Our 2023 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence recipients
Excellence in commuity engagement and impact
| Pathways Team (Ballarat and Wimmera) | Skills and Education Delivery,
Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises the contribution of the Pathways program in supporting more than 700 participants across nine local government areas, including individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, to achieve a range of educational, employment and volunteer-work goals, truly transforming lives. |
Excellence in inclusion
| Julie Sanders | People and Culture |
| This award acknowledges outstanding achievements in growing the size of our Indigenous workforce and traineeships, including seven academic staff, and providing great support to the Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, particularly during the recent Voice referendum. |
Excellence in innovation
Sigourney Baird, Emily Hamilton, Aja Bongiorno,
Ebony-Rose Nudelman, Jean Flynn, Fiona Sunderland,
Anam Shahab | Retention, Innovation and Student Experience (RISE) |
| This award acknowledges the tangible, positive impact of the Student Communications Team on our students’ experience and its contribution to student recruitment. By maximising existing resources and using meaningful data and insightful analysis, the team transformed student communications from a traditional model to one that leverages sophisticated personalisation and tailored messaging. |
Excellence in leadership and transformational change
Wendy Wright, Rebekah Bailey, Robert Watson,
Kate Lucas | Graduate Research School |
| This award acknowledges the valuable contribution of the Graduate Research School Leadership Team to significantly transform the Graduate Research School (GRS) to support Higher Degrees by Research at the University. The GRS has a new structure, a new policy environment, and is embedded in the University’s co-operative education framework. |
Excellence in research partnerships and impact
| Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) | Research and Innovation |
| This award recognises that CeRDI continues to be sought after as a provider of research excellence in data interoperability, agriculture, hazard planning and regional development, to name just a few areas of research specialisation, and has maintained strong industry partnerships and funding since establishment 25 years ago. |
Research excellence
| Professor Muhammad Aziz Rahman | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| This award acknowledges Professor Rahman’s exceptional international standing for work in health promotion, tobacco consumption, non-communicable diseases, and a range of health and wellbeing issues affecting disadvantaged, rural and multicultural populations. Published in quality journals, Professor Rahman's work is well-read and regularly cited. |
Vocational teaching excellence
| Dr Adam Bignold | Skills and Education Delivery,
Federation TAFE |
| This award acknowledges Dr Bignold's valuable contribution in providing an innovative redesign of the cyber security program which creates self-sufficient problem solvers who can function successfully in today’s rapidly changing web environment. The flexible delivery of the program has also doubled the number of women in the STEM program. |
Special Commendation recipients
Excellence in innovation
| Ambra Sandwith | People and Culture |
| This award acknowledges the dedication and commitment in transforming the payroll system and integrating it with the new Workday platform. The extra hours and perseverance to eliminate paper-based processes and streamline workflows has improved pay accuracy, wage integrity, and time and attendance record-keeping, while also enhancing user experience for employees and the Payroll team. |
Excellence in leadership and transformational change
| Andrew Henwood | People and Culture |
| This award recognises the valuable contribution to the success of both the Workday and payroll transformation projects. Through innovative thinking and inclusive leadership, fostering collaboration and ownership among team members, Mr Henwood's digital-first approach has helped modernise business processes promoting efficiency and sustainability, building strong team capabilities, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and excellence. |
Excellence in research partnerships and impact
| Professor Rochelle Eime | Research and Innovation |
| This award recognises the impactful running of the Physical Activity and Sports Insights research group with other universities, government, state, and national sporting associations, including initiatives to grow the participation of women and girls in sport. |
Excellence in enhancing the student experience
Chris Noonan, Tammy Ballard, Rosemary Semple, Juliet Williams, Paula Stewart,
Ella Donovan-Clancy, Rachael Lott | Learner Excellence Committee,
Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises the valuable contribution of the Learner Excellence Committee in demonstrating a clear focus on enhancing the student experience through student-led initiatives and continuous improvement. |
Both presentations also include this year's VC Awards for Learning and Teaching recipients.