The Hansen Little Foundation’s first major initiative was the establishment of the Hansen Trust, supporting arts and humanities at the University of Melbourne. The Hansen Trust has pledged $10 million to Melbourne University, $8 million of which has been allocated to teaching programs designed to inspire undergraduates to value and study the discipline of history.
The gift is aimed at engaging students’ imaginations, giving them a deeper understanding of culture and community, continuity and change – so that they may think intensively, critically, imaginatively and morally when faced with navigating the challenges faced by our society.
The Trust will fund the Hansen Chair in History, three Hansen Lectureships, and annual Hansen PhD scholarship and, in conjunction with the Faculty of Arts, a Senior Lectureship in History.