Accreditation recognises demonstrated commitment to embedding belonging and accountability for the work ahead
Melbourne, 28th July 2026 — Welcoming Australia today announced that Victoria University (VU) has become the first Australian university to be successfully accredited under the Welcoming Universities Standard, recognising the institution's demonstrated systems, practices and commitment to advancing welcoming, inclusion and belonging across its community.
The accreditation follows a rigorous assessment process examining how VU embeds inclusion into its policies, programs and everyday practice — not as a standalone initiative, but as an institutional commitment.
"We're here to help institutions do better, not certify perfection," said Aleem Ali, CEO of Welcoming Australia. "Any large, complex institution will have areas requiring improvement, and we're here to support them on the journey. What the Welcoming Universities Standard recognises is a demonstrated commitment to, and accountability for, learning and improvement."
Australian universities are operating in an environment of heightened scrutiny around cultural safety, belonging and inclusion and for good reason. Too often, inclusion has been treated as a program to run rather than a commitment to keep; a tick-box exercise rather than a question of whether every person in the institution genuinely belongs. The gap between institutional intention and lived experience remains real, and it remains the work.
"Accreditation is the beginning of a journey, not the end of one," Mr Ali continued. "It creates a public accountability structure, a framework for continuous learning and positive change. We congratulate VU on this achievement, and we look forward to supporting the work that comes next."
The evidence presented by VU for review shows the university-wide application of the university's policies. It showcases several successful examples that actively demonstrates their commitment to inclusion, including:
- First Nations leadership: The presence of a First Nations Executive Director within the Vice-Chancellor's Group signals meaningful representation at the highest decision-making level and supports leadership accountability beyond symbolic recognition.
- Strong, reciprocal partnerships that deliver real-world impact for students and communities: VU demonstrates mature partnership practice through collaborations such as CommUnity+, where students across disciplines (including social work, law and community education) gain meaningful placement experience while contributing to tangible outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
Ms Marian Cronin, VU Director Equality, Inclusion and Belonging echoed the commitment to continuing the work of embedding welcoming and belonging into everyday practice, while celebrating today's announcement:
"VU is humbled with this formal recognition and appreciates that there is always much work to do to ensure a culturally safe environment and we will continue to build on its current anti-racism programs and initiatives to foster inclusion.
This accreditation acknowledges VU is working towards welcoming, inclusive and equitable environments for students and staff from diverse backgrounds. Welcoming Australia commended VU's "strong and embedded commitment to social and cultural inclusion", reflected in both institutional strategy and day-to-day practice, such as co-designed programs, community-led governance structures, and targeted pathways for students from culturally diverse, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds".
VU is proud to be the first Australian university to be accredited under the Welcoming Universities Standard, which recognises our strong commitment to inclusion, belonging and cultural diversity as one of Australia's most culturally diverse universities, with students and staff representing more than 90 cultures and speaking over 200 languages," Ms Cronin said.
The Welcoming Universities Standard was developed by Welcoming Australia to support higher education institutions in moving beyond transactional models of inclusion and in embedding belonging into the systems and structures that shape everyday life for students, staff and communities.
About us:
About Welcoming Australia Welcoming Australia is a non-partisan movement and organisation committed to cultivating a culture of welcome and advancing an Australia where everyone belongs, thrives and shapes our shared future. Welcoming Australia leads the largest and most impactful network for advancing social cohesion nationwide. Through Welcoming Cities, Clubs, Universities and Workplaces, we work with institutions and communities to embed belonging - not as an aspiration, but as a given. [welcoming.com.au]
About Victoria University Victoria University (VU) is committed to the people of Melbourne's west and beyond. With over 100 years of delivering excellence in teaching, training, research and scholarship, VU is the first university in Australia, and largest in the world, to deliver the block model teaching mode. VU is proud to be one of the most culturally diverse universities in Australia and we recognise that to feel a sense of belonging, every member of our community must be able to contribute and participate equitably in every aspect of university and TAFE life.
