Unveiling the refurbished hub for the Faculty of IT

Along with the offices of the Department of Human-Centred Computing and the professional staff, 25 Exhibition Walk now also houses the new Faculty Collaborative Research Space designed for multi-departmental project-based work and displays of the Museum of Computing History.

The refurbishment of 25 Exhibition Walk along with the construction of the Technology and Design Building were part of a broader strategy to consolidate the Faculty, previously spread across Monash’s Clayton and Caulfield campuses.

Held in the sunny outdoor foyer surrounded by the bustling atmosphere of O-Week, Associate Dean (Indigenous) Professor Christopher Lawrence emceed the launch. He began by introducing Daniel Weston who gave the Welcome to Country and performed a smoking ceremony to cleanse the building of bad spirits. He then invited all attendees to approach the smouldering native plants to cleanse themselves with smoke.

The Dean, Professor Ann Nicholson, gave the keynote speech, offering a brief history of the Faculty from when it used to be spread across four campuses, to the relocation of Caulfield staff to the Clayton campus, to the Clayton staff decantment to the old Education building, to its present state.

‘The idea was put forth in 2016 by the University to consolidate our faculty at Clayton. We saw it as an opportunity to continue the evolution of our Faculty. Through hard work, including the difficult circumstances over the last few years, we are proud to be standing here today with a building that is modern and fit-for-purpose with inviting workspaces,’ said Professor Nicholson.

Barkindji artist Kent Morris also spokesharing the inspiration behind his ground floor artwork Cultural Reflections – Continuous Connections #1. A stunning exhibit intertwining Indigenous cultural knowledge systems with Western technology against a vibrant blue background, the artwork reflects on the continuity of First Nations culture since time immemorial.

‘Cultural Reflections — Continuous Connections 2022’
photographic print on aluminium, acrylic paint
Kent Morris
Image credit: Andrew Curtis

‘I hope when staff and students walk by the artwork, it’ll prompt them to think about how they may better care for Country and the community,’ said Mr Morris.

The artwork and the renaming of meeting rooms within 25 Exhibition Walk to Indigenous names, a project with the William Cooper Institute, are an extension of the Faculty’s initiatives to embed respect for Indigenous culture in line with its Indigenous Strategy and Implementation Plan.

The event concluded with networking and refreshments by First Nations catering company Mabu Mabu.