ready to thrive in a world where society’s challenges provide your future opportunities.

Federation is the number one university in Australia for First-Generation Student Enrolments and number one in Victoria for social equity and undergraduate student support.

We work with you to make learning something you can do, anywhere, at any stage of life.

We have launched Federation Online, so wherever you are on your lifelong learning journey, you have the flexibility to study when and where it works for you.

We know you’re going to have an incredible time – meeting new people, trying new things – but ultimately, we want you to be able to leave Federation with the skills and knowledge that allow you to step straight into your dream career.

We are excited to welcome you into the Fed Family, and remember, we are here for you, every step of the way.

Professor Duncan Bentley