Governor of Victoria previews VU Research Building at Footscray Hospital

Her Excellency the Governor, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, has enjoyed an exclusive preview of Victoria University’s new Research Building (VURB), meeting with VU leadership, researchers and students during the visit. 

The Governor was welcomed by VU Vice‑Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker and Deputy Vice‑Chancellor Research and Impact, Professor Andy Hill, and spent time with researchers and research students exploring the building’s purpose‑built spaces. 

“These conversations bring to life the purpose behind the building: enabling research that is translational, impactful and deeply connected to community need. How deeply gratifying it is to know our state is in the care of someone who is passionate about the healthy futures of people from a huge range of Victorian communities,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Shoemaker said.  

Professor Shoemaker and Professor Itamar Levinger spoke at length with the Governor about the building’s role in advancing prevention and recovery, with a particular focus on the clinical rehabilitation gymnasium. The facility, with sweeping views of Melbourne, is designed not only to support patient rehabilitation, but also to drive research into preventative health and healthy ageing. 

"The Governor expressed a keen interest in the clinical gymnasium’s role in supporting health ageing, highlighting the importance of being engaged in physical activity for long-term health benefits,” Professor Levinger said. 

Set to officially open in mid‑2026, the VU Research Building will benefit hundreds of researchers and research students working side‑by‑side with clinicians, patients and community members to advance urgent solutions in preventative disease and healthy ageing. It will increase community participation in clinical trials by up to 50 per cent. 

During her visit, the Governor met with research students working across a range of research areas, including brain health, chronic pain, and exercise physiology. The Governor spoke with Luke Postlethwaite, Academic Sessional in Sport and Exercise Science. “It was a privilege to speak with the Governor about my PhD research, which is about using cutting-edge multimodal AI to transform how we deliver chronic pain education to the communities that need it, especially those in regional and lower socioeconomic populations.” 

The Victoria University Research Building is embedded within the new Footscray Hospital and connected to VU’s Footscray Park campus by a pedestrian bridge. The co‑location reflects a shared vision between Victoria University and Western Health to create a renowned, world leading health, education and employment precinct in Melbourne’s west. 

"As the Governor noted, strong partnerships between universities and health services are necessary to address the complex health challenges facing our population today. We're really proud to be leading work in this space, from early detection and prevention of dementia, reducing cardiometabolic risks, and using movement to improve mental health, our research facilities enable us to investigate better treatment options for preventable diseases that affect our communities in the west of Melbourne," VU Institute for Health and Sport Executive Director, Professor Alex Parker said. 

Professor Hill said VU was delighted and honoured that the Governor selected a tour of VU’s state-of-the-art research building. 

“VU, Western Health and the community in the west of Melbourne will all benefit from the work we do here. We have a bold vision to be known globally as a solutions-based hub where research positively impacts lives.”