The culture of kindness will take centre stage on 9 March when the University of Newcastle rallies the support of its communities for its inaugural Gifting Day.
The 24-hour social impact campaign will unite students, staff, alumni and the community to raise awareness and funds for nine hugely important initiatives that are creating positive change.
Gifting Day will be a dedicated day of fun and fundraising with celebratory events and activities at the University’s Callaghan campus, Ourimbah campus, NUspace and online.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky, AO, said Gifting Day would be a day devoted to addressing big challenges with even bigger ideas.
“We are excited about building a powerful movement to create positive change in our communities and beyond,” Professor Zelinsky said.
“I’m sure at times over the past two years people have felt helpless and uncertain about their future and for the future of generations to come.
“Gifting Day is an opportunity for us to all work together to shape a better tomorrow by building more connected communities, championing opportunities for all through equity, diversity and inclusion, supporting life-changing research and creating a sustainable tomorrow,” Professor Zelinsky said.
Through a campaign that aims to make a big impact through collective participation, the University encourages people to get involved in any way they can, whether that be by donating through the to one of the nine initiatives, celebrating the power of generosity by participating in the on-campus or online events, or by encouraging others to join the movement to create powerful change.
Gifting Day campus activities for students, staff and the community will include live music, thank you stalls, an obstacle course challenge, photobooth, guest speakers and a free barbecue.
Professor Zelinsky said Gifting Day would help to further build awareness around the impact philanthropy was having and would continue to have in our communities.
“Our aspirations to shape a better tomorrow can be achieved with your support and donations. Together, we can make a positive impact in just 24 hours,” he said.
“The support of offering life-changing student scholarships, transformational research, or much-needed community programs will have incredible impact in shaping a better tomorrow.
“The heart of our work is local, but its reach is global.”
The nine priority initiatives Gifting Day will support are:
- 2NURFM radio station: A source of connection across Newcastle and the Hunter region for more than 40 years, the studio is in urgent need of upgraded equipment to deliver a better service for years to come.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: Forging a fairer future for all through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led and community informed health research to address unfair health challenges and deliver life-changing outcomes.
- Alumni House: Creating a space for connection, conversation and community celebration. A space that can bring our 155,000 alumni together, physically and virtually, to connect, collaborate and imagine new possibilities.
- Area of greatest need: Providing a sustainable source of funds to be directed toward projects of greatest need; those that advance the University in its work to enrich and strengthen our communities in a world of continual change.
- Excellence Scholarships: Fostering a culture of excellence and investment in the future of Newcastle, the Hunter region, and beyond with scholarships that recognise and reward excellence in our current and future students.
- Human and Social Futures Shaping Futures Scholarships: Providing crucial financial support to students facing unfair hardships while studying education, law, business, creative industries, humanities or social sciences.
- HunterWiSE: Helping to overcome gender disparity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers by supporting more young women to become our STEM leaders and role models of the future.
- Science and Engineering Challenge: Inspiring and empowering school-aged scientists leading to a sustainably minded generation of STEM professionals from all backgrounds, and creating a more diverse, environmentally friendly and progressive future for us all.
- Shaping Futures Scholarships: Equity scholarships providing a financial lifeline to students who face unfair challenges – from carer or sole parenting responsibilities, language difficulties, cultural barriers and more.
Let’s Shape Tomorrow. Together.
You’re invited to rally your friends and colleagues and join us at celebratory events on Wednesday 9 March at Callaghan, Ourimbah and NUspace or online. at the fun and fundraising planned throughout the day. No matter your schedule or where you are on Gifting Day, there will be an activity you can join or stream. Visit
