The Gift - Philanthropy news

A remarkable bequest to the University of Newcastle’s Conservatorium of Music continues to shape the future of music education and nurture the next generation of performers in our region.

Alumni and colleagues from GHD have clocked up tens of thousands of kilometres swimming, cycling and running together to raise funds for scholarships to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the University of Newcastle.

The Professor Alan Roberts Shaping Futures Scholarship in Engineering continues to inspire and support the next generation of engineering leaders at the University of Newcastle thanks to a generous community of donors, led by alumnus and entrepreneur Mr Heng Thong Choo.

Alumni and colleagues from GHD have clocked up tens of thousands of kilometres swimming, cycling and running together to raise funds for scholarships to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the University of Newcastle.

Leading experts in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Newcastle have made a significant discovery that may unlock the secrets of heart disease with support from Australian Rotary Health. 

Tour de Cure has generously invested over $750,000 into cancer research at the University of Newcastle, supporting PhD students, early career researchers and leading scientists. This vital funding has fuelled innovative research tackling cancer from every angle – prevention, treatment and survivorship – and helped accelerate discoveries that change lives.

The University of Newcastle team dedicated to developing breakthrough treatments for the most lethal form of childhood cancer, Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), is forging ahead with its mission to give hope to Australian children and their families in desperate need of treatment.

In 2025, two remarkable milestones converge: the University of Newcastle celebrates its 60th anniversary and Singapore marks 60 years of independence. Reflecting on the spirit of opportunity that has shaped our shared history, we celebrate how Singapore-based alumni are helping to build our shared future.

In 2025, two remarkable milestones converge: the University of Newcastle celebrates its 60th anniversary and Singapore marks 60 years of independence. Reflecting on the spirit of opportunity that has shaped our shared history, we celebrate how Singapore-based alumni are helping to build our shared future.

The Staff Donor Collective is a growing community of passionate University of Newcastle staff members committed to improving the lives of others through their generosity and kindness to make the world a better place.

Soil is a vast and complex ecosystem that supports over a billion life forms, however concerns around the impact of ongoing soil degradation are escalating. Generous funding from an anonymous donor is enabling the University of Newcastle to explore an integrated approach to improve soil health that could revolutionise agricultural practices globally.

The land and waters around Australia support approximately 700,000 native species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. The generosity of alumnus, the late Gregory Knibb is advancing research to preserve natural habitats of native frog species.

A newly funded philanthropic scholarship to study the nocturnal movements of shorebird communities within the Port Stephens and Hunter estuaries is set to reveal more about the foraging behaviours of our native shorebirds than ever before.

My father’s kindness shaped the way I see the world. He would quietly give to schools or people in need and remind us, “If you give to others, God will give you more, and you will never be empty-handed.” Those words stayed in my heart.

Continuing the great tradition of our university being established by the community, for the community, a new generation of supporters are working together to build Alumni & Community House. Glenn Turner AM explains why he chose to honour one of the University of Newcastle’s greatest friends, the late Dr Bernard 'Bernie' Curran AM, through this project.

"Giving back to the communities we’re part of is very important to us. Providing scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people studying health degrees enables us to make a practical difference in the lives of people living in regional and remote communities."