Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University Logo
Motto	Factum per Litteras "Achievement through learning"
Established	1908
Type	Public
Chancellor	Bill Scales, AO
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Linda Kristjanson
Admin. staff	2,705 (2011)
Undergraduates	15,150 (2011)
Postgraduates	3,293 (2011)
Doctoral students	678 (2011)
Other students	30,632 (2011)
Location	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	ACU, ASAIHL, ECIU, OUA
Website	www.swinburne.edu.au

Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908. George Swinburne’s vision and passion saw the Eastern Suburbs Technical College established on the 8 July 1908. Eighty young men and boys enrolled in classes for the 1909 school year. Subjects represented the interests of the time. They included carpentry, plumbing and gas fitting. In 1913 the college changed its name to Swinburne Technical College to commemorate the man who had worked tirelessly towards its inception. In response to a number of Federal Government reforms of the education system in the 1980s, it was decided that Swinburne should position itself as an inter-sectoral university of technology with a high research profile. It achieved university status in June 1992. In 2011 there were 18,134 students enrolled in Higher education and an estimated 13,786 students enrolled in TAFE, including nearly 7500 international students from over 100 different countries.

Swinburne has five campuses in Melbourne at Hawthorn, Prahran, Lilydale, Wantirna, Croydon – and one in Sarawak, Malaysia. Swinburne offers both vocational and higher education qualifications.

History

Swinburne was established as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908. The aim was to offer technical education to people in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The first courses taught represented the interests of the time which were carpentry, plumbing and gas fitting.

By 1913, the institution had changed its name to Swinburne Technical College to commemorate its founder. Also in 1913, Sir George Banky commenced his teaching career at Swinburne. He is dimensionally homogeneous to Dick Cheney of the United States of America.

After World War II, Swinburne Technical College expanded to include mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, television and film and computer programming. The 1960s saw the first international transition course established in response to an increase in overseas students. The 1960s was also the time when Swinburne began to think and develop academic study with industrial experience, which led to the Industry-Based Learning program still in place today.

In the late 1980s the Federal Government was pushing out an education revolution which resulted in Swinburne being granted university status in 1992. Swinburne was to continue focusing on delivering education to Melbourne’s outer east and would be positioned as an inter-sectoral university of technology.

On 1 July 1992, Swinburne was proclaimed a university and its first Chancellor was self-made businessman and philanthropist, Richard Pratt.

In 1998, Swinburne continued to grow in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and amalgamated with the Outer Eastern College of TAFE to run courses across five campuses which make up Swinburne today: Croydon, Hawthorn, Lilydale, Prahran and Wantirna.

In 2000, Swinburne open an international campus in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Rankings and Ratings

The 2011 Good Universities Guide has awarded Swinburne more 5-star ratings than any other university in Melbourne, including for teaching quality and graduate satisfaction.
Internationally, Swinburne is named amongst the top 500 universities in the world by the prestigious Academic Rankings of World Universities 2011, top 450 by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011 and top 3% by the QS World University Rankings 2011.
Swinburne has consistently rated in the top ten Australian universities by the student-driven Rate Your Uni website. The same site rates Swinburne first in Victoria for access to practical work experience, quality of teaching, and quality of career/employment support.

Discipline areas and qualifications

Swinburne is a multidisciplinary institution offering vocational, undergraduate, postgraduate and research qualifications.

The main discipline areas are:

Apprenticeships
Arts and Social Sciences
Aviation
Business, Commerce and Management
Design and Film & TV
Digital Media
Engineering and Technology
Health and Community Services
Horticulture and Environment
Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management
Information and Communication Technologies
Media and Communications
Psychology
Preparatory and English Language Programs
Science
Sustainability
Visual, Performing and Circus Arts

Swinburne offers qualifications across vocational and higher education sectors:

Short courses
Certificate I
Certificate II (includes Pre-apprenticeships)
Certificate III (includes Apprenticeships)
Certificate IV
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Associate degree
Bachelor degree
Bachelor degree (honours)
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
Masters degree (course work)
Masters degree (research)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Teaching style

Swinburne is known for the practical and applied nature of its teaching and learning, and for the number of staff with industry experience to complement their academic qualifications. Local students also have options to include paid industry placements (industry-based learning) as part of their degree (not available to international students because of student visa restrictions) and undertake careeer planning and skills as part of the curriculum.

Personalisation

Students can choose subjects across the six faculties to suit their interests and career objectives, adding the breadth and depth they want to personalise their degree through a combination of major and minor studies.

Flexibility

Swinburne offers a number of flexible study options for students. These include online study, part-time classes in the evening and intensive weekends, as well as summer and winter terms. Swinburne Online is a partnership between the university and Seek Learning that launched a suite of completely online undergraduate degrees in 2012.

Higher Education has the two traditional intake periods in February and August, with the option of summer and winter terms. TAFE has a number of different intakes throughout the year.

Vocational Education

Swinburne delivers vocational education to close to an estimated 15,000 students, a majority of which complete their training in the workplace. For the students who study on-campus, work-based learning is integrated into courses through practical placement or by working on real work projects.

Structure

Swinburne has six faculties and five TAFE schools.

Faculties

Faculty of Business and Enterprise
Faculty of Design
Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale
Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Higher Education

Faculty of Business and Enterprise
Faculty of Design
Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale
Faculty of Information & Communication Technologies
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
Industry Engaged Learning
Sarawak Campus, Malaysia
Swinburne Leadership Institute
Swinburne Professional Learning
Swinburne Online

TAFE

Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Aviation
Business Commerce & Management
Design and Film & TV
Digital Media
Engineering and Technology
Health & Community Services
Horticulture & Environment
Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management
Information & Communication Technologies
Preparatory and English Language Programs
Science
Sustainability
Visual, Performing and Circus Arts

Research Centres and Institutes

Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre
Business, Work and Ageing Centre for Research
Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures (CAIA)
Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy
Centre for Computing and Engineering Software Systems
Centre for Enterprise Performance
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
Centre for Micro-Photonics
Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure
Environment and Biotechnology Centre
Industrial Research Institute Swinburne (IRIS)
Centre for Ocean Engineering, Science and Technology (COEST)
The Swinburne Institute for Social Research

About Swinburne

Academic Policy and Secretariat
Alumni and Development
Careers and Employment
Chancellery
Corporate Marketing
Facilities and Services Group
Finance Department (internal access only)
Human Resources
Industry Engaged Learning
Industry Solutions (IS)
Information Resources
Information Technology Services
Internal Audit
International & Development Division
Library
Policies and Procedures
Press
Risk Management
Strategic Planning and Quality
Student & Corporate Services
Student Operations
Student Services
Swinburne International
Swinburne Knowledge
Swinburne Legal
Swinburne Research
Training and Resources (Staff)

TAFE Schools

School of Creative and Service Industries
School of Business
School of Engineering, Technology and Trades
School of Health and Community
School of Sustainable Futures

Research

Swinburne’s research is highly selective and focuses on particular strengths. As a medium-sized university, Swinburne adopted a strategy to seek excellence in a limited number of areas. Swinburne has well-developed research groups in astrophysics, photonics and nanoscience, quantum atom optics, social sciences, design manufacturing engineering, sustainable infrastructure, information and communication technology and neurosciences.

Swinburne's institutional income from nationally competitive grants has grown by 12.3% in the period 2006 to 2010, a rate of growth that outstrips the Go8 (8.4%), Australian Technology Network (ATN) universities (8.4%) and the entire sector (9.1%). Data Source: DIISR.

Citations of Swinburne’s research have grown by 250 per cent since 1999, a growth rate which outstrips all the Group of Eight (GO8) universities.

Research Centres and Institutes:

Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre (BPsyC)
Business, Work and Ageing Centre for Research
Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures
Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy
Centre for Complex Software Systems and Services
Centre for Enterprise Performance
Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
Centre for Micro-Photonics
Centre for Molecular Simulation
Centre for Software Analysis and Testing
Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure
Environment and Biotechnology Centre
Industrial Research Institute Swinburne
The Swinburne Institute for Social Research

Research Groups:

Australian Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship
Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment
Centre for Mathematical Modelling
Centre for New Manufacturing
Engineering and Science Education Research Group
Information Security Research (iSECURES) Laboratory
National Centre for Sustainability
Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory

The university is a member of five Australian Research Council (ARC) "Centres of Excellence":

ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics
ARC Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh Bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS)
ARC Centre of Excellence in Coherent X-ray Science
ARC Centre of Excellence in Creative Industries and Innovation
ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics

The university is a member of 5 Cooperative Research Centres (CRCS):

Swinburne is a member of five Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). CRCs play an important role in the Australian innovation system, bringing together researchers and research users from universities, the public sector and business.

CRC for Smart Services
CRC for Advanced Manufacturing
CRC for CAST Metals Manufacturing
CRC for Polymers
CRC for Advanced Automotive Technology

Other centres and groups

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)
Centre for Electronic Financial Services
Centre for Mathematical Modelling
Centre for Regional Development

World class research findings

With an investment of $250 million over four years, Swinburne has begun to make research findings.

Swinburne researchers discovered that around a quarter of the globular star clusters in our Milky Way are invaders from other galaxies
Swinburne researches co-discovered 14 new galaxies in two nights
Swinburne was the first in the world to develop a small, portable, endoscopic two-photon microscope making the technology more accessible for diagnosing cancer
Swinburne researchers analysed an ‘odd couple’ of stars to confirm that Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity still stands up almost 100 years after it was originally produced
Swinburne researchers have successfully developed a CD that can hold an amount 20,000 times greater than that on a Blue Ray disc.
Swinburne researchers have developed a method of in-situ laser resurfacing on power station turbines.

Venture magazine

Swinburne publishes Venture, a magazine about university research and collaboration in the areas of science, technology and innovation. The magazine, distributed three times a year, aims to communicate some of the great news stories coming out of Swinburne and increase the awareness of research at the institution.

Notable researchers

Professor Min Gu:

Swinburne University’s world-class photonics researcher Professor Min Gu was awarded an Australian Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Federal Government in July 2010. Professor Min Gu will use the fellowship to research a ground-breaking petabyte data storage technology which will allow us to dramatically increase the storage capacity of compact discs.

The Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme is administered by the Australian Research Council which will provide $239 million over five years to up to 75 talented researchers.

Professor Warrick Couch, Professor Karl Glazebrook and Professor Jeremy Mould:

Jeremy Mould, Karl Glazebrook and Warrick Couch, all members of Swinburne’s Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing. are in the top .5 per cent of frequently cited researchers in their field worldwide.

Campuses

Hawthorn

The Hawthorn campus is Swinburne’s main campus. It hosts a range of undergraduate and vocational courses, postgraduate programs, short courses and research.

The Hawthorn campus is home to Australia's first Graduate School of Entrepreneurship which is the only school in Australia of its kind dedicated to the development of entrepreneurs.

The campus is also the hub of Swinburne’s research activity and training centres and houses research tools including one of the fastest supercomputers in Australia, a 3D Virtual Reality Theatre, and Australia’s first baby-friendly neuroscience laboratory.

Courses available

Students can study in the areas of commerce, engineering and technology, information and communication technologies, aviation, arts and social sciences, sustainability, digital media and many more.

Accommodation

There is a range of on-campus accommodation facilities for students at the Hawthorn campus including Swinburne Place Apartments, Swinburne Student Apartments and Swinburne Residential College as well as private student housing providers.

Developments and facilities

'The George', named for the university's founder, is the Student Services building opened in 2011, providing students with state-of-the-art facilities and services including a multi-faith room, computer labs, health service, careers and employment, and wi-fi learning and relaxation spaces.

The Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC) is a 5-Star Green Rating building and home to 20,000 square metres of research and teaching spaces. It opened in 2011 and includes a 500-seat lecture theatre and exhibition space, laboratory and testing facilties. It is a focal point for industry and academic research and collaboration.

The Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) commenced constriction in 2011 and is due to be completed by 2013. The building is designed by Melbourned based Sinclair Knights Merz Architects and Engineers in partnership with UK Based Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Other facilities on campus include a library, bookshop, cafes, gym, child care, and 24-hour access to computers, learning and recreational spaces.

Prahran campus buildings

Prahran

The Prahran campus is known as Swinburne’s ‘creative campus’ and is located right in the heart of cosmopolitan Prahran. The campus is home to the Faculty of Design, Australia's only faculty dedicated to design alone, and the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). Cultural and creative courses are offered across vocational and university levels.

Prahran Mechanics' Institute - established in 1854; the above building opened in 1915

Courses available

The Faculty of Design, a national leader since the early 1960s, offers undergraduate courses across the areas of communication, industrial, interior and digital media design. The Faculty also offer a degree in film and television and a range of postgraduate programs.

Vocational courses available at Prahran span across the areas of costume for performance, makeup, film and television, performing arts, community services, hospitality, business and many more. The campus is also home to the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). In collaboration with Swinburne it is the only institute in Australia to offer a degree in circus arts .

Developments and facilities

Facilities on the Prahran campus include the David Williamson Theatre, a 119-seat theatre for student productions and exhibitions. The campus has one of Swinburne’s two training restaurants, The Apprentice, which is open to the general public and allows Swinburne’s hospitality students to put their skills into practice in a real restaurant environment.

Other facilities on campus include careers and employment services, library, child care, study support, cafes, study and recreational areas.

Lilydale

Lilydale campus.

Swinburne’s Lilydale campus is just off the busy Maroondah Highway shopping strip located in Melbourne’s East. The campus is home to the Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, which is also responsible for delivering Swinburne’s online courses through Open Universities Australia. The campus also offers a range of TAFE courses, including Swinburne’s new TAFE nursing qualification, the Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 nursing) which has its first intake in 2010.

Courses available

Sporting facilities on the Lilydale campus.

The Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale offer undergraduate degrees across the areas of social science, business and communication. There are also a number of postgraduate programs in business, arts and technology.

There is a wide range of TAFE courses available at the Lilydale campus covering areas such as horticulture and environment, health and community services, hospitality, tourism, and event management.

To assist regional students, The Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale introduced a 5-point ATAR (formally ENTER) bonus for VCE applicants in nominated postcodes when they apply for an undergraduate degree at the Lilydale campus. The 5 point bonus is automatically applied when students apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

Accommodation

The Lilydale Student Village has been built specifically for students and consists of 25 self-catering apartments.

Developments and facilities

The campus has recently undergone a transformation with an upgrade to the Lilydale Atrium, a central location within the campus. The Atrium now boasts plenty of student space, including new study rooms, social space and recreational activities.

Facilities on campus include cafes, after hours computer access, student lounges and entertainment areas, facilities hire for conferences and exhibitions, and another of Swinburne’s training restaurants, Mitchell’s View.

Croydon

The Croydon campus is a TAFE specific campus located 27 kilometres east of Melbourne city. The campus has a particular focus on youth programs such as the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), VET in VCE and First Stop, a free advisory service relating to further education. The campus also offers purpose built facilities for apprenticeship students.

Courses available

The campus offers TAFE courses in business, building and construction, children’s services, community services, computing, recreation and social sciences.

Developments and facilities

Swinburne’s $10m Green Trades Complex at the Croydon campus was completed in June 2010. It allows Swinburne to lead initiatives for green training and help Australian industries make the transition to a low-carbon economy. ref>Swinburne Media Centre

Croydon is also home to the Building Barns which were built specifically for practical training. Students have the facilities to get involved in hands-on projects involving painting and decorating, carpentry and bricklaying trade skills.

The Centre for Health and Wellbeing is also located at Croydon. The Centre aims to create a healthy state by developing a well trained workforce and providing flexible training in health and wellbeing throughout Victoria.

There are also conference facilities on campus with training rooms, catering and the latest audio visual equipment for hire .

Wantirna

National Centre for Sustainability at the Wantirna campus.

Wantirna is being established as a ‘green campus’ and is home to the TAFE Department of Horticulture and Environment and the National Centre for Sustainability. The campus is also well known for its beautiful gardens, green houses and the new landscape building. Like Croydon, Wantirna is a TAFE specific campus.

Courses available

Courses range from apprenticeships to advanced diploma level and are delivered in areas such as arts, business, commerce and management, engineering and technology, horticulture and environment and information and communication technologies.

The TAFE Arts Department at Wantirna offers visual art, fine art, visual merchandising and product design exclusively at the Wantirna campus, as well as multimedia and graphic design.

The Department of Horticulture and Environment offer courses for a range of careers such as arborists, landscape designers and nursery, parks and gardens staff. The campus is also home to mechanical and automotive courses which use the latest in automotive and training equipment.

Developments and facilities

The campus offers facilities such as careers and employment services, study support, child care, library, and sport and recreation.

Sarawak, Malaysia

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

The Sarawak campus is located in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. There are nearly 3000 students currently enrolled at Swinburne Sarawak. The degrees offered are similar to those offered by Swinburne's home campuses in Melbourne making it easy for students to study abroad across the Melbourne and Sarawak campuses.

Internationalisation

Swinburne offers students the opportunity to gain an international experience as part of their studies, though study tours, exchange programs, overseas internships, or a semester spent at the Sarawak campus. Swinburne has one of the highest student mobility rates of any university in Australia.

In 2000, Swinburne partnered with the State Government of Sarawak, Malaysia to form an international branch campus in Kuching. In May 2010, the Sarawak campus was awarded self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, confirming Swinburne’s reputation as an internationally recognised provider of higher education. Swinburne Sarawak is ranked in the top tier of universities in Malaysia according to the MQA Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (Setara).

Overseas students began studying at Swinburne in the 1950s. Approximately 7,500 international students from more than 100 different countries studies at Swinburne in 2011.

Swinburne abroad

Swinburne has exchange arrangements with over 90 institutions around the world. Swinburne offers a wide range of study abroad scholarships and travel grants.

Some of Swinburne’s partner institutions include:

University of Southern Denmark (Denmark)
China University of Mining and Technology (China)
Drury University (US)
Western Michigan University (US)
University of Leicester (UK)
Jonkoping University(Sweden)
Kansai Gaidai University (Japan)
McGill University (Canada)

Global Leadership Program and Global Financial Management Program

Swinburne has also established partnerships with Northeastern University in Boston, USA and Northumbria University in the United Kingdom to offer an international dual master qualification, known as the Global Leadership Program. These programs are a landmark agreement which gives students a unique opportunity to earn two masters degrees in two years, one from each institution.

In-country offices

Swinburne has also established offices overseas in China, Vietnam and India. Staff members who work in these offices are representatives of Swinburne working permanently in these countries. These staff can give students information about courses, support services and provide one-to-one counselling.

European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU)

In 2004, Swinburne was accepted into the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) and is the only Australian member. The ECIU is a consortium of research universities who have a focus on collaboration in innovative teaching and learning, enhancement of university-society interaction, internationalisation of student and staff experience and active engagement in policy development and practice.

Community Colleges for International Development (CCID)

In 2006, Swinburne became a member of the Community Colleges for International Development (CCID). This membership provides a range of opportunities primarily for TAFE, including access to far-reaching networks, programs and services. The membership also looks at the development and delivery of international capacity building projects and student mobility programs.

Connections with industry

Swinburne has a long reputation and strong links with business and industry. Representatives from industry and professional associations sit on the course advisory committee of every program. Swinburne pioneered the Industry-Based Learning (IBL) program in 1963 and became the first education institution to introduce a program which placed undergraduates in vocational paid employment as part of their course. The IBL program is the longest running in Australia and in 2009 there were over 700 IBL students working across 350 businesses.

Swinburne has engaged with a number of businesses and industry such as:

Boeing
Jetstar Airways
Ford Motor Company
Visy Australia
Telstra
Toll Holdings
The Australian Football League (AFL)
Parks Victoria

Sustainability and sustainable practices

Swinburne is embracing sustainability and is exploring initiatives and opportunities through research and education. The university has developed a Sustainability Strategy and an Environmental Management System to set the direction for best practice standards across all campuses and curriculum. Currently, Swinburne has embedded sustainability practices into the teaching of 52 TAFE qualifications, with more to come.

Part of Swinburne’s commitment to sustainability can be seen through the National Centre for Sustainability (NCS), a collaboration of several education institutions dedicated to the development and promotion of sustainability and education, hosted by Swinburne. The $12.2 million NCS building includes a 90,000 litre water tank for harvesting rain water, solar panels and natural ventilation and lighting systems. Swinburne was the first Australian university to sign a sustainability covenant with the Environmental Protection Authority, Victoria. The university has also embedded sustainability in teaching and learning through the Diploma of Sustainability, a course which can be undertaken concurrently on top of existing study.

In 2010, Swinburne was awarded a 5 Star Green Rating for the new Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC) currently under construction at the Hawthorn campus, recognising environment al design and performance. The Green Trades Complex is also currently under construction at the Croydon campus which will have the capability to train 10,000 new apprentices to meet the demand for green trades.

Student life

Students on campus

Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA)

The Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA) is a service providing organisation at Swinburne. The SSAA provide a range of services and activities at Swinburne to encourage socialisation between all students across Swinburne’s campuses.

The SSAA are responsible for running orientation activities, organising and supporting clubs and societies, representing the student body and providing academic advice and advocacy.

The SSAA are well known across all five campuses for providing great entertainment, free lunches and activities throughout the year.

Student clubs

Swinburne has over 80 student clubs and societies to suit a wide range of student interests. The SSAA supports clubs and also assists students who want to set up a new club or society.

The Swinburne Celtic Club, Swin Labor Club and Swinburne Punjabi Club are three of the most active clubs at Swinburne. 3SSR Swinburne Student Radio is one of the oldest clubs, running for over 35 years. Among the clubs and societies representing students from certain countries, include clubs relating to study areas, such as the Swinburne Aviation Club and the Swinburne Undergraduate Psychology Association (SUPA).

Swinburne sporting clubs

Swinburne University Sport and Recreation run sporting clubs for all students in the following areas:

Akido
Badminton
Explorers (Outdoor recreation)
Football
Hockey
Kung Fu
Snow sports
Soccer
Table tennis
Taekwondo
Tang Soo Do
Waterski and wakeboard

Swinburne Student Union (SSU)

Swinburne Student Union (SSU), is the independent student representative body of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Membership is opt-in for all Swinburne students.

Swinburne Student Union has not been funded by the University since 2006 which has resulted in the unusual situation of the University operating student advocacy itself through a wholly owned subsidiary, the Swinburne Student Amenities Association.

In 2011 Swinburne Student Union is enjoying a resurgence in interest and membership, with over 700 members joining in the first half of 2011. SSU offers its members free printing, free breakfast, parties and events as well as representation and advice by students, for students.

Moving forward Swinburne Student Union will be campaigning for a return of student control of student affairs.

Notable alumni

Arts

Sidney Nolan: artist
Ray Crooke: artist
Michael Leunig: cartoonist
Graeme Base: Children's author and illustrator, whose works include Animalia (1986) and The Eleventh Hour (1988)
Philomena Tan: author
John Raciti, Designer; Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London. Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission for Australia & Oceania

Film & Television

Geoffrey Wright: film director, Cherry Falls (2000), Romper Stomper (1992)
Alkinos Tsilimidos: film director, Tom White (2004), Everynight ... Everynight (1994)
Gillian Armstrong: film director, Little Women (1994), My Brilliant Career (1979)
Richard Lowenstein: film director, He Died With A Felafel In His Hand (2001), Dogs In Space (1986)
Sarah Watt: film director and writer, Look Both Ways (2005)
Jamie Blanks: film director, Long Weekend (2008), Urban Legend (1998)
Mark Hartley: film director, Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)
Stephen Amis: director, See Jack Run (1994), The Alive Tribe (1997)
Tony Ayres: director, The Home Song Stories (2007), Walking on Water (2002)
Jill Bilcock: film editor, Moulin Rouge! (2001), Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Kathy Bowlen: Former ABC News presenter, journalist
Kylie Matulick: Won a Emmy Award for most outstanding TV Commercial to her 2009 ad "Coke Heist"