At UniSC, action and impact for a sustainable future guide everything we do. We align with and strive to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), embedding them across our teaching, research, community engagement, and operations.

The global challenges of climate change, inequality, and rapid technological transformation call for bold, collaborative responses. Our 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlights how UniSC is taking meaningful steps to address these challenges, prioritising actions that benefit both current and future generations.

UniSC’s commitment is also reflected on the global stage. Since first participating in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings in 2021, we have continued to strengthen our performance. In 2024, UniSC was ranked 77th out of 1,963 institutions worldwide, placing us in the top 3.9% of universities for our contribution to the SDGs.

Explore a snapshot of our progress below.

SDG 1: No poverty

Teaching

• Enrolments of students from low socio-economic backgrounds have increased by 7 percent since 2023.
• UniSC courses included SCS201 International Development and Global Justice, and DEV700 International Development and Aid.
• 113 HDR students received financial support to cover living costs while conducting research, with a total of 2,260 stipend payments made throughout the year. 

Research

• 29 publications between 2021-2024.
• Australian Centre for Pacific Island Research led the Academic Support Program to assist scholars, supervisors and institutions engaged in the Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience Program (PASS–CR) program, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). This initiative supported research aimed at strengthening food systems and livelihoods across Pacific Island nations, where poverty is exacerbated by climate-related vulnerabilities.

Engagement

• UniSC was awarded $292,522 through the Australian Government's National Tax Clinic Program to establish a free tax clinic at UniSC Moreton Bay and UniSC Caboolture.
• Empowering communities through seaweed: recipe book and resource development in Samoa (2023-2024).

Operations

• 1,714 undergraduate students received scholarships and bursaries.
• UniSC Asylum Seeker Scholarship represents an additional step in equity-focused support.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

Teaching

• Agriculture and aquaculture minor equips students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to improve food systems, enhance sustainable agriculture, and address global food security.
• Dietitian and public health nutritionist Dr Libby Swanepoel, passionate about helping disadvantaged communities, was named a ‘Superstar of STEM for 2024’ by Science & Technology Australia.

Research

• 139 publications (2021-2024).
• Associate Professor Sarah Burkhart and Professor Steven Underhill from ACPIR have received funding from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for nutrition and food security research.
• As part of a larger ACIAR project, Professor Steven Underhill, Adjunct Associate Professor Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni and Associate Professor Saskia de Klerk held a workshop in 2024 that engaged Pacific partners to provide a Pacific lens on food loss data.

Engagement

• 75,183 food items funded by SSAF.
• UniSC fostered inclusive and supportive campuses by providing 3,080 free student breakfasts, funded by our health and wellbeing partner, Medibank.
• Nutrition and dietetics students operated stalls during the 2024 Sustainability Week to gather information on students’ healthy eating habits and to provide healthy recipes.
• UniSC Student Guild delivered support programs including free student dinners, emergency food bank across all five campuses, and brunch dates. 

Operations

• UniSC's Catering Operational Policy gives preference to food that is sustainably sourced, farmed or caught.
• Student Guild–driven collaboration within UniSC in 2024:

• • Multiple UniSC departments, notably Student Success and Engagement, ASU and the Nutrition and Dietetics Clinic, contributed to food drives throughout the year.
  • Venues and Catering supplied surplus food from University events to prevent waste.
  • seasonal campaigns, such as the Brasserie Christmas Party, collected gifts for distribution to students and their families.
  • gift cards and incentives from wholesalers were redirected to support student needs.

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Teaching

• The Thompson Institute’s Mental Health and Neuroscience postgraduate coursework programs have grown to attract more than 200 students per semester from across Australia.
• UniSC was awarded three national Social Work awards in 2024 recognising excellence in research and learning that tackles some of society’s most pressing issues.

Research

• 705 publications (2021-2024).
• UniSC opened the National PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute (TI). This research centre is an $18.5 million national hub addressing one of the world’s most pressing mental health issues.
• The TI’s Healthy Brain Ageing research team found that poor lifestyle choices may prematurely age the brain well before dementia symptoms emerge.
• Research published in the Journal of Eating Disorders by TI researcher Taliah Prince and colleagues on appearance-related cyberbullying pushing teenage girls towards cosmetic procedures.
• Professor Robert Harvey and colleagues received Australian Research Council (ARC) funding valued at $1,004,508 to study glycine receptors.
• A UniSC-led research team has created a world-first software tool that can detect and predict antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a highly drug-resistant bacterium responsible for severe and often deadly infections.
• Molecular biologist / microbiologist / immunologist Dr Bonnie Quigley, passionate about breaking down the stigma that mental illness is ‘all in your head’, was named a Superstar of STEM for 2024 by Science & Technology Australia.

Engagement

• From 2022 to 2024, there has been an 84 percent increase in attended clinic appointments.
• UniSC clinics offer student-led health services that provide free, quality allied health care to community members while delivering invaluable hands-on learning experiences for students across various disciplines, including Nutrition and Dietetics, Counselling, Psychology and Occupational Therapy.
• The Alliance for Suicide Prevention community is an initiative of the TI developed as part of a five-year partnership with the federal government. The alliance program has attracted more than 180 organisational members to its mission to create a suicide-safer Sunshine Coast.
• The TI’s free Brain Science for Wellbeing webinars attracted 5,700 registrants in 2024, growing to attract up to approximately 1,000 registrants per webinar by the end of the year.
• UniSC Clinical Trials is a dynamic and expanding network that collaborates with healthcare professionals and global medical experts to advance cutting-edge treatments across South East Queensland. With five clinics, and a sixth on the way, the network enhances community access to medical research through a people-first approach. In 2024, over 2,000 participants were involved in approximately 45 trials, generating more than $14 million in economic activity, with future projects forecast to contribute over $20 million.
• Tania Wiesmayr-Freeman, a lecturer in nutrition and dietetics at UniSC, collaborating on health care with the Solomon Islands and working with the Pacific Region Infectious Diseases Association, started a tube-feeding project in the Solomons, using local foods to make sure patients receive the nutrients they need. The Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CIDSEL) is supporting the initiative as part of its work to help develop local capacities in the Solomon Islands and other Pacific Island nations.
• The Sport and Fitness precinct continued to function as a regional hub for physical activity, hosting school programs, community sports, elite training camps and inclusive initiatives.

Operations

• 73 student leaders trained in wellbeing peer support.
• 181 students participated in wellbeing workshops.
• 1,904 page views for the Wellbeing Resource Hub.
• UniSC is a smoke-free university.
• In 2024, UniSC made significant progress in promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff through a range of targeted initiatives, including the Employee Assistance Program, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Governing Policy, Leadership accountability and critical incident management.

SDG 4: Quality education

Teaching

• A 2024 pilot project integrated wellbeing resources into a first-year course, receiving 6,526 page views.
• SDGs embedded into the course material and assessments of the third-year ACC320 Contemporary Accounting Issues course.
• EDU206 Sustainability Through Play and Pedagogy examines how early education can contribute to sustainable living and learning, introducing our early childhood pre-service teachers to community initiatives that connect children to nature, their community and the environment.
• UniSC’s microcredentials programs promote lifelong inclusive learning and skill development for diverse learners and industries.
• UniSC made significant strides in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and support across its educational landscape:
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student enrolments grew by 6.4 percent, and
  • completions increased by 33 percent over the previous year.
• 2,662 students accessed Student Wellbeing services:
  • 2,162 Counselling Services
  • 1,748 AccessAbility Services
  • 270 Safer Communities

Research

• 183 publications (2021-2024).
• School of Education and Tertiary Access (SETA) established a research cluster in education and learning futures.
• Robyn Fox and Glyn Thomas from SETA received the inaugural Outdoor Education Australia Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education Research Award.
• Four candidates completed the GRS Skills Development Certificate, with Dr Katie McIntyre becoming the first to complete the Research Leadership Pathway program.

Engagement

• Primary school outreach programs include, Primary STEM outreach programs, Creative writing excellence program, and Explore program.
• UniSC evaluated the Marigurim-Yan program, which was delivered in 2023 to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in regional and remote communities.
• Insect Investigators won the Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science at the Australian Museum’s prestigious science awards. Dr Andy Howe coordinated 17 schools across three states in the program, which involved 1,800 students from 54 schools and led to the identification of over 5,000 insect species using DNA sequencing.
• Annual UniSC School’s Engineering Challenge was launched for the first time in 2024, welcoming six different schools from the Moreton Bay and Brisbane regions to UniSC’s new Moreton Bay campus.
• Welcome to Australia event hosted a total of 488 international students at UniSC’s newly expanded Moreton Bay campus at Petrie, and 119 at the UniSC Caboolture campus, with the majority coming from Nepal, India and the Philippines.
• Best Field Trip in the World competition generated more than 1,500 applications from across Queensland and was named the ‘best higher education recruitment initiative’ at HE FEST 2024.

Operations

• School of Business and Creative Industries AACSB accreditation is recognised worldwide as the pinnacle of quality, with only six percent of the leading business schools achieving AACSB accreditation and displaying the prestigious seal.
• UniSC is a member of Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS), the only independent, not-for-profit, member-led organisation of its kind in the Australasian region.

SDG 5: Gender equality

Teaching

• Total students: 18,911; Female: 68.5%; Male: 31%; Other: 0.5%.
• SCS395 Gender and Culture course addresses how society’s understanding and construction of sex, gender and sexuality impact your self-experience.
• UniSC's Gender Affirmation Guidelines aim to provide information and guidance for students on how to create an inclusive and supportive educational and working environment for those seeking to affirm or transition their gender.

Research

• 119 publications (2021-2024).
• In their journal article, ‘SDG Commentary: services that provide opportunity for all humans’, Maria Raciti, Linda Alkire and Amanda Beatson explore this vital theme, published in the Journal of Services Marketing.
• Adopting a gender-inclusive participatory approach to reducing horticultural food loss in the Pacific, Funding: ACIAR – $845,000. This project aims to investigate and remediate food loss in Pacific Island value chains.
• Cyberbullying and body image: national spotlight on a youth mental health crisis research findings sparked significant public attention, featuring on national news programs across Channels 7, 9 and 10, with an estimated audience reach of over seven million.

Engagement

• ‘Girls in the Wild!’ program empowering and igniting girls’ (ages 10-13) passion for studying science.
• ACPIR researchers Dr Libby Swanepoel and Dr Saskia de Klerk are part of a project team focused on transforming women’s seaweed businesses into nature-based solutions in Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati.

Operations

• UniSC continues to champion gender equity in leadership. By 1 December 2024, 240 ongoing and fixed-term staff members had commenced in their roles at UniSC, bringing the total number of academic staff to 476 (74 percent identified as female). This includes:
  • Academic roles – 68 percent female appointments
  • Professional roles – 76 percent female appointments
  • Senior Management Committee – 67 percent female representation
• UniSC is proud to have received the Athena Swan Bronze Award Accreditation through the prestigious national Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program.
• WATTLE Program is a five-day immersive program that empowers women to attain senior leadership roles while supporting participants in building a diverse network.

SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

Teaching

• Courses focused on the responsible management of water resources include CIV304 Water and Wastewater, Life Below Water: Conservation, Current Issues, Possible Solutions.
• Civil engineering student Oskar Hill was awarded the 2024 Michael Woodhouse Engineers Australia Undergraduate Award for his thesis on digital water meter data and its application to water conservation.

Research

• 78 publications (2021-2024).
• Professor Patrick Nunn and Ms Roselyn Kumar secured a $2.25 million ACIAR grant for new research into the water security in the western Pacific.
• In response to the growing threat that climate change poses to water security, UniSC researchers contributed to a study titled ‘Structural Power Dynamics in Polycentric Water Governance Networks’.

Engagement

• UniSC conducted sustainability tours for the University and wider community, highlighting sustainability initiatives that promote conscious water usage on campus.
• UniSC hosted the Water Operations Industry Conference and Exhibition with over 800 attendees and exhibitors participating in the two-day event at the UniSC Arena.

Operations

• We apply innovative techniques and building standards to minimise water use, and plan to reduce the impact on aquatic ecosystems. In 2024:
  • 33.61 percent water from recycled sources at UniSC Sunshine Coast campus.
  • 18.46 percent water from recycled sources at UniSC Moreton Bay campus at Petrie.
  • 130,000,000 litres of rainwater storage capacity across two lakes at UniSC Sunshine Coast and a water treatment plant.
  • 435,000 litres of rainwater storage tank capacity at UniSC Moreton Bay.
  • over 21,000 litres of rainwater used across UniSC.
• All UniSC campuses are water refill campuses, providing free drinking-water refill stations.
• The Campus Master Plan (CMP) promotes conscious water usage, such as:
  • use of drought-tolerant native and endemic plants on campus .
  • implementation of an integrated water management process to capture, treat and reuse wastewater, stormwater and rainwater.
  • installation of an advanced irrigation system at UniSC Moreton Bay with regeneration and revegetation efforts aligned with the masterplan’s environmental principles.
  • a new water testing regime and plans for an improved water treatment plant at the UniSC Sunshine Coast campus were finalised, supporting sustainable water harvesting and recycling.

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

Teaching

• The Bachelor of Environmental Management focuses on environmental issues which are crucial for achieving SDG7.
• Courses include; ELC700 Micro-grid and Energy Storage Systems and ELC600 Principles of Renewable Energy Sources.

Research

• 105 publications (2021-2024).
• Addressing barriers to sustainably sourced biomass supply chains; Professor Mark Brown leads the International Energy Agency’s Bioenergy Task 43.

Engagement

• Professor Mark Brown was appointed Chair of the International Energy Agency’s Bioenergy program. In this role, Professor Brown will oversee research, development and deployment opportunities for the 23 member nations with bioenergy programs, aiming to improve global energy security through a more sustainable alternative.

Operations

• UniSC’s Carbon Management Plan establishes four themed action plans with more than 20 initiatives.
• Solar at UniSC Sunshine Coast campus:
  • approximately 6,500 solar panels that power a ‘water battery’ were used to provide air conditioning across the campus.
  • renewable energy produced on-site supplies 25.7 percent of the energy used.
  • 2,946,218.96 kWh of solar energy was used.
  • 2,121.28 tonnes CO₂-e emissions were avoided through on-site consumption of solar energy.
• UniSC Sunshine Coast's water battery system delivered in partnership with Veolia, has achieved significant environmental and economic benefits, including projected savings of 100,000 tonnes of CO₂-e emissions over a 25-year period.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

Teaching

• More than 530 new work placement hosts have been sourced both locally and interstate across all disciplines.
• In 2024, UniSC offered 163 undergraduate programs, with Work Integrated Learning activities embedded in 98 percent of these programs. This represented a 14.9 percent increase in programs compared to 2023, with WIL opportunities in 59 percent (756) of our undergraduate courses. A total of 8,725 placement opportunities across 1,137 unique partner organisations were provided for 5,600 students.
• ENT311 Start-up Launchlab course, students develop, collaborate, and work on a start-up venture idea while receiving support and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.

Research

• 158 publications (2021-2024).
• In conjunction with QUT, Griffith University and the Financial Basics Foundation, Professor Deanna Grant-Smith commenced commissioned research to understand the personal finance experiences, financial literacy and financial stress experienced by young adults, including job seekers and those in paid employment.
• In their study, 'Educators Unplugged: Working and Thinking in Natural Environments', a team of UniSC academics, Alison Willis, Catherine Thiele, Robyn Fox, Amanda Miller, Natalie McMaster and Stephanie Menzies, researched the professional and personal impacts of engaging with natural environments. Published in the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning.

Engagement

• Commerce Career Pitch Champion 2024, organised by Dr Craig Cameron and Dr Ratna Paudyal, provided an opportunity for seven accounting, finance and economics professionals to pitch their careers to over a hundred accounting, finance and economics students (and industry partners).
• During Sustainability Week 2024, UniSC Careers and Employability hosted a micro career fair to connect employers with students interested in sustainability-related careers at UniSC’s new Moreton Bay campus at Petrie.
• Music academic Dr Andy Ward has partnered with local company Feral Arts, funded by Arts Queensland, to build a strong, grassroots music industry on the Sunshine Coast and reinvigorate light industrial areas such as Kunda Park with exciting arts and culture.

Operations

• UniSC workforce:
  • Employees on secure contracts (FTE, excluding casuals): 1,219
  • Academic staff: 476
  • Non-academic staff: 743
• A UniSC capability framework was introduced in January 2024, following extensive staff consultation.
• The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy articulates the University’s commitment to fostering a work and study environment that values the rich diversity of its staff and students.
• UniSC holds a membership with the Diversity Council Australia (DCA), which offers resources and research that serve as valuable tools in advancing equity and inclusion within the organisation.

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Teaching

• UniSC students and staff are driving innovation towards resilient, inclusive and sustainable infrastructure. Courses include: 
  • TSM313 The Innovation and Technology Effect in Tourism, Leisure and Event Management
  • ENT221 Venture Growth and Innovation
  • DES211 Visual Identity

Research

• 120 publications (2021-2024).
• Experts, industry leaders, and high-school and university students have joined forces at UniSC to elevate their ideas for an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The goal is to have it flying for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games.
• A global virtual-reality design studio, Haven XR, based on-campus at UniSC is now fast-tracking students into an $80 billion industry.

Engagement

• UniSC supports innovation and entrepreneurship through dedicated co-working spaces at its Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay campuses.

Operations

• In 2024, a PeopleCert Academic Partnership was signed, providing access to industry-relevant content and certifications such as PRINCE2 and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) for students.
• In April 2024, we opened the $80 million Stage Two development of our new Moreton Bay campus at Petrie, serving one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities.

SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

Students

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander increased by 6%
• With a disability increased by 17%
• Low socio-economic background increased by 7%

Teaching

• The Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre capacity building and future generations fund
  • PhD bursaries ($5,000 each), supporting students researching decolonisation, disaster response and Indigenous rights.
  • STEM education for early career aspirations (Sunshine Coast Council – $40,836), encouraging regional youth to pursue careers in sustainable development.
• SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia course introduces students to Indigenous society, culture and values. 
• SCS203 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education students examine the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives for teachers.
• SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity course examines the construction and maintenance of cultural difference and identity within the context of Australian immigration and multiculturalism.
• Over the past five years, Dr Peter Grainger, a senior lecturer in education, has organised international fieldwork opportunities for over 100 education students through placements in under-resourced primary schools in countries such as Cambodia and Peru.

Research

• 129 publications (2021-2024).
• The Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre research for equity and justice:
  • Trauma-informed screening for justice-involved youth (Access to Justice Fund, $17,501.90) – supports justice reform and social sustainability.
  • True representation of Indigenous people in nursing and midwifery (ARC, $184,344) – improves equity and representation in healthcare.
  • ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures ($35 million) – the largest The Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre (ITRC)-affiliated grant to date, dedicated to Indigenous-led solutions in social, economic and environmental sustainability.
  • With seed funding from the ITRC, Appetite for Change explored the resilience and revival of Indigenous food cultures in South East Queensland.
• UniSC PhD graduate Dr Hope O’Chin launched her book, 'Epistemology of Belongingness: dreaming a First Nation’s ontology of hope', which examines Australia’s First Nation’s truth, voice, recognition, diversity and respect.
• The Thompson Institute’s Healthy Brain Ageing team partnered with rural community organisation Kilkivan & District Community Care Association to work with locals on a research study that aims to develop a risk reduction program for older adults living in regional Australia.
• A research team led by Associate Professor (Occupational Therapy) Michèle Verdonck has received more than $150,000 in funding from the National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland (NIISQ) towards an innovative study aiming to find the ‘missing link’ in home-based smart technologies to enable people with spinal cord and brain injuries to live more independently.

Engagement

• UniSC’s Peer Learning Advisers program offers over 800 appointments each year to assist students – a 16.3 percent increase in 2024.
• The MindSET-do project, led by UniSC, is a research-informed STEM education initiative aimed at boosting access and engagement for primary and high school students from low socio-economic status (SES) and regional and underrepresented backgrounds.
• By December 2024, Equip workshops supporting adult learners from equity backgrounds engaged 382 participants, with 116 (30 percent) applying for study.
• UniSC reinforced its commitment to SDG 4 and SDG 10 through the ongoing development of the Advising Curriculum Resource (ACR) project.
• Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre (ITRC) hosted the Wan’diny 2024 poetry event, with poems published in the Wan’diny Poetry Anthology 2024.

Operations

• In 2024, UniSC revised its Indigenous Education, Research, and Employment and Career Development Plans, aligning them with strategic KPIs.
• Policies and plans:
  • UniSC has an Anti-Discrimination and Freedom from Bullying and Harassment governing policy.
  • UniSC has a governing policy on equity, diversity and inclusion and has developed a Diversity and Inclusion Plan. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee promote the principles of the governing policy and plan.
  • The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan demonstrates our ongoing commitment to creating an equitable, accessible and inclusive environment for all students, staff and the wider University community.
  • AccessAbility Services ensures equal access to all aspects of university life.

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Teaching

• Our courses support students to address urban challenges and contribute to building more sustainable and equitable cities (TSM223 Sustainable Tourism, Leisure and Event Management; ENP106 Planning and Design for Health and Wellbeing; ENP255 Public Space Planning and Design – Studio II)

Research

• 175 publications (2021-2024).
• UniSC launched the Building Community Health Pathways to Green Prescriptions project (GRoW Cooroy), a community-based participatory research initiative aimed at improving health outcomes through nature-based interventions.
• To address the growing threat of urban heat, researchers from the UniSC Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab (BASC Lab) partnered with the Sunshine Coast Council through a Regional Partnership Agreement.
• UniSC is a member of the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFU).

Engagement

• In 2024, the Art Gallery welcomed 8,662 visitors – a 14 percent increase – an average of 40 visitors per day over 218 open days.
• The University campus is accessible to the public, aligned with the principles of sustainable urban development. The public can access designated indoor and outdoor areas, including the library, the art gallery and green spaces.
• The gallery hosted various public-engagement programs, including talks and discussions featuring prominent Aboriginal artists.
• The gallery showcased several exhibitions throughout the year, each addressing different themes and attracting significant visitor numbers.
• The UniSC Art Collection saw growth in both the number of artworks and its overall value; 29 artworks acquired in 2024, collection value increased by 8 percent to $8.3 million.
• Notable partnerships included the ISEA2024 and exhibitions at NorthSite Contemporary Arts and Caboolture Regional Art Gallery.
• The five campuses’ libraries offer a blend of individual, group and quiet study spaces ideal for study needs.
• ENGAGE was a Thompson Institute community-focused initiative designed to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience in flood-prone regions of South East Queensland.
• The Ageing Well Creative Lab is a fortnightly program for older adults that highlights the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster’s approach to inclusive community engagement through creative technologies.

Operations

• There are many sustainable transport alternatives at UniSC, such as:
  • 14 EV charging bays at UniSC Sunshine Coast; 2 EV charging bays at UniSC Moreton Bay
  • more than 20 bike storage areas across all campuses
  • two free Express Shuttle services for staff and students
  • bus stops are within walking distance of every campus
  • train station and cycleway are across the street at UniSC Moreton Bay
  • UniSC has a policy to purchase EV and hybrid fleet vehicles.
• The UniSC Student Guild provides a range of services, and in 2024 they:
  • enabled free short-term bicycle loans at UniSC’s Sunshine Coast campus, located at Sippy Downs, promoting sustainable transport and student wellbeing
  • regularly maintained a fleet of eight bikes, funded through a grant from the Office of Liquor and Gaming’s Community Benefit Fund
  • ensured students could borrow bikes for up to a week with extensions available based on demand
  • reduced transport costs and environmental impact while encouraging physical activity.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

Teaching

• UniSC currently offers four courses aligned with the SDGs, equipping students with the essential foundation to pursue a diverse array of sustainability-focused careers in sectors such as environmental management, community planning and development, and government and public service. Courses include:
  • SUS101 Foundations of Sustainability – Investigating Planetary Health
  • SUS202 Communicating Sustainability

Research

• 174 publications (2021-2024)
• In response to AgriFutures Australia’s call to explore the unique potential of Australian propolis, or ‘bee glue’, researchers from Centre for Bioinnovation (CBI), led by Dr Trong Tran and Dr Peter Brooks, partnered with Hive and Wellness Australia to investigate the bioactive properties and plant origins of this valuable beekeeping by-product.
• In April 2024, UniSC chemistry academic Dr Trong Tran received $360,000 from the Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships to unlock the potential of stingless-bee propolis for a sustainable future.
• Dr Shaodong Guo from the CBI is leading research into the development of environmentally responsible alternatives to conventional pesticides by investigating venom compounds from over 750 species of spiders and scorpions.

Engagement

• The Student Guild is dedicated to enhancing the student experience through initiatives such as Sustainability Market Day.
• Larelle McMillan, CSIRO’s research director for agriculture and food sustainability in Brisbane, has been named UniSC’s 2024 Outstanding Alumni.

Operations

• In 2024, 112.82 tonnes of waste were recycled, 38 percent of waste was diverted and over 6,250 containers were recycled.
• Our Supplier Code of Conduct sets out the expectations that UniSC has of businesses wishing to sell their goods or services to UniSC, outlining what defines a responsible supplier.
• Beyond the four main waste streams, the University has expanded recycling initiatives to include business streams, such as:
  
  • 840 electronic parts (eg, monitors, desktops, notebooks, servers, telephones) weighing 4.5 tonnes were either harvested or recycled, while over 1,100 pieces of electronics were scrubbed and remarketed (on-sold)
  • over 6,000 cans and bottles were recycled through the Containers for Change program, with 100 percent of the funds raised directed to Detection Dogs for Conservation
  • 92 240-litre wheelie bins full of secure documents were destroyed (ie, shredded) and turned into recycled products, including kitty litter and gyprock sheeting, through Endeavour 
  • over 9 tonnes of metal and 70 cubic metres of building materials were recycled
  • 347.5 kilograms of textiles were diverted from landfill through Upparel
  • six bulk bags of 8 cubic metres of polystyrene coolers used to transport lab samples and electronics packaging were recycled
  • nearly half a tonne of clear, soft plastics were recycled
  • almost 1.8 tonnes of batteries were recycled.

SDG 13: Climate action

Teaching

• OES101 Foundations of Outdoor Environmental Studies — SDGs environmental panel discussions assessment: in this course students acquire skills and knowledge to engage with environmental studies in various outdoor contexts.
• PUB714 Climate, Justice and Health: this course will develop your advanced knowledge and skills in public health practice to effectively engage in climate justice analysis and discourse for an equitable and sustainable future.
• PUB102 Environment, Climate and Health: this foundation course develops your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental relationships between our environment, climate and human health. 

Research

• 214 publications (2021-2024).
• In May 2024, Dr Adrian McCallum joined international researchers on a 600-kilometre expedition across the Greenland ice sheet to collect field data critical for validating satellite observations.
• Youth Engaged in Sustainability (YES) researchers worked with a group of UniSC academics focusing on research priorities aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth (SDG8), health and wellbeing (SDG3) and climate action (SDG13).
• Dr Gareth Chalmers, Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences, co-leads several interdisciplinary research projects that contribute to climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable infrastructure; including The Blue Heart Wetland Restoration Project, The South East Queensland (SEQ) Peatland Environmental Integrity Management Project, and The Wallum Sedge Frog Project.

Engagement

• In 2024, Professor Lynette Cheah commenced her role as a coordinating lead author for the United Nations Environment Program’s Global Environment Outlook 7 (UNEP GEO-7) report.
• Dr Amy Strachan and Associate Lecturer, Outdoor Education Robyn Fox have launched a podcast series titled Educating Our Planetary-Conscious Educators: rethinking how we can use our University ‘village’, which showcases innovative research responding to the climate emergency.

Operations

• The Carbon Management Plan (CMP) incorporates the University’s emissions boundary and carbon footprint. It establishes four themed action plans with more than 20 initiatives.

SDG 14: Life below water

Teaching

• Our students explore the issue of marine conservation and the urgent need to protect the world’s coasts, seas, and oceans. Courses include:
  • OES215 Marine Science Education Fieldwork
  • OES301 Leading Coastal Environmental Studies
  • ENS371 Sustainable Aquaculture
  • ENS500 Coastal and Marine Ecology

Research

• 272 publications (2021-2024).
• Dr Christine Dudgeon is working to save endangered leopard sharks. In an effort to preserve the species worldwide, researchers from South East Queensland have pioneered a world-first method for extracting semen from male leopard sharks in the wild.
• From majestic manta rays to elusive dugongs and sharks that walk, UniSC researchers based at our UniSC Fraser Coast campus are providing new insights to help protect at-risk marine life.
• Understanding bull shark ecology for improved shark control and education project brings together a diverse industry collaboration, including UniSC, Griffith University, the Sunshine Coast Council, the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Noosa Biosphere to advance conservation outcomes for these apex predators in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of the Sunshine Coast region.
• UniSC is an active member of the International Galapagos Science Consortium, a global alliance of research institutions dedicated to protecting one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. With over 30 collaborative research papers already published.
• Professor Abigail Elizur has been instrumental in building an internationally recognised research group at UniSC that focuses on developing and implementing novel tools in the field of reproductive technologies for aquaculture. In 2024, she was a finalist for the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Woman of Influence Award.

Engagement

• UniSC’s marine conservation efforts progressed with planning approval from Fraser Coast Regional Council for the proposed UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation in Hervey Bay. The Centre has received $1.29 million in Queensland Government funding and $250,000 from the federal government for building refurbishment and the development of specialised turtle life-support systems. Partnerships with key stakeholders, Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC) and Turtles in Trouble Rescue Inc, were formally established through a memorandum of understanding.
• At the Noosa Parks Association Inc Friday Forum in August 2024, Associate Professor Alexandra Campbell discussed the importance of seaweeds in marine environments and the threats facing these vital habitats on the Sunshine Coast and beyond.
• In April 2024, UniSC marine ecologist Dr Campbell obtained $360,000 from the Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships for research on Golden Kelp forests.
• The Blue Biosphere: Marine BioBlitz exhibition combines science and art to celebrate the Sunshine Coast’s rich marine biodiversity.
• ‘Tallo Billa’, meaning ‘humpback whale’ in Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi language, is the latest iteration of the Beeyali project. Conceived by Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi artist Lyndon Davis, the project has been developed in collaboration with sound artist Dr Leah Barclay and photographer Dr Tricia King and brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, emerging science, creative practice and innovative technology to visualise the calls of wildlife on Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi Country using cymatics.
• Commemorating the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on 26 July 2024, Sunshine Coast Council and UniSC partnered to host ‘Tuning into Nature’. This was a unique, immersive wetland experience offering an incredible opportunity to learn from an expert panel about the crucial role wetlands play on our planet.
• Creating Waves initiative brought together UniSC researchers, the Butchulla People, marine rescue volunteers and the Fraser Coast community to show support for endangered sea turtles and visiting humpback whales.

Operations

• The Carbon Management Plan is UniSC’s roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 as well as 100 percent renewable energy.

SDG 15: Life on land

Teaching

• Students develop a deeper understanding of local ecosystems and the threats they face. Courses include:
  • OES104 Learning in Australian Landscapes – K’gari field naturalist trips
  • ENG206 Sustainable Engineering (Design)
  • ENS323 Agricultural and Forest Ecology
  • ENP236 Regional Transformation: political and economic geographies
  • Life on Land: ecology, evolution, challenges and solutions - FutureLearn course

Research

• 332 publications (2021-2024)
• UniSC received more than $24 million to establish one of three new regional centres supporting Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), a research and development institute established by the federal government. The Forest Research Institute is a collaboration between eight Queensland and New South Wales universities and three state government agencies from Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
• UniSC was awarded a $1.7-million Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grant to deploy a network of state-of-the-art lasers to scan, measure and 3D-map Australia’s rainforests.
• The Timber Circularity Project, led by Dr Penelope Mitchell, a research fellow in circular economy within the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life, which is part of the FRI, is advancing SDG 15 through applied research that supports sustainable forest product use and waste reduction.
• Exploring perceptions and best practice adoption of silvopastoral systems as a strategy for drought resilience in the northern gulf region of Queensland. The primary objectives of this 2024 project were to investigate silvopasture as a means to enhance drought resilience in the northern gulf region.
• Enhancing biological control of invasive Eucalyptus weevils in Australia’s eucalypt plantations. The main goals of this research, which concluded in 2024, were to identify and release climate-matched wasp (Anaphes nitens) populations for controlling invasive Eucalyptus weevils in Western Australia’s hardwood plantations, reducing reliance on chemical insecticides, and to engage industry stakeholders in parasitoid collection, release and monitoring to assess the biological control program’s impact.
• UniSC Professor of Microbiology Peter Timms, a global expert in chlamydial infections in both humans and animals, was awarded the Merck Life Science Rural and Regional Service Award for his dedication to the ongoing success and sustainability of Queensland’s life sciences industry.

Engagement

• At the 2024 Sunshine Coast Council Open Data Expo, Dr Leah Barclay led a session exploring the changing soundscapes of ecosystems over the last decade. Dr Vikki Schaffer also led a session on designing accessible citizen-science experiences that encourage diverse and inclusive participation from the community.
• The National Bushfire Resilience Network (NOBURN) is a citizen-science project that empowers people to use their mobile phones to collect information that helps predict bushfire hotspots and minimise their impact. Information provided  by caring citizens helps researchers understand the structure, quantity, density and dryness of forest fuels, with the aid of artificial intelligence. This project is a collaboration between UniSC, Noosa Shire Council and The University of Adelaide (Australian Institute for Machine Learning).
• The Gottstein Trust Forest Science Course hosted a group of 22 interested and interesting people for the week.

Operations

• The Campus Master Plan aims to maintain shared land ecosystems and built infrastructure across all our campuses.

SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Teaching

• In 2024, 719 student suggestions were submitted to help shape UniSC’s Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2028.
• Courses include: SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State; ENP103 Planning Theory, Governance and Politics; PUB704 Healthy Public Policy and Advocacy; SEC200 Cyber Security.

Research

• 179 publications (2021-2024).
• A team of researchers from Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (CHFSS) were awarded $603,000 in grant funding to develop a new model of teamwork for human-autonomy teams (HATs).
• A recent study by UniSC researchers, published as ‘Decoding unintentional doping: a complex systems analysis of supplement use in sports’, sheds light on the systemic risks surrounding supplement use in Australian sport.
• ‘Tomorrow’s demons: a scoping review of the risks associated with emerging technologies’, by Professor Salmon and colleagues, synthesises current knowledge across a broad range of technological domains. This work directly contributes to SDG 16 by promoting foresight, resilience and institutional preparedness in response to emerging global challenges.

Engagement

• In 2024, Associate Professor Tak Yan Leung and Dr Aaron Tham served as co-chairs for the International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH).
• UniSC alumni Fien Van den Steen and PhD researcher Carmine Buss became Humanitarian Affairs Green Ambassadors after meeting at the 2022 Green Summit in Bangkok. Together, Fien and Carmine co-founded the Upskilling Sustainability Initiative. Supported by UniSC staff and a 40-member working group, their events leveraged academic and community partnerships to foster civic engagement in sustainability.
• UniSC strengthened its commitment to diversity and inclusion by actively participating in the South East Queensland Pride Network.

Operations

• In June 2024, UniSC established the foundation for UniSC’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub and the launch of the AI Operational Policy.
• To safeguard student rights and promote fairness, a Student Ombudsman is in place to address grievances and ensure equitable treatment throughout the student experience. To support accountability and open communication, UniSC maintains a Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom governing policy and publishes an annual report that includes comprehensive financial data.
• UniSC actively collaborates with local, regional and national governments by providing expert advice, contributing to policy development and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Teaching

• In 2024, UniSC partnered with TAFE Queensland and TAFE NSW, and 27 other registered training organisations.
• To support pathways into higher education, over 380 credit linkages were confirmed for certificate IV, diploma and advanced diploma qualifications offered by TAFE Queensland and 27 other registered training organisations.
• The Undergraduate Research Fellowship project connects undergraduate students with research-active academic staff members to engage in real-world research, resulting in 83 research partnerships and 143 student applications.
• Courses include: INT101 Introduction to International Relations and Politics; INT250 Forces of Change in International Politics.

Research

• Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research (ACPIR)-led scholarship and Academic Support Program – assisting scholars, supervisors and institutions engaged in the Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience Program (PASS–CR) program – provided opportunities for 53 Masters and PhD scholars at Fiji National University (FNU) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, soil and land management, and climate change.
• Led by ACPIR, our Vanua Project is a four-year initiative that addresses the intersecting impacts of climate change, food insecurity and shifting land values in Vanuatu’s rural communities.
• Towards more profitable and sustainable mabé pearl and shell-based livelihoods in the western Pacific – 2023–2026. Funding: ACIAR, $3.22 million.

Engagement

• The Pasifika Association student group launched in 2022 to support the Pasifika students and their community at UniSC.
• With funding from ACPIR, UniSCPA participated in the Australian Universities Pacific Association Conference and cultural showcase held in Brisbane in July 2024.
• In September, UniSCPA partnered with The Dolphins NRL Club and the UniSC widening-participation team to deliver a workshop for 80 Māori and Pasifika high school students at UniSC’s new Moreton Bay campus at Petrie.
• Building on the success of this initiative, UniSCPA and the widening-participation team secured a $24,000 grant through the Queensland Government’s Strengthening Multicultural Queensland program to develop the UniSC Māori and Pasifika youth empowerment mentoring program.
• UniSC is actively contributing to the Sunshine Coast 2032 community lead group by advising local, regional and state governments, as well as Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers, on the use of shared land and facilities for the games.
• UniSC fosters strong research partnerships with local government and industry networks, and we are actively involved as an economic development partner with the City of Moreton Bay. The Sunshine Coast Council, Gympie Regional Council, Fraser Coast Regional Council, Noosa Shire Council, Whitsunday Regional Council and the relevant UniSC campuses situated along the coastal biosphere footprint have Regional Partnership Agreements in place to enhance the region’s economic, social and cultural attributes.
• At the 2024 Moreton Bay Business Awards, UniSC sponsored and presented the Award for Environment & Sustainability Excellence.
• UniSC, particularly the School of Business and Creative Industries (SBCI), collaborated with The Refinery and Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance to support the Artist in Residence program.
• Sponsored by UniSC, the Queensland Futures Institute’s forum, ‘Our Sustainable Future: mobilising Queensland’s financial opportunities’, outlined the breadth of Queensland’s natural capital and the imperative to develop solutions to adequately quantify and value the benefits of these assets.
• The Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CIDSEL) delivered seven projects across Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Bangladesh, worth $1,260,000.

Operations

• Memberships and partnerships enabling access to professional networks supporting knowledge exchange and collaborative research:
  • The Talloires Declaration (TD) is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy into teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities.
  • The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification allows universities to demonstrate their commitment to the communities they serve and share good practices within the sector. Ten Australian universities, including UniSC, have signed on for the Australian pilot.
  • The Regional Universities Network (RUN) comprises seven universities situated in regional Australia. Established in October 2011, its members collaborate to support the growth of regional economies and communities.
  • Universities Australia (UA) serves as the voice for Australia’s universities. As the peak body for the sector, it advocates for the significant social, economic and cultural value of higher education and research within Australia and globally.
  • The Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Facility (QCIF) is a non-profit organisation that provides advanced digital infrastructure capabilities for research and innovation throughout Queensland and Australia.
  • Research Australia (RA) is the national alliance representing the entire health and medical research pipeline, from the laboratory to the patient and the marketplace.
  • Representing over 100 members from the life sciences ecosystem, Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) connects the industry with government and research organisations.
  • The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is the home of Australia’s most significant landmark and national infrastructure for research.
  • The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) provides pathways and networks for collaboration in nuclear science, engineering and related research fields both nationally and internationally.
  • The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre CRC is a consortium of universities and other research organisations, partnered with industry, that the Australian Government has funded to develop expertise and technologies in advanced telecommunications and IoT (internet of things) connectivity, intelligent satellite systems, and next-generation Earth observation data services.
  • The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) is an initiative that engages institutions of higher education with the United Nations to support and contribute to the realisation of the organisation’s purposes and principles.
  • UniSC is a member of the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR), an international network of dedicated higher education member institutions and affiliate associations focused on protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom globally.