The Multi Faith Centre exists to support the spiritual wellbeing of Swinburne students and staff. It provides spaces for attending to spiritual practices, including a prayer room, rooms to meet with chaplains and spaces for cultural and spiritual clubs to run gatherings.
Use of the Centre
Swinburne’s Multi Faith Centre (MFC) is a dedicated facility for students, staff and their immediate family to use for prayer, meditation and reflection.
The space is not for regular use by members of the wider community.
Swinburne Chaplains
Swinburne appoints CCTI-accredited Christian, Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu Chaplains to speak and lead prayer and other rituals in the centre.
Sheikh Moustapha Sarakibi was appointed earlier this year following an open and transparent process, with Swinburne working closely with the Board of Imams Victoria. Sheikh Moustapha leads prayer at a number of institutions, including the University of Melbourne. He is a highly respected member of the Muslim community and a valued member of the Swinburne community.
The Swinburne Islamic Society (SwinIS) declined to participate in this process despite multiple invitations, over a number of months.
Ongoing breaches of guidelines
The leadership of SwinIS continues to openly breach the MFC's guidelines, by opening up the space to the general public, and refusing to work with Sheikh Moustapha.
This escalated on Friday 11 October, when a small group of attendees, led by the SwinIS, refused to pass the microphone to Sheikh Moustapha. To avoid further disruption, Sheikh Moustapha allowed prayer to continue.
A large proportion of those in the room were not staff, students or immediate family members, a requirement of the MFC guidelines. Those students who were in the room raised their concerns with the university about the behaviour of the disruptive students from SwinIS.
Swinburne has made the decision to close the Multi Faith Centre this Friday October 18, while we seek assurances from the SwinIS that this behaviour will not continue. The MFC will remain closed on Fridays until SwinIS commits to following the rules that all other users follow.
As soon as the SwinIS agree to follow the rules, the centre can reopen on Fridays.
We apologise to those members of the Swinburne community that this decision will impact. However, the guidelines are in place to ensure the centre remains a welcoming place for all students, staff and their immediate family to pray, meditate and reflect.
Hawthorn Campus
Swinburne Multi Faith Centre
Level 3, The George Swinburne Building.
The MFC is open 5am-11pm.
Please note that Swinburne ID is required to access this building. Swinburne students, staff and their immediate family are permitted to access this building within those hours. Read here for more information on this and other Multi Faith Centre Guidelines.
Wantirna campus
WB 224d is available for prayer and reflection. Call security for access.
Spiritual clubs and societies
We also have a range of spiritual clubs and societies on campus. If you’re looking to join a group with others who share your faith or to explore faith, get in contact with one that suits.
Want to book in to speak with a Chaplain? Book a meeting here .
Having trouble booking in or just want to speak to someone about the Multi Faith Centre? Email multifaith@swin.edu.au
