Celebrating RMIT's class of 2010

Thousands of RMIT University graduates have celebrated their success and marked the start of an exciting new chapter in their lives at Australia's biggest graduation event.

More than 6,000 students gathered at Etihad Stadium to collect their degrees in front of some 30,000 family and friends in RMIT's spectacular 2010 Graduation Ceremony.

The ceremony followed the lively Graduation Parade along Swanston Street from RMIT's City campus to Federation Square, with more than 3,000 students, alumni and staff dressed in academic robes and mortarboards marching through the heart of Melbourne.

Students from across RMIT's 24 academic schools were conferred with awards at the Graduation Ceremony and 92 PhD researchers received their Doctorates.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, congratulated graduates on their outstanding work and commitment.

"It is extremely pleasing to stand here and witness this milestone in the careers of future leaders in Australia and overseas," Professor Gardner said.

"The RMIT community is rich and diverse, with students and alumni in more than 100 countries. As the world shrinks, the global RMIT community expands.

"I hope that you will continue to enjoy a rich and rewarding relationship with RMIT, wherever your path takes you."

Dr Megan Clark, CEO of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation, better known by its acronym CSIRO, received an honorary doctorate for her outstanding record of leadership and achievement in scientific research and in the scientific community in Australia.

Dr Clark congratulated RMIT's newest graduates as the greatest and best equipped graduates to emerge from RMIT.

"You've done it. You've made it. I know how hard it is and I am proud of you.

"When I was wondering what place I would take in the world, I sought help from the school guidance officer. I was told 'Under no circumstances pursue a career in science'.

"It was a turning point for me. I knew I wasn't terribly good at science but I loved it. I made a decision that day - never take career advice from others but to look inside my heart and follow what I loved.

"If you follow what you love and help those around you do the same, you will bring a passion that cannot be contained to all that you do," Dr Clark said.

Keynote speaker and RMIT alumnus, Robert Thomson, Editor-in Chief of media organisation Dow Jones and Company and Managing Editor of the WallStreet Journal, talked about the three elements of education that are important, before receiving an honorary doctorate.

"A firm grasp of the basics; cultivating a nous that enables a young person to navigate the shoals of life sensibly; and, crucially, instilling a love of learning by cultivating our curiosity.

"I am very grateful to RMIT for activating my curiosity glands, both in providing a coherent grounding in journalism and for a thought-provoking excursion into the wilds of sociology, courtesy of Norman Blaikie.

"To witness the young talent that is gathered here today is to see a group of individuals whose aspirations are rightly lofty and whose horizons will only be limited by the confluence of imagination and effort.

"Optimism breeds optimism and pessimism is poisonous; do over-work and don't over-indulge; value your values and remember that principles are priceless," Dr Thomson said.

Also celebrating their graduation from RMIT were six members of the Koori Cohort of Researchers, four with Masters and two with PhDs.

The Cohort began seven years ago at RMIT and is made up of Elders, artists, musicians and educators and high-profile Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, who are using research degrees as a framework to document, disseminate and celebrate culture.

For the past two years, members of the Cohort have worked on the Indigenous Deep Listening Project, sponsored by Silcar.

As well as the Graduation, the Cohort celebrated earlier in the day with the Deep Listening Event at BMW Edge at Federation Square. The event included a book launch of the Deep Listening Book by Dr Laura Brearley, an exhibition, readings and a performance by the Deep Listening Band.

Dr Brearley said that Deep Listening was an Aboriginal concept which described processes of deep and respectful listening, which build community.

"The project has provided a framework for the outcomes of the students' research projects to be presented in creative ways to the community," she said.

CEO of the Koorie Heritage Trust, Jason Eades, applauded the active partnership between RMIT, Silcar and the Indigenous community through the Trust.

"The graduation from RMIT of the six Koori Cohort members is a significant event for Aboriginal learning," Mr Eades said.

Family and friends gathered in the stands at Etihad Stadium for the spectacular RMIT Graduation Ceremony.

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