Prayer and wellbeing centre opens at RMIT’s city campus 

RMIT University has opened a multi-faith and wellbeing centre at its Carlton campus to help support and connect students of different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds. 

The centre, which was officially opened by the Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney on November 22, features dedicated spaces for prayer, ablution, private consultation with the university’s chaplains, and other wellbeing activities. 

Ms Tierney was joined by RMIT Vice-Chancellor and president Professor Alec Cameron, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Sherman Young in touring the new facility during the official opening, which was also attended by government, external partners, staff, and students.  

Mr Cameron said supporting and growing the university’s diversity and inclusive ways of working and learning was a key priority. 

“Our community is a broad range of backgrounds and beliefs, and our multi-faith centre will provide a vital space for that to be respected and celebrated,” he said.

The multifaith and wellbeing centre will connect diverse student groups to support services, community networks and multicultural facilities such as prayer rooms.

A multipurpose space also features on the top floor of the centre, which can be used by student groups for wellbeing activities like dance and Taekwondo.  

Emily Nguyen, a second year Bachelor of Social Work and Social Science student, said she was grateful to have a sacred space to connect with her faith. 

“My family is Buddhist and I have been surrounded by Buddhist practices as long as I can remember. I will use this space to meditate to access a peaceful mind when met with stressful periods in uni.”

The centre was established as part of the state government’s $14.3 million investment into RMIT’s campus activation project through the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.  

Ms Tierney said it was essential that students from all faiths and all walks of life felt supported at university and “this new centre will help RMIT’s students to find community and connection where they spend a lot of their time”. •