Melbourne Global, Place and Community Excellence Awards
2026 Awards
The Melbourne Global, Place and Community Excellence Awards recognise exemplary practice in the strategic pillars of Global, Place and Community as expressed in the University strategy 2030, Advancing Melbourne. At the heart of Global, Place and Community is collaboration. Purposeful and meaningful engagement and collaboration with our students, staff, alumni, and partners to achieve shared outcomes that are for the benefit of our communities and society. All Melbourne Global, Place and Community Excellence Awards are open to academic and professional staff.
Award for Excellence in Building and Strengthening Student Diversity
This award recognises outstanding initiatives that create pathways to diversify student cohort and/or engagement programs that benefit the student experience. Activities to be considered may include recruitment, selection and retention efforts, teaching, student support or community outreach activities.
Award for Excellence in Building Student Connection and Belonging
This award recognises staff who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to enhancing student connection and belonging, especially through co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and programs. A particular focus of this award is on outstanding contributions to the University’s Academic Mentoring program.
Award for Excellence in Community-based Initiatives
This award recognises exemplar programs, events and publications that contribute to public debate on the issues affecting society. This may include how nominees have responded to, and influenced, communities of interest beyond the academy, and creatively applied academic resources to create impact.
Award for Excellence in Global Collaborations
This award recognises staff who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to enhancing the University’s global partnerships with a particular focus on the Asia and the Pacific region. This may include how nominees have demonstrated leadership, collaboration or convening power to create positive impact with partners on a global scale.
Award for Excellence in Indigenous Collaborations
This award recognises co-designed and delivered subjects and collaborative initiatives with Indigenous organisations in Australia or elsewhere that contribute to advancing Indigenous or First Peoples’ knowledge, partnerships and outcomes. Examples of collaborative activities involving the University include (but are not limited to) the Indigenous Studies Centre - Introduction to Indigenous Cultures and Knowledges; Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development on Country Learning; Research Unit for Indigenous Arts and Cultures (RUIAC); Assoc. of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Indigenous and First Nations Knowledges Network; and the Oceania Institute collaborations.
Award for Excellence in Place-based Initiatives
This award recognises outstanding initiatives that demonstrate collaboration with diverse partners and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes in Melbourne, regional and remote areas and internationally.
Patricia Grimshaw Award for Mentor Excellence
This award recognises excellence in the mentoring of University colleagues, whether professional, academic or both. Award recipients are acknowledged for their outstanding contributions as mentors, involving: a sustained record of effective mentoring, exceptional skills in the provision of support and the sharing of knowledge and respect for the development of colleagues as individuals.