Graduation 2026

2026-03-23

A powerful celebration of achievement, resilience and possibility

Under the lights of Costa Hall, Graduation for The Gordon’s students was more than a ceremony - it was a powerful celebration of achievement, resilience and possibility. 

For the 3,024 students who graduated this year, including the 390 who crossed the stage to receive their certification, the moment marked far more than the completion of a course. It reflected early mornings, late nights, challenges overcome and goals realised. Graduation is a pause point, a chance to look back on the journey and the determination it took to reach the finish line.


Several hundred family members, friends and supporters filled Costa Hall, creating a full house that underscored the importance of celebrating success openly and proudly. Events like these recognise not only academic accomplishment, but the personal growth and courage it takes to pursue education, often alongside work, family and life’s many competing priorities. 

The Gordon’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Ormeno captured this sentiment in his address, acknowledging the unique path taken by every graduate. 

Every single person wearing a gown tonight has walked their own unique path to get to this stage. Many of you balanced your studies with full-time work. Some of you juggled parenting and family responsibilities. Some of you boldly retrained for a completely new career, while others chased a long-held ambition. 

He praised graduates for their determination and commitment to shaping their futures, highlighting the broader impact of vocational education.

“That commitment is exactly why initiatives like Free TAFE are so vital,” Mr Ormeno said.

“That doesn’t just represent policy. It represents thousands of lives changed. Opportunities to build skills, open doors, and strengthen our communities.”

Looking ahead, Mr Ormeno reinforced the critical role graduates will play in Victoria’s future workforce.

“Victoria needs skilled people. We need your hands, your minds, and your ideas,” he said.

“These industries are evolving rapidly and because of your hard work, you are ready to lead that change. The blueprint is yours. Now, you get to build.”

In a message that resonated throughout the evening, he encouraged graduates to embrace the opportunities ahead with confidence and purpose.

Be fearless. Stay curious. And lift as you climb. True success means very little if you are standing at the top alone. 

Mr Ormeno thanked the people behind every graduate’s success — recognising the teachers, mentors, families and peers who supported each step along the way. Mr Ormeno also thanked The Gordon community for their role in helping students reach this milestone.

“Your encouragement has helped make tonight possible,” he said.

Guiding the evening with warmth and professionalism, host Nicky Buckley helped create an atmosphere that was both celebratory and deeply meaningful.

While the evening honoured the journey so far, it also looked firmly to the future.

As graduates step into careers, further study and new opportunities, they do so with the knowledge that their hard work matters, their achievements are valued and their potential is limitless.

As Mr Ormeno reminded the graduating Class, their connection to The Gordon does not end at graduation.

“This is a community you can return to throughout your career. The most successful people aren’t those who stop at a qualification — they are the ones who stay curious and never stop growing,” he said.

For The Gordon’s newest graduates, the night marked both an ending and a beginning — and a future full of promise.

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