Deakin University’s Master of Humanitarianism and Development is Australia’s leading postgraduate programme in humanitarian studies, offered in collaboration with the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership — an award-winning partnership between Deakin and Save the Children Australia established in 2011. The programme equips students with practical skills and expert knowledge in disaster response, community resilience and humanitarian studies, with a strong focus on locally led approaches to domestic and global crises.
Core units cover food and water security, disaster risk reduction and community-led recovery, while a range of electives allows students to customise their studies around interests including humanitarian logistics, humanitarian law and crisis communication. The programme is available fully on campus in Melbourne, fully online, or in a blended mode, full-time or part-time — with direct applications open for multiple 2026 trimester intakes. Deakin has over 40 years of expertise in this field and pioneered Australia’s first graduate programme in humanitarian assistance. The Centre for Humanitarian Leadership connects students with experienced humanitarian professionals from UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and government bodies including Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.