Celebrating a unique graduation with unique VU graduates

Victoria University (VU) is honoured and delighted to congratulate the 1,777 students who are about to receive their final certificates across six ceremonies taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday 16 and 17 September, at the Victoria Racing Club. 

There is no bigger moment for a student than Graduation Day. It signifies the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and determination to complete their studies. And while it is a moment of personal triumph, it is also a powerful day to share with family and friends – the people in their lives who have no doubt supported and inspired them throughout late-night study sessions and exams. 

Gathering on stage will be tomorrow’s teachers, lawyers, IT specialists, health professionals and engineer and each of them will go and shape our community in meaningful ways. 

This year also marks an historic event as VU’s first cohort of 55 physiotherapy students embark on their new careers. 

Bridget McKenna studied a Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy) and is about to graduate with a Master of Physiotherapy. “Throughout my course I completed five different placements, which gave me the opportunity to build my clinical skills and learn from a wide variety of settings. Those experiences confirmed my passion for working with the elderly and sparked a strong interest in women’s health.” 

The twenty-six-year-old said the VU Block Model ® was a “fantastic” fit. “All my studies were through the block model, and I just loved it. It really suited the way I like to learn because I could focus on one subject at a time while still having the flexibility to work part-time alongside my studies.”

During Wednesday’s ceremony, student Simon Salerno will deliver an address to soon-to-be graduates. Simon was at a VU graduation ceremony six years ago, cheering on his wife who is now a practising nurse at Western Health. “It was a powerful moment, and it made me realised how much I wanted to study.” 

Simon, who did a Bachelor of Nutrition at VU, is about to graduate with a Masters in Dietetics and deliver a speech during today’s ceremony. “I have had an amazing six years at VU. I feel proud to be graduating this week. The VU Block Model was brilliant – it allowed me to keep a part-time job but remain focused on my studies. I’ve also landed a full-time position in a private practice, so I feel incredibly lucky that my plans have fallen into place.” 

For recipient of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia Awards Scholarship international student Daisy Rose Sipiti, graduation week is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.  

While Daisy calls Vanuatu home, she studied a Bachelor of Business and lived at Uni Lodge, located across the road from VU’s Footscray Park Campus. During her time in Melbourne, Daisy has been active in countless community programs and initiatives, including taking on a role as a VU Ambassador, HR Support Officer, Residential Adviser, along with actively staying involved with the Pasifika Islander Association. 

In 2024 Daisy received VU’s Undergraduate International Student Leadership Award, and the Australian Human Resources Institute Student Scholarship. 

Early this year, when Daisy’s village in Vanuatu was hit by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake, she launched a GoFundMe initiative and raised around AUD $8,000 to ensure victims could access mental health services. 

“It’s always been important to me to be a student leader that uplifts others. Everything I do connects back to my family and where I come from in Vanuatu. I want to keep bridging those spaces – between cultures, between countries, between people. I am incredibly excited to start the next chapter of my professional life.”