The Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research is a multidisciplinary research centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The Centre undertakes strategic and applied research with core strengths in food systems research, sustainable community livelihoods, human health and nutrition, and climate change adaptation.
The Centre undertakes partnership-based research with Pacific, other Australian, and international agencies that seek to create sustainable development outcomes in the Pacific. The Centre has an ongoing commitment to strategic Pacific institutional capacity building, regional engagement and enhancing Pacific research impact. Our research directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically those highlighted below.
The Centre was initially established in 2019, building on a prior Pacific Research Group established in 2015. Since 2019, the Centre has secured over $17 million in competitive external grants in a range of research areas. The Centre is on a growth trajectory, having secured $5 million in grants between 2023 and 2024.
Our people
In 2025, the Centre has 49 members including 17 UniSC academics and professional staff, 16 adjunct-academics representing a range of academic institutions and agencies based in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Pacific region, and 16 HDR students. In the last four years we have successfully graduated 13 HDR students who have undertaken Pacific related studies.
We have also directly supported eight students in the Pacific Islands to gain a higher degree by research (Masters or PhD) from leading Pacific universities. We have directly engaged with 24 undergraduate students at UniSC through our Summer Research Scholarship program, which provides students with the opportunity to engage in a research program over the summer break and provides the Centre with a pipeline of potential HDR candidates.
Reflecting the complexity of the Pacific region, its challenges and opportunities, our people have diverse research disciplinary expertise, with participating academics aligned to the School of Health, the School of Science, Technology and Engineering, and the School of Business and Creative Industries.
The Centre has a strong commitment to capacity building and mentoring for early career researchers. We are also committed to enabling new Pacific research engagement opportunities for our team.
Our mission
To create a better tomorrow
ACPIR undertakes high quality impact-orientated research in close partnership with our Pacific partners, to address the key challenges and opportunities in the Pacific. In doing so, the Centre seeks to provide a positive contribution to wellbeing, resilience and environmental, social, economic, and cultural sustainability in the Pacific Islands. Through research excellence and impact, the Centre seeks to provide a significant contribution to UniSC's profile and reputation in the Pacific region, and beyond.
The Centre seeks to provide a supportive and enabling environment for emerging and established academics, researchers, and HDR students across a diverse discipline-base, with a shared vision to create positive sustainable outcomes and impacts for the Pacific region and its peoples. Our partnerships are focused on catalysing transformational change and enhancing all dimensions of resilience within the Pacific Islands. The Centre is committed to co-designing research projects and developing evidence-based solutions with Pacific partners that are driven and shaped by local priorities.
The Centre fosters innovative and genuine partnerships that bring together researchers, educators, practitioners, communities, and other stakeholders with expertise in a range of disciplines important to Pacific peoples and their environment, to work toward solutions to address the compelling development challenges and opportunities of our time.
The Centre works across 22 Pacific Island countries and territories and Timar Leste. The Centre has strong and growing networks within the Australian and Pacific Island university sectors, and with a broad range of technical agencies, NGOs and government organisations. Our emphasis on developing individual and institutional capacity enables innovation and promotes the transformative changes that the region urgently needs.
Nutrition smart food systems
Led by Associate Professor Sarah Burkhart and Professor Steven Underhill
Nutrition-smart food systems prioritise the production, accessibility, and consumption of nutritious, culturally suitable foods to enhance both food and nutrition security, while considering sustainability and resilience against environmental and economic challenges. We undertake partnership-based multidisciplinary research that integrates agriculture, fisheries, nutrition, education, and health sectors to develop food systems based solutions for improved diets and health outcomes across the Pacific Islands.
Our work extends across the food system and includes:
- production, value chains, markets and agribusiness development
- improving accessibility to healthy fresh food
- novel and traditional foods
- food environments, with a focus on school food and nutrition settings
- nutrition education, behaviour change and dietary intake
- food loss and waste
- food systems resilience
Health and communities
Led by Associate Professor Libby Swanepoel and Dr Matt Mason
The Health and Communities stream at ACPIR is dedicated to strengthening the wellbeing of Pacific Island populations through community-driven, culturally relevant, and self-sustainable approaches. Our interdisciplinary research integrates health, education, and social systems to enhance individual and collective resilience, empowering Pacific communities to thrive amid environmental, social, and economic challenges.
Through multi-disciplinary, partnership-based research, we collaborate with donors, civil society, government, academia, and communities to drive meaningful and lasting health outcomes. By addressing the social and environmental determinants of
wellbeing - such as access to quality healthcare, education, and culturally appropriate support systems- we co-develop sustainable solutions that create real impact. Fostering community-led solutions and building on Pacific strengths, the Health and Communities theme contributes to healthier, more resilient populations across the region.
Our work spans a broad range of focus areas, including:
- community health and well-being,
- traditional knowledge and culturally rigorous approaches to health,
- resilient and inclusive healthcare systems,
- youth and women's empowerment in health and leadership,
- mental health and psychosocial support,
- maternal and infant health and wellbeing,
- urbanisation and changing health landscapes,
- health equity and policy development.
Climate change and adaptation
Led by Professor Patrick Nunn and Roselyn Kumar
Most people living or researching in the Pacific Islands region would put 'climate change' as perhaps the single greatest livelihood stressor of the 21st century - a ranking that seems set to continue as this century unfolds. Climate change covers a multitude of single stressors, principally sea-level rise, stronger tropical cyclones, and rising temperatures, each of which impacts particular aspects of livelihoods. Taken together, these present formidable and ongoing challenges to water and food security, coastal living, and economic growth. Understanding the precise nature of these challenges in particular parts of the Pacific Islands region (for not all parts are the same) is something worthy of the efforts of ACPIR members wherever they are.
Aquaculture-based livelihoods and marine resources
Led by Professor Paul Southgate and Dr Thane Militz
Aquaculture is the world's fastest-growing food-producing sector and the fastest-growing primary industry sector in the lndo-Pacific. It is recognised as part of the solution to regional food security, but also has important roles in providing community livelihood opportunities, in supporting conservation efforts including restocking, habitat regeneration and marine protected areas, in reducing fishing pressure on coastal and freshwater resources, in the captive breeding of desirable and rare aquarium species, and in bringing economic benefits through domestic sales and exports.
ACPIR's aquaculture-based livelihoods research team combines science, economics and social science to develop industries and programs that are profitable, sustainable and culturally appropriate. Key aspects include a well-established and enduring network of regional research partner agencies and institutional capacity building, supporting long-term development.
Our research focuses on the following themes:
- Improved and novel aquaculture systems,
- Developing aquaculture-based livelihoods,
- Building sustainability into aquaculture practices
- Aquaculture-based community enterprise development,
- Improving regional aquaculture capacity
Centre leadership
Structure and Personnel
The Centre's leadership team have made recognised and significant impacts in their respective research fields. Our leadership team are responsible for strategic research leadership, institutional partnerships, Centre profile and reputation, academic mentoring, and encouraging collaboration and engagement. The leadership team aims to build and expand the capacity of Centre staff, researchers, and HDR students, and foster a positive, supportive and collegial research environment.
Our leadership team is comprised of a Centre Director, two Deputy Directors (one leading Research and Policy and the other leading our Pacific Partnerships) and the Centre Manager.
The Centre Director is appointed for three years and reports directly to the DVCR&I. The Centre Director is the cost centre manager and accountable for the overall Centre performance, reputation, reporting, and risk management.
Our Deputy Directors play an important role in ensuring our research is world-class and at scale, and is founded on sustainable strategic regional partnerships.
The Centre Manager leads the day-to-day operations, communications, internal initiatives and performance and risk reporting of the centre.
Our Research Theme Leaders provide critical research and discipline leadership to our four key research areas, ensuring engagement, research excellence and impact. Theme leaders advise the leadership team on matters relating to strategic research direction, provide academic leadership to their theme area, are the first point of contact for potential new members and adjunct appointments, and play a key role in mentoring early-career researchers.
As the Centre continues to expand, we plan to appoint a series of Co-ordinators to oversee critical aspects of Centre operations. Co-ordinators work across all research themes, ensuring cohesion across Centre activities. At present, the Centre has appointed an HDR Co-ordinator, who oversees the HDR experience within the Centre, including professional development, skills training, and encouraging high-quality research output.
The Centre is also developing an Advisory Committee, who will provide strategic advice and guidance to the Centre on matters relating to Pacific engagement and cultural sensitivities.
Statement of duties
Centre Director
Provides strategic leadership to ensure the Centre maintains and expands its international and national reputation for outstanding research and impact. The Director provides a clear vision for the Centre, promotes a positive and collaborative research culture, seeks to expand and enhance the Centre's research capacity, and ensures strategic alignment with the University's Strategic Plan and Research Plan.
The Director works closely with the DVCR&I and other members of the University's senior leadership team to ensure effective centre performance and financial sustainability and communicates new and emerging strategic opportunities to the Centre membership.
The Centre Director is also a member of the University's Research Committee for the term of their appointment.
Deputy Director - Research and Policy
Enhances the Centre's research quality and reputation, identifies and implements initiatives that support and improve the
Centre's research performance. The Deputy Director - Research and Policy promotes and fosters a robust research culture based on research excellence and ensures an effective, research-enabling environment that is positive, collegial, collaborative, and outcome-focused. They work with the centre's HDR coordinator to provide strategic direction and HDR leadership, concentrating on improving the HDR research environment and overseeing reforms and development of the HDR student experience.
Deputy Director - Pacific Partnerships
Builds new strategic partnerships with the Pacific and strengthens our existing regional partnerships. The Deputy Director - Pacific Partnerships enhances the Centre's Pacific profile and regional reputation through key regional networks, promotes best practice in Pacific development, and co-ordinates Centre representation at key Pacific regional and international development events, workshops, and fora. They also co-ordinate the Centre's input into Pacific and regional development policy.
Centre Manager
Provides administrative and coordination support to the Centre to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively. The Centre Manager improves and streamlines Centre operations to help grow our research and engagement portfolio and performance. They are responsible for leading our internal initiatives, local engagement, Centre communications, and manage our connections with the UniSC Pasifika Association, other UniSC Research Centres and relevant external agencies.
The Centre Manager provides high-level research support to the Director and Centre leadership team, and more broadly to Centre members, to ensure effective management of research programs and projects.
Advisory Committee
To ensure the Centre maintains a high-level of Pacific connectivity and impact, we will establish an external advisory committee. The Committee will consist of Pacific Island experts, who will provide technical and strategic advice to the Centre leadership team and theme leaders on matters associated with the Centre's strategic direction, profile and reputation, partnership opportunities, regional impact, strategic focus and emerging regional opportunities and challenges. The Committee also plays a role in ensuring that the Centre's work is culturally sensitive and is meeting the needs of the Pacific. The Advisory Committee's role does not extend to centre performance monitoring or financial oversight. The Advisory Committee is envisaged to include a representative from UniSC Pasifika Association and have a strong Pacific Islands
representation.
2025–2028 Strategic objectives
The Centre's strategic objectives have been developed to enhance our research capacity, reputation and impact, and to ensure operational alignment with the UniSC Strategic Plan 2025-2028: For a Better Tomorrow.
The Centre aims to undertake high quality research and development that informs and assists Pacific Islands communities and industry, government, and community partners; and makes a positive and productive contribution to knowledge, foregrounding sustainable practices.
The Centre seeks to maintain and expand its national and international profile and reputation through high-quality academic, applied and interdisciplinary research, and institutional partnerships. While research is at the core of the Centre's mission, the Centre also recognises the importance of Pacific capacity building, regional development and engagement, in achieving its Pacific reputation and impact aspirations. The Centre recognises that it needs to adopt a strategic and targeted approach to its Pacific research and development, reflecting available university and Centre resources. This is achieved through focusing Centre investment into four core themes.
Objective one: Research excellence
Increase our research productivity, performance and impact. Ensure the Centre's research portfolio tackles the pressing challenges and opportunities impacting communities and the environment in the Pacific.
Measures of success
- Increased external research grant income.
- Diversified research grant income sources.
- Increased our involvement in large, interdisciplinary grants.
- New strategic academic and adjunct appointments that strengthen and expand our research capacity.
- Instilled a culture of strong research performance and excellence within our team.
- More opportunities for our HDR students and ECRs to participate in new research projects
Objective two: Strategic partnerships
Build on our existing project-based partnerships, create new strategic institutional and regional partnerships aligned to our core research themes. Deepen our alignment and capacity to contribute to key regional research priorities in the Pacific Islands to enhance impact and our Pacific regional reputation.
Measures of success
- New strategic Partnership Agreements with leading Pacific research organisations.
- Increased representation on key Pacific bodies and at regional forums.
- Stronger connections with Pacific regional bodies.
- Enhanced awareness of the Centre within the Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific university sectors to strengthen our research partnerships
- Diversified funding streams through new collaborations and partnerships.
- More opportunities for our HDR students and ECRs to participate in new research projects
Objective three: Profile and awareness
Enhance the Centre's local, regional and international profile through increasing our visibility and presence at key local, regional and international events, contributing to strategic policies, supporting University initiatives, and strengthening relationships with current and potential funding partners to ensure the Centre is front of mind for new Pacific funding opportunities.
Measures of success
- Increased awareness within the University's professional units, schools, institutes, and research centres of the Centre's activities and opportunities for wider Pacific engagement.
- Greater awareness within the Moreton Bay region of the University's Pacific capabilities and opportunities for HDR projects, especially within the Pasifika diaspora in the region.
- Ensured our impact in the Pacific region is effectively documented and actively communicated.
- Disseminated our research in the media, educational, industry and community contexts to showcase our capabilities to a range of audiences.
- Increased our contributions to relevant Pacific and development policies and dialogues.
- Strengthened our presence at the UniSC Moreton Bay campus.
- Partnered with the UniSC Pasifika Student Association to improve Pacific Island undergraduate student outcomes at the University.
- New communication products to better promote Centre achievements developed and disseminated to relevant local and international partners.
Objective four: Our people
Build a positive, supportive and collegial research environment, and enhance engagement with Pasifika students, academics, and researchers. Provide ongoing research training and development opportunities for our HDR students and early-career researchers to generate long-term sustainability in the Centre's research capacity.
Measures of success
- Increased numbers of Pasifika students enrolled in HDR programs associated with the Centre.
- Recruited increased numbers of Pasifika academics and adjuncts at UniSC.
- Provided at least one targeted skills development opportunity for our HDRs and ECRs annually.
- Developed staff mentor programs.
- New opportunities to deepen UniSC teaching and research engagement in the Pacific, capitalising on the University's strengths in elite sports, nursing, tourism, the environment, and sustainability.
- Developed targeted opportunities for Pasifika undergraduate students to engage with the Centre on research projects and work integrated learning opportunities.
- Developed targeted internships and career development opportunities for our HDR students
- New Pacific engagement opportunities for undergraduate students through schemes such as the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan.