Swinburne University of Technology and Richmond Football Club have extended their longstanding partnership for a further four years until at least the end of 2028.
Swinburne will continue to be a key supporter of both the AFL and AFLW programs as part of the extension, having been an inaugural partner of Richmond’s AFLW team upon its entry to the league in 2020.
As an integral part of the partnership, Swinburne students will continue to undertake placements across the club with opportunities spanning various departments, including Football, Strength and Conditioning, Marketing, Design and HR.
The extension will also see the growth of existing research initiatives, study opportunities and shared work towards reconciliation through Richmond’s Korin Gamadji Institute and Bachar Houli Foundation and Swinburne’s Moondani Toombadool Centre and National Centre for Reconciliation Practice.
Swinburne will also remain the naming rights partner of the Swinburne Centre for the next four years.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said the strength of the partnership was evident in the mutual benefits it brought to both organisations and their people, particularly players and students.
"We are very grateful for Swinburne's longstanding support of our Club and delighted that this partnership will continue beyond 10 years as part of this agreement," Gale said.
"A key reason for this partnership's success is the opportunities we can provide each other. It is fantastic to have 15 Swinburne students currently in placement roles, contributing to the operations of the Club, and players like Monique Conti, Ellie McKenzie, and Tim Taranto have all studied at Swinburne.”
"As Richmond continues to grow, we are excited to have Swinburne as a naming partner for our home ground, where we train, work, and host AFLW and VFL matches.”
"We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this highly successful partnership and the opportunities it will continue to create."
Swinburne and Richmond have been connected since 2013, signing their first formal partnership in 2017.
Swinburne Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester said the enduring partnership was testament to the power of deep industry collaboration to create positive educational and societal outcomes.
“Swinburne and Richmond share a commitment to creating a better world by investing in people, driving technology-led improvements and learning by doing. This has been the core of our successful partnership to date, which will continue as we innovate together to advance our shared goals.”
“Whether it is by supporting Richmond players and staff through study pathways or providing our students and researchers opportunities at one of Australia’s leading sporting clubs, we are proud to be working together in the pursuit of excellence.”
Chief Marketing Officer Carolyn Bendall said the partnership continued to go from strength to strength.
“Countless students, staff, players, coaches and industry partners have been positively impacted by Swinburne’s partnership with Richmond, not to mention the thousands of supporters who have walked through the gates of the Swinburne Centre since 2017.”
“I cannot wait to see the continued growth of this partnership, as we find new ways of working together to drive further knowledge, skills and outcomes for both of our organisations and the broader community.”
