Essendon Football Club has proudly announced a new strategic business and education partnership with RMIT University.

Launched at RMIT’s CBD campus today, the world best practice partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to community, innovation and education.

CEO, Xavier Campbell, said the partnership will have a profound impact on the Club’s ability to drive purposeful innovation.

“Our partnership with RMIT unites two industry leaders, where the free trading of knowledge and experience will upskill our people, grow our communities, enable us to respond to business challenges, and capitalise on business opportunities which are waiting just around the corner,” Campbell said.

“Our ambition is to be the most inclusive, successful and respected sporting organisation in Australia; a Club which consistently sets the benchmark on and off the field, and RMIT will play an important role in helping us achieve this vision.”

A key focus of the partnership is generating better education outcomes and pathways for Indigenous Australians and players in the Club’s Next Generation Academies.

“We’re proud, as I know RMIT is, to be able to stand here and commit to playing a role in driving better education opportunities for our nation’s first people,” Campbell said.

“In respect to our Next Generation Academies, our vision is to provide further development opportunities to these young people to ensure they become more than just talented footballers.”

“Through our partnership with RMIT they will not only be provided with an opportunity to purse their dreams of playing AFL, they will have a unique pathway to further their education and maximise the opportunity to reach their full potential off the field as well. “

Essendon staff and players will have access to online courses, micro-credentials and RMIT Activator, the university’s central initiative designed to promote entrepreneurial success, generate new and innovative ideas, and to help launch start-ups.

Campbell also discussed a vision of building a joint RMIT-EFC Business Activator at the Club’s Tullamarine training base.

“This new partnership allows our staff and players to work alongside RMIT’s staff, students and network of entrepreneurs to generate innovative solutions relating to key areas of our business such as athlete performance, sport science and match-day entertainment,” Campbell said.

“The North West of Melbourne is Essendon’s heartland and where the majority of RMIT students call home, and we want our region to be known for education, business excellence and innovation.”

“Long term we have plans to house an RMIT-EFC Business Activator at our Tullamarine training base, where Essendon and RMIT can work with local businesses in the North West corridor to bring their ideas to life.”

As part of the new partnership, RMIT students will have access to gain hands-on experience in an elite athletic environment as well as grow their enterprise skills at Essendon through work-integrated-learning (WIL) opportunities.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE said the university is proud to be working alongside Essendon.

“We wake up every day identifying with an organisation that is making a real difference in the world and I think that’s part of the connection we felt when we started discussing this partnership with Essendon Footy Club,” Bean said.

“It’s a shared passion for making a purposeful contribution.

“We pride ourselves on giving everyone the chance to be at their best, to shape their future and to belong, regardless of social, economic or cultural backgrounds.

“Being connected with industry is central to preparing our students for life and work and developing graduates who have the skills required for the future workforce.

“We’re enabling people to take giant leaps forward; in learning, in the way they do their jobs and in how they contribute to the community and the economy.”

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