The Steve Ashton Scholarship at RMIT has been established because of a generous bequest by the late Stephen Ashton, together with family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Steve died in 2016 as a result of mesothelioma.

The Ashton Nixon Bequest is administered by Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) as a Public Ancillary Fund.  The Bequest supports the Steve Ashton Scholarship and the Ashton-Nixon Scholarship as well as medical research and environmental causes.

Steve contributed to the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) as a former Chapter President, an Honorary Life Member (Steve was a Life Fellow) and an AIA Gold Medal Recipient (2016).  In addition, Steve’s practice ARM Architecture has won a record six Victorian Architecture Medals.

Steve was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) posthumously in 2017 and the citation read: For significant service to architecture through management and design roles, to professional organisations, and to motor sport.

Steve believed that completion of a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration at Swinburne University played a significant role in the success of Ashton Raggatt McDougall, the practice which he founded in 1988 with Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall, and which became ARM Architecture. The practice boasts an impressive body of work, including the National Museum of Australia, Melbourne Recital Centre, Sumner Theatre, Perth Arena, Geelong Library, as well as alterations to Storey Hall (RMIT University), Hamer Hall, the Shrine of Remembrance and recently the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House.

Purpose of the Scholarship

Given Steve’s strong belief in the utility of a business education in the creation of successful architectural practices, the purpose of the SA is to enable qualified architects to gain professional skills which will enhance the practice of architecture in Victoria.

Awarding of the Scholarship

The Steve Ashton scholarship will be awarded according to the criteria and guidelines below. The scholarship is currently available for a variety of business, leadership and human resources management courses at RMIT.

Applications are currently open and due by 11.59pm on Sunday 26 February 2023: view eligibility criteria and how to apply.