CDU Sydney Graduation commemorates 10-year anniversary with a record number of graduates

Almost 330 students will graduate today at a Charles Darwin University (CDU) graduation ceremony at Sydney town hall.

This graduation ceremony marks the 10-year anniversary of CDU’s Sydney Campus, over the last ten years the campus has expanded its offerings and is now graduating students across a range of disciplines including nursing and midwifery, IT, education, law, exercise and sport science and accounting.

About 250 graduands are expected to attend the ceremony who are being recognised for completing a range of degrees within Vocational Education, Degree Education and PhDs. Almost half of the graduates are from NSW with all others from across all states and territories.

The Occasional Address will be given by former CDU Vice-Chancellor and current Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University Professor Barney Glover AO, who opened the Sydney campus ten years ago.

Professor Glover remarked on the Campus’s impact since its inception and its remarkable growth in the last 10 years.

“CDU has done a tremendous job of offering accessible learning to the greater Sydney area, the growth the campus has had in the last 10-years is a testament to the importance of offering flexible learning in major centres,” Professor Glover said.

“I am honoured to be invited to address the 2023 graduating class and wish them all the success as they enter the next stage of their professional lives.”

One of the graduating PhD students is CDU Sydney’s own Associate Vice-Chancellor Penelope Sweeting. Ms Sweeting’s research reviewed inpatient suicides in Australian hospitals between 2009 and 2018 and has formal recommendations for the hospital systems to develop suicide preventions strategies.

Ms Sweeting, who will also be the Mace Bearer said it was an honour to graduate alongside so many talented students.

“These students have been my inspiration to help me complete my studies, hearing their stories and what some of them have overcome to be here tonight, I know they will go on to do great things for their communities and beyond,” Ms Sweeting said. 

“Everyone from our educators to professional staff are so pleased to see so many of our students graduating from their studies and wish them continued success in their future endeavours.”

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said he was delighted to be attending the graduation ceremony in Sydney.

“Graduation is always a significant milestone in our students’ academic journey that recognises their success and I look forward to celebrating with our outstanding student cohort here in Sydney,” Professor Bowman said. 

“Based on the number of graduands we can be confident that CDU has provided our graduates with the necessary skills to go on and have wonderful careers in their chosen field.”

The CDU Graduation ceremony will be held at the Sydney Town Hall on Thursday, 19 October at 5pm.