Victorian Graduate Prize
The Graduate Prize is awarded annually by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects providing recognition and encouragement for architecture graduates as they embark on their professional careers. Celebrating student design excellence, the prize is awarded to the most outstanding design project carried out in the final year of the Master of Architecture degree or equivalent.
For questions related to Victorian Chapter prizes and scholarships, please email vic@architecture.com.au.
PRIZE AIMS
- Encourage a better understanding of becoming an architect
- Promote a positive outlook regarding the profession’s support for graduates
- Promote registration
- Involve practices in the training and professional development of graduates
- Support the transition from education to the profession
ANNOUNCEMENT AND PROMOTION
The Graduate Prize winner will be announced at the Victorian Chapter end-of-year event which celebrates Victorian member achievements including new Life Fellows, Fellows, Australian honours recipients, President’s Prize, Graduate Prize and Student Ideas Prize winners.
The Victorian chapter will promote the prize, projects and winners through various mediums including the Victorian Chapter social media platforms, eNews and Institute Website.
PRIZES
Graduate Prize Winner
- Certificate
- 1 year of Institute membership (must be redeemed within 2 years of receipt of prize)
- Complimentary ticket to Victorian Chapter end-of-year event
Commendation(s)
- Certificate
2024 ELIGIBILITY
The Graduate Prize is based on a graduate’s final year design project.
Universities:
- Each university can nominate up to four students.
- Each university is responsible for coordinating their shortlisting process, informing the nominated students and the Victorian Chapter.
Entrants:
- Have graduated in the second semester of 2023 or first semester of 2024
- Entries can be individual or joint submissions (teams up to 2 graduates)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Each graduate is to submit:
- 1 x 5 min pre-recorded video presentation of the project
- 1 x 200–300-word statement outlining the project’s design intentions including project title
- 2 x high-res A2 presentation panels
Graduates are reminded not to identify themselves or their universities in any submission materials (including video presentation). You are required to provide your contact details in your submission email to the Victorian Chapter. Entries cannot be submitted via your university email address. Every file submitted must be clearly labelled with your project name.
Finalists must email all materials to vic@architecture.com.au by the deadline.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Clarity of the project’s intentions
- Materialisation and resolution relative to scale and complexity
- Conceptual rigour, imagination, experimentation
- Response to salient issues for architecture in the contemporary and/or future context, as identified by the project i.e., this could include impact on cultural, sustainability, equity, or other social, economic, or political factors
- Contribution to wider architectural practice or discourse
- Demonstration of relevant research
- Communication of ideas
JUDGING PANEL
An independent jury will judge all graduates’ work against set criteria, selecting one overall winner and awarding up to three commendations. The jury will consist of:
- Victorian Chapter President
- Representative from previous year’s Victorian Architecture Medal winner
- Previous year’s Victorian Emerging Architect Prize winner
- A non-Victorian nominee from the National Education Committee
For questions related to Victorian Chapter prizes and scholarships, please email vic@architecture.com.au.
| July 2025 | Information pack sent to universities |
| Aug 19 2025 (TBC) | Deadline for university nominations to Vic Chapter |
| Sept 1 2025 (TBC) | Deadline for nominated student submissions |
| Nov 2025 (TBC) | Winner announced at Vic Chapter end-of-year event |
2024 Kim Huang (RMIT University)
2023 Kate Donaldson (Melbourne University)
2022 Jeremy Bonwick (Melbourne University)
2021 Ashlee Murphy (Deakin University)
2020 Victoria King (Melbourne University)
2019 Louis Nuccitelli (RMIT University)
2018 Bradley Mitchell (RMIT University)
2017 Tommy Aik Heng (Melbourne University)
2016 Will Priestley (Melbourne University)
2016 Megan Jones (Deakin University)
2016 Cameron Newnham (RMIT University)
2016 Hilary Duff (Monash University)
2015 Andrew Lim (Monash University)
2015 Xuân Sơn Nguyễn (RMIT University)
2015 Kurt Jury (Melbourne University)
2015 Aaron Cody (Deakin University)
2014 James Bowman Fletcher (Monash University)
2014 Georgina Karavasil (RMIT University)
2014 Mikhail Rodricks (Melbourne University)
2014 Albert Fraval (Deakin University)
2013 Brandon Gardiner (Deakin University)
2013 Ben Shields (Melbourne University)
2013 Simon Linardi (RMIT University)
2013 Edwina Brisbane (Monash University)
2012 Holly Farley (Deakin University)
2012 Lucy Warnock (Melbourne University)
2012 Joshua Morrin (RMIT University)
2011 Martin Scott (Deakin University)
2011 Joanne Nataprawira (Melbourne University)
2011 Danielle Peck (RMIT University)
2010 Jessica In (RMIT University)
