Together » Thank you – NIKERI

Thank you for supporting First Nations students

Your gift to Deakin’s National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation (NIKERI) Institute helps breaks down systematic barriers to higher education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Students using the facilities at NIKERI.

Thank you for supporting learning grounded in culture

Across Australia, First Nations students remain underrepresented in higher education.* Closing this gap matters because education creates pathways to opportunity, leadership and stronger communities. NIKERI empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to succeed on their own terms. Thanks to the support of our community, more than 1,100 students have graduated through NIKERI to date**.

Because of your generosity, we can continue to:

strengthen student support, ensuring every student has a dedicated team in their corner, ready to help them tackle the academic and everyday realities of university life
make the journey possible by helping to meet the real costs of getting to campus for students travelling vast distances to take part in on-country intensives
see students through to graduation by delivering the ongoing resources and encouragement that turn enrolment into achievement and achievement into community leadership.

Learn more about NIKERI

Together, our community is empowering students, driving discoveries and strengthening communities locally and globally.

Taking care to Country

When Simon Naawi isn’t studying for his nursing degree at Deakin, he’s flying high in a twin-engine plane over Far North Queensland and beyond, delivering essential healthcare to remote communities

Simon Naawi, recipient of the Ernie Williams Indigenous Nursing Scholarship

Let’s make the wonderful possible, together

Discover Together, Deakin’s call to imagine what’s possible and make it real.

At Deakin, bold ideas and collective action are creating a fairer, more sustainable future. Our alumni, partners and donors are changing lives through supporting education and powering research that’s helping solve local and global challenges.

Join us

Read the Deakin Difference, our annual donor impact report

THE DEAKIN DIFFERENCE Donor Impact Report 2025

Read it now

Black and white photo of five people in front of a car with "Deakin Uni" written on the side, a "No Parking" sign, and logos.

THE DKIN DIFFERENCE Donor Impact Report 2024

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Magazine cover: "The dKin Difference." Woman holds soccer ball in a gym at Deakin University.

THE DKIN DIFFERENCE Donor Impact Report 2023

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THE DKIN DIFFERENCE Donor Impact Report 2022

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Deakin University cover. Graduate in cap & gown with football attire on grass. Title: The dKin Difference.

THE DKIN DIFFERENCE Donor Impact Report 2021

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Deakin University fundraising document. Woman smiles in front of wire sculpture. "The dKin Difference.

THE DKIN DIFFERENCE Donor Impact Report 2020

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What's Next

NIKERI Every gift to National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation Institute (NIKERI) is an investment in the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.

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Your Deakin community Your connection to Deakin goes beyond your generous support of our students and ground-breaking research.

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Areas to support Help us assist students in need, ensure equity in education and enable vital research.

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Footnote

*Source: AIHW: Closing the Gap targets: key findings and implications

**Source: NIKERI

We deliberately use the terms Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Indigenous, First Nations, First Peoples interchangeably and in doing so acknowledge that while people have personal preferences, none of these terms are perfect and with that imperfection each carry nuanced residual forms of colonial power. This content is developed with the core value of respect.

Donor Charter

Deakin University Advancement

At Deakin University, we are driven to create impact by turning bold ideas into discoveries and discoveries into change that touches lives. This is only possible through the generosity, trust and shared vision of our diverse, global community of donors and partners. Together, we amplify what is possible and extend the benefits of our work to reach as many people as we can.

Philanthropy has always been a part of Deakin’s story, shaping who we are today and who we will become tomorrow. Our partnerships with donors are at the heart of creating opportunity, sparking innovation, and fostering excellence in education and research. Together, we make a genuine and lasting difference in the many communities we serve.

At Deakin we celebrate the transformative role of philanthropy and are committed to providing exceptional donor stewardship. We work to ensure that all our donors have fulfilling experiences when giving through Deakin. We are committed to building enduring relationships with those who share our passion for making positive change in the world. The generosity of our community of supporters empowers us to push boundaries, change lives and help create a better world. We are deeply grateful to all our donors for their support and strive to ensure every experience with us in philanthropy is positive and rewarding.

Deakin University’s Donor Charter underpins our promise to fundraise in an ethical manner that promotes public confidence and protects the University and the donors’ interests.

As a donor, and our partner in change, you can expect the following commitments from Deakin:

To be transparent, informative and professional

Deakin University adheres to the Universities of Australia Code of Practice for Australian University Philanthropy and to Deakin University’s Philanthropic Gifts Policy.
A donor can expect to be informed of the University’s mission, the way the University will implement the gift according to the donor’s intent and the identity of key personnel involved in managing the gift.
Individuals representing the University will act in a professional manner and will inform prospective donors if they are volunteers, students or University staff.
No programs, agreement, trust or contract will be pursued with potential donors at the expense of the donor’s or the University’s best interests and motivations.
The University and its staff will actively and positively provide relevant information on the University, and the use of and progress with the gift.

To use gifts effectively and ethically in line with donor wishes

The University is committed to ensuring that philanthropic gifts are managed efficiently, effectively and ethically, and in a way that reflects their intended purpose/s.
Should it become impractical or impossible to carry out the expressed purpose/s, or where the University reasonably believes that the original expressed wishes are no longer a suitable and effective means of using the gift, the University will communicate with the donor or the donor’s nominated representative.
As part of our commitment to responsible management and oversight of philanthropic gifts, the Chief Advancement Officer reports regularly to Council on the overall management and administration of philanthropic income of the University.
The University is committed to use gifts responsibly and ethically.

To respect the privacy of donors

Donors can expect to be treated with the highest level of care and respect.
Donors’ personal information will be treated confidentially in line with the University’s Privacy Policy.
Requests for anonymity will be respected, honoured and confidentially enacted.

To acknowledge and recognise donors and celebrate philanthropy

We will acknowledge and recognise every donor in ways that are timely, personal, and meaningful – celebrating their impact and fostering a genuine, lasting connection with the Deakin community.
We will promptly provide an official receipt suitable for taxation purposes, ensuring donors feel valued and assured that their generosity has been received and recognised.