The world is facing a humanitarian crisis on an unprecedented scale. Conflicts, complex geopolitical disruption, and collapsing environmental, governmental, agricultural, economic, social and health systems are displacing and harming millions – and the global structures that once responded are under tremendous strain. This is the moment for universities to act with intention.
Deakin already is. Between 2022 and 2025, Deakin researchers secured over $11.3 million in external grants to pursue and support locally led humanitarian action, produced 153 publications co-authored with local and international humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, government aid agencies, development banks, and major INGOs such as World Vision and Save the Children, and contributed to 353 policy related submissions to support advocacy objectives with 31 international agencies.
Deakin’s expertise is real; it is significant, but it has been working without a shared home.
The Deakin Initiative for Humanitarian Action (DIHA) changes that.
It is Australia’s leading university platform for humanitarian action: connecting research, education, policy engagement, and practice across disciplines and with communities affected by crisis.
What is DIHA?
Approved by Deakin’s Council in May 2026 and led by Professor Mary Ana McGlasson from the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, DIHA is a pan-university initiative that coordinates and amplifies Deakin’s multidisciplinary humanitarian education, research and thought leadership.
DIHA is not replacing existing centres. It acts as a strategic umbrella – providing institutional visibility, enabling collaboration and offering a single accessible point of engagement for partners including likeminded academic think-tanks, humanitarian networks, UN agencies, NGOs, bilateral donors, development banks, and governments that want to work with us.
Its founding vision: to position Deakin University as a global leader in humanitarian research, education and practice – and to transform how universities show up for a world crisis.
Mission
DIHA coordinates and amplifies multidisciplinary humanitarian education, research and thought leadership across Deakin University to:
- Generate evidence-based solutions to complex humanitarian crises;
- Educate the next generation of humanitarian leaders and practitioners;
- Influence policy and practice in organisations working in and/or supporting conflict and crisis affected countries globally;
- Build sustainable partnerships that create real-world impact for underrepresented populations.
Member centres and research groups
DIHA brings together seven established Deakin research entities spanning all four faculties, each contributing complementary expertise to a comprehensive humanitarian ecosystem. The Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, Deakin’s globally recognised humanitarian research and practice centre, anchors the initiative alongside six partner centres:
> Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL)
Professor Mary Ana McGlasson
International research and leadership development programs supporting humanitarian practitioners, with strong partnerships across UN agencies, bilateral donors, and NGOs.
> Centre for Resilience and Inclusive Societies (CRIS)
Professor Michele Grossman
Research on racism, societal division, systemic bias, extremism and discrimination – building evidence for more cohesive, equitable communities.
> Centre for Law as Protection
Professor Shiri Krebs and Professor Patrick Emerton
Research on what meaningful protection from inequality, biased decision-making, war, and hunger looks like – for both the Global South and North.
> Health, Nature and Sustainability (IHT)
Associate Professor Claire Henderson Wilson
Exploring the health implications of the relationship between humans and the natural environment, with a focus on climate-linked vulnerabilities.
> Centre for Refugee, Employment Advocacy and Training and Education
Dr Karen Dunwoodie
Building knowledge on how best to support people from refugee backgrounds to rebuild careers through meaningful employment, vocational training, and education.
> Centre for Disaster Resilience and Recovery
Professor Mehmet Ulubasoglu and Dr Pallavi Shula
Research on the economic and social impacts of disasters, developing evidence-based strategies to help communities respond and recover from human and natural shocks.
> Tackling Hate Lab
Matteo Vergani
Researching and countering ideology-driven and prejudice-driven behaviours – from discrimination and verbal abuse through to physical aggression and targeted violence.
What DIHA makes possible
The initiative’s power lies in connection. By bringing existing expertise under a shared strategic framework, DIHA makes possible things that are genuinely difficult to achieve alone.
Collaboration
Right now, researchers across Deakin’s faculties are addressing related humanitarian challenges independently, missing opportunities for synergy, co-funding, and combined impact. DIHA creates the conditions for sustained structures and collaboration across disciplinary and institutional lines.
A proven track record
DIHA members collectively hold over $11.4 million in recent external grants1, 90+ active projects, and long-standing partnerships with UN agencies, philanthropic foundations, development banks, and major NGOs including World Vision and Save the Children. That collective credibility is a powerful asset – and it belongs to all of us.
Breadth that matches the challenge
From humanitarian leadership, trauma-informed care, infectious disease and women’s health to climate adaptation, humanitarian law, disaster economics and counter extremism – the combined expertise of DIHA members can address humanitarian challenges in ways that narrower institutions simply cannot. This is important to tackle complex challenges.
Reach into regions that need it most
With operating campuses in India and Indonesia and established regional partnerships across the Asia-Pacific, West Asia and Africa — regions facing acute humanitarian challenges from climate change and disasters to conflict and crisis — Deakin is positioned to make a real contribution and take meaningful action in partnership with communities impacted by crisis.
Full-spectrum humanitarian approach
DIHA members collectively cover prevention and preparedness, emergency response, recovery and resilience, and systemic reform through policy, practice, law reform and leadership development. That’s the full cycle.
This is the beginning
DIHA is a Deakin University initiative, but its ambition is explicitly shared. This is the first step in co-design. The structure, priorities, and ways of working will be shaped by DIHA members.
DIHA exists to make it matter more – to more people, in more places, and with more support behind it.
For any enquiries, please reach out to the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership team: info@cfhl.org.au
