The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) celebrated 32 graduates at Crowne Plaza Melbourne on Friday, September 11, 2026. More than 110 people attended the EIT Melbourne graduation, including graduates, families, friends, EIT staff and special guests.
Graduates travelled from across Australia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands to attend in person. Academic staff and lecturers were also there to celebrate with students they had supported throughout their studies.
Held under the theme “Engineering Skills for an Evolving World”, the ceremony recognized the effort behind completing an engineering qualification while balancing work, family and personal commitments. The afternoon also gave graduates an opportunity to hear from their academic community, an industry representative and a fellow graduate about what might come next.
Messages for the Next Stage
Delivering the academic address, EIT lecturer Dr. Kasun Kalhara encouraged graduates to keep learning as their careers developed.
“Your qualification may be complete today, but your education should never be,” he told them. “Stay curious enough to continuously update your understanding of the world and of yourself.”
His address explored the uncertainty engineers encounter in practice, from working with incomplete information to adapting when plans change. He urged graduates to use their knowledge to make a meaningful contribution through their work.
Alisha Stafford, Tertiary Engagement Manager at Engineers Australia, also addressed the ceremony. She outlined the opportunities and support available to engineering students and graduates through the professional body.
The graduate reflection came from Hellen Olisukulu, who travelled from Honiara in the Solomon Islands. Speaking about her education and career, she shared her hopes of contributing to her country’s development and encouraging more women and girls across the Pacific to pursue fields where they remain underrepresented.
“Where you come from does not decide where you can go,” Hellen told her fellow graduates. “Believe in yourself. Take the opportunities that come your way. And never allow your circumstances to limit your dreams.”
Special Awards Recognize Graduate Achievement
EIT’s Graduate Special Awards highlighted adaptability, sustainability, resilience and academic achievement, with five awards presented to four graduates.
The Adaptive Engineering Award went to Mahagala Kottahachchige Don Ashen Imalka Weerasinghe, a Master of Engineering (Civil: Structural) (CRICOS Course Code: 0100461) graduate, for applying his knowledge across a range of civil engineering projects. Fellow Master of Engineering (Civil: Structural) (CRICOS Course Code: 0100461) graduate Juliana Dawood Gorgis received both the Evolving World Impact Award, for research into structural concrete using less cement, and the Academic Excellence Award for Higher Education.
Sangit Kattel, a Master of Engineering (Mechanical) (CRICOS Course Code: 0100463) graduate, received the Resilience Award after balancing his studies with night shifts while adjusting to life in Australia. John Wright, who completed the 52872WA Advanced Diploma of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering*, received the Academic Excellence Award for Vocational Education and Training, having studied alongside full-time employment, extensive travel and demanding customer site work.
A Milestone Shared with Family and Friends
Graduates formally received their EIT sashes during the ceremony, celebrating alongside the families, friends, lecturers and fellow graduates who had joined them in Melbourne.
For many, the occasion marked the completion of years of study fitted around professional and personal responsibilities. Being together gave them the opportunity to share that achievement with the people who had supported them.
Watch the full 2026 EIT Graduation Ceremony in Melbourne, held on September 11.
*VSL approved course, maximum tuition fee for Australian students: AUD $12,112.00
This article was published November 3rd, 2026 and the content is current as at the date of publication.
