The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) received notification of the grant recently and has said the funds will help fund the new residential college, which will include 250 beds.
A spokesman said Indigenous culture and identity will be at the core of the establishment, which is set to include community and arts spaces while also offering scholarships intended to meet costs of accommodation for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal students.
It is expected that when complete, the educational facility will be one of the world’s most significant and largest of its type. Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore said there are many flow-on benefits, including to the economy, when Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal communities receive higher education and added:
“For Aboriginal students wishing to study, the lack of affordable accommodation is a major barrier. This new Indigenous college will not only provide this accommodation, but celebrate our Indigenous heritage and create equal access to opportunities.”
A graphic design of the new college reveals key features such as community, arts and cultural areas that celebrate Indigenous heritage and traditions and an interior contemporary design.
While the exact location of the college is still to be confirmed, expectations are that the college will be open by 2025.