Sustainability Reporting

In 2021, aligning with SDG 01: No Poverty, CQUniversity provided over $2.5 million in urgent financial relief to 1320 domestic students identified as being from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

CQUniversity through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs” has partnered with Nepal-based social enterprise, Seven Women, for project collaboration and global study experiences. Seven Women has helped thousands of disadvantaged and disabled women through education, training, health and income generation programs.

The Seven Women range is available through the Bookshop thanks to a collaboration with the Office of Social Innovation, and every purchase supports women in Nepal through education, training, health and income-generation programs.

CQUniversity physiotherapy and chiropractic students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2021 Homeless Connect event in Brisbane in May.

In January 2021, CQUniversity signed an historic agreement with the Indonesian Government to deliver the Triple Helix Project which aims to support long-term food security in the region. The project will see CQUniversity agriculture researchers work alongside primary producers, industry bodies, and government to develop and grow Indonesia's beef supply chains and production prowess.

The immediate impact of the COVID-19 outbreak left many international students in a vulnerable position due to limited access to family support and resources. In line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 02: Zero Hunger, Free Foodbank services were established on campuses to support international students who were financially impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and continued throughout 2021. This initiative was delivered in partnership with food rescue charity, Second Bite.

In 2020, CQUniversity Melbourne campus published a cookbook of staff and student recipes to raise funds for SecondBite to continue the much-needed services that the organisation provides.

Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 03: Good Health and Wellbeing, the year 2020 and 2021 will forever be remembered as a years that the world changed and this encouraged a heightened focus on the importance of Good Health and Well-Being for students, staff and communities.

The following initiatives are outlined in the 2021 Annual Report providing insight into CQUniversity’s commitment to Good Health and Wellbeing for students, staff and communities.

• As well as abiding by the necessary rules and regulations to keep a Covid-19 Safe Environment, CQUniversity also provided extra services for the community to help combat the spread of Covid-19 and provide safe initiatives encouraging good health and well-being where possible.
• CQUniversity health clinics pivoted to deliver telehealth services and clinical placement experiences.
• CQUniversity’s 10,000 Steps program and Health and Wellbeing Queensland joined forces to encourage Queenslanders to take on ‘The Billion Steps Challenge’ to boost physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The following initiatives are outlined in the 2021 Annual Report:
• CQUniversity developed a community garden to provide opportunities for staff, students and community members to take time for mindfulness and non-work/study activities.
• CQUniversity physiotherapy and chiropractic students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2021 Homeless Connect event in Brisbane in May. Read more on P. 8, 2021 Annual Report.
• CQUniversity launched the 'How to Change a Life' podcast in March 2021.
• In August 2021, CQUniversity researcher Corneel Vandelanotte was awarded $1.1 million to develop a physical activity chatbot driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve workplace productivity in sedentary office workers.
• A CQUniversity clinical project that uses electrical stimulation to improve the lives of those living with spinal cord injuries was named a finalist in the Bionics Challenge 2021. Led by CQUniversity lecturer in Neurological Physiotherapy Dr Vanessa Bochkezanian, the Electrical Stimulation (E-Stim) treatment aims to increase muscle mass, reduce spasticity and improve overall physical health.

As a leader in higher education, our approach to teaching and education aligns with the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. 2021 presented unique and challenging circumstances for our students as they navigated the impacts of a worldwide pandemic.

The 2021 Annual Report outlines some of the important aspects and changes made to ensure quality education was provided to students despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pivoting Education Delivery In Response To COVID-19

As a direct result of the challenges and health directives associated with COVID-19, CQUniversity quickly and successfully transitioned face-to-face teaching to online delivery for all course offerings including our Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses and Start TAFE Now programs.

As industry leaders in online education, the University was well-placed to provide an excellent online service to students during this time and was able to implement the Academic Business Continuity Plan, which provided the framework to guide all related planning and decision making to ensure the integrity of academic learning; fairness to students; and maintenance of quality course delivery and learner engagement.

A range of support mechanisms were implemented or extended for students during this period, including payment plans; international support case management and welfare checks; learning support through the Academic Learning Centre; Library Online and Studiosity; student support services including wellbeing, accessibility and advocacy; CQUniCares emergency grants; and the establishment of a “Not So Distant Hub” on the Student Portal to facilitate Mentor Coffee Catchups, wellbeing workshops, resource sharing and academic support. The actions helped to reduce the disruptive impact of the pandemic on students.

Embedding  Social Innovation Into The Curriculum

CQUniversity’s commitment to social innovation education means that its graduates have the capabilities and mindset to positively shape their world. It also means that they are equipped with ‘future of work' skills, such as creativity, innovation and collaborative leadership.

More than 35 per cent of courses have social innovation components and initiatives embedded into the curriculum. CQUniversity has continuously expanded the activities and opportunities available, to develop this social innovation mindset. For example, many courses include iChange as an introduction to social innovation during the first year of study (such as the Bachelor of Psychology and the Bachelor of Criminology).

Students across many courses also have opportunities to think about entrenched social issues, explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and learn how to creatively and effectively problem-solve with their peers. The Office of Social Innovation (OSI) supported the development of extra-curricular activities such as the Festival of Change (FoC), a virtual event held over three days, to engage staff and students in social innovation-related activities.

Other Social Innovation work undertaken in 2021 included:

• a dedicated page of Social Innovation resources on the University’s StaffNet site
• a human-centred Design session at the Student Leadership Conference
• a Social Innovation Education Community of Practice
• changemaker campus collaborations with staff from Ashoka U Change Campuses in Singapore and South Korea
• the iActivate short course launched through the Centre for Professional Development
• certified as a social enterprise by Social Traders, making CQUniversity the first and only Australian university certified as a social enterprise

Innovative Higher Education

Within our 2021 Annual Report, you will find more information about how our approach to streamlining work-integrated learning provides a supportive, quality experience for our students and increases their job readiness on graduation. And how some of our academic schools, such as the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, commenced projects that blended work-integrated learning with social innovation.

We also introduced a number of new courses, and exit awards are now an integral part of our new coursework degrees.

Transformative Learning

In 2019 CQUniversity committed to refreshing its course offerings and providing the support required to innovate its learning and teaching practices, as part of a broader university transformation to enhance and expand the entire student experience.  A major element of this transformation is the development of an engaging student-centred curriculum that delivers seamless education from school to doctoral studies, characterised by the embedding of authentic work-based learning and addressing the evolving needs of workforces of the future. Our comprehensive course content equips students with the skills and knowledge to help them succeed in a world of emerging technologies allowing for transformative learning to take place. The redesign will ensure students will have the same experience for students studying on campus or online. To implement the changes, a review of all undergraduate courses was undertaken in 2019.

As a result, our students experience a more consistent web experience as we enhanced our online learning technologies resulting in faster and more responsive student platforms.  Some additional activities include:

• A focus on improved analytics to support student participation and completion through the implementation of the CQUni Success and Student Activity Monitoring initiatives bring together knowledge and expertise from across the University to support students in their personal academic journey through to completion.  The CQUni Success provides academic and student advice staff with key demographic, academic and unit engagement data about students for the current term.  Armed with this information, users can facilitate personalised success strategies for students at scale.
• Student Activity Monitoring (SAM) is designed specifically for academics with an active teaching role to provide a view of higher education student engagement with resources and content in the student online dashboard, Moodle. This allows users to quickly identify specific groups of students within Moodle to engage with and target with specific interventions to support learner progress.

Other Educational Program Examples Outlined In The 2021 Annual Report:

• CQUniversity's Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQMC) hosted a summer spectacular for school students in the region to hone their theatre skills with guest director Dale Pengelly.
• Mackay Hospital and Health Service partnered with CQUniversity and Australian Training Works with support from Northern Queensland Primary Health Network to launch a new healthcare careers pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The program recruited 20 Year 11 students to a school-based traineeship in 2021. The program has been named Budyubari Bidyiri Kebi Stapal, which translates to Big Dreams, Small Steps.
• More than 100 high school students from the Isaac Region were the first students to participate in a future-focused training partnership delivered by CQUniversity, BMA, and TAFE Queensland. The training in digital and autonomous technologies was part of a pilot program designed by the Queensland Future Skills Partnership (QFSP) to prepare Queenslanders for the emerging skills demands and employment opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0. The partnership was also recognised as the 'Outstanding Training Initiative of the Year' as part of the Resources Training Council's 2021 Innovative Skilling Awards.
• CQUniversity launched a new health careers partnership in the Wide Bay region with Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services and Maryborough State High School. The partnership allows students in Year 11 to enrol in a Certificate II in Health Support before entering a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance while completing Year 12.
• In August 2021, applications opened for the foundation year of the CQUniversity Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) which forms part of the new Regional Medical Pathway partnership with UQ and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services.
• CQUniversity partnered with the Rockhampton Regional Council through their economic development initiative, Advance Rockhampton, to launch a bespoke business and entrepreneurship training program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• In November 2021, CQUniversity Australia and O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), India, signed an MoU that will see the two universities provide education pathways for students in both countries.
• In December 2021, CQUniversity signed an MoU that will see the establishment of a national university alliance with CDU and JCU. The northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA) will work together to deliver education and research that aims to help in the development and long-term success of Northern Australia.

Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 05: Gender Equality, CQUniversity is committed to ensuring the workplace provides equal opportunities for all employees.

This approach has been recognized through the Universities Australia Gender Equity Report which measures the percentage of women in professional and academic roles at Australian Universities.  CQUniversitys’ outstanding results were recognized through the Annual Gender Equity Report that measures the percentage of women in professional and academic roles at Australian universities. Data from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Skills and Employment report revealed that 72.5 per cent of professional roles and 55.1 per cent of academic roles at CQUniversity were filled by women. Both figures are significantly higher than the Australian sector average of 66.4 per cent for professional staff and 47.7 per cent for academic staff.

CQUniversity also provides opportunities that encourage female students to build skills through training events and initiatives. Examples of these opportunities are:

• Advancing Young and Mature Women in STEM+C Education

WinTech (Women in Technology) STEM club is committed to improving gender disparity in Science Technology, Engineering and Maths + Computing (STEM+C) education, and in doing so STEM+C workshops are hosted every year for young and mature women across the community. These workshops are conducted in response to bringing change in STEM education, making female students more interested and more confident in taking up STEM+C subjects as their career.

• Future Female Forum Event

In partnership with the Council of International Students Australia, this event encourages female participation in STEM careers with the aim of equipping future females with knowledge and inspiration to bridge the gap between local and international communities as we work towards a fairer world. CQUniversity also provided mentors to students as part of this conference event which was held entirely online due to COVID-19.

• QMentorship - QMusic Women in Music

CQUniversity Associate Lecturer and Creative Arts Technician Patty Preece has been named as a mentor to support young women in the music Industry. The QMentorship initiative encourages more women to start their own business and attain positions of leadership.

Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, CQUniversity Sustainability Projects Report card for SDG 6 (page 20, Sustainability Report) outlines the Universities progress on key projects.

CQUniversity installed two hydro panels to demonstrate how the new renewable energy technology can be harnessed to produce clean, great tasting water and provide drinking water independence in remote and regional areas.

New rainwater tanks with a capacity of 200,000 litres and electric pumps were purchased and installed across the campus to offset the usage of council-supplied potable water.

CQUniversity Researcher, Dr. Adam Rose, specializes in the impacts of floods on the ecological health risks to human health and water infrastructure and has recently published a paper outlining the health affects of drinking water with manganese present for pregnant mothers and infant children.

Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, CQUniversity Sustainability Projects Report card for SDG 7 (page17, Sustainability Report) outlines the Universities progress on key projects related to this SDG.

In 2021, CQUniversity has completed or started work on a number of projects relating to the Affordable and Clean Energy Goal. These projects include:

• Review of the HVAC systems for energy improvements, new control technology, new equipment and replacement of cooling towers to reduce health risk and water waste. This review is happening continuously and this improvise the reliability, efficiency and increases a number of sustainable benefits.
• Upgrade of LED to 24/7 operating areas on campuses including the Library, Labs and Security Offices.
• Conducting continuous energy metering data and minor improvements. This data collection enables the ability to monitor energy use and trends in order to identify faults and opportunities to improve.
• CQUniversity has recently committed to a Solar Energy Deal that will see 50% of its energy for the Queensland campuses sourced from renewable solar, committing to a pathway for a reduction of about 9,000 tonnes of CO2-e offset annually
• CQUniversity has established a Clean Energy Academy to build on its research strengths in renewable and eco-friendly sources of energy, power generation, smart grids and distributed intelligent systems and environmental and applied economics issues.
• CQUniversity has partnered with Planet Ark Power and Griffith University on research into micro-grids which will allow future consumers to reduce their dependence on the follis-fuel powered grid and in the process reduce green-house gas emissions and cut energy costs.
• In March 2021, CQUniversity, Sumitomo Australia (Sumitomo), Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), Gladstone Regional Council (GRC), and Australian Gass Networks (AGN) as part of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) joined forces through the signing of an MoU to explore opportunities to develop a hydrogen ecosystem in Gladstone. The ecosystem will initially pursue domestic offtake and mobility solutions before moving to enable large-scale export.
• In September 2021, CQUniversity secured $2.1 million in Commonwealth funding to research and develop hydrogen applications for Central Queensland's burgeoning regional hydrogen industry.

Aligned to the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, CQUniversity's People and Culture Directorate implemented ongoing programs and new initiatives to move CQUniversity forward in the areas of workplace health and safety, employee and industrial relations, Indigenous employment, equity, salaries, superannuation, systems, and professional development. Increasing CQUniversity’s capacity and ability to meet its current and future needs is the Directorate’s primary focus.

The People and Culture Team proactively promote and participate in the wellness activities provided not only to staff and students but to the wider CQUni community. This includes nutrition seminars, skin checks, cancer prevention/detection services.

In July 2021, CQUniversity opened the Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC). CRESC will undertake research focused on the development and enhancement of economic systems, the tourism industry and supply and value chains- all of which are vital to regional and rural communities.

Investment in infrastructure is important to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities. This work is key for aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal 09: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Outlined in the 2021 Annual Report, CQUniversity invested $18.4 million into facilities and infrastructure.

$1.5 Million has been invested into the Emergency Response and Innovation Centre. This centre based in Townsville features immersive simulation technology that provides compelling visual and aural effects that blur the lines between real and simulated situations. This Centre will work with the emergency management sector and communities to create a more resilient Queensland through the development of innovative solutions and capacity building.

Identified in the 2021 Annual Report, innovative companies have been created, either university controlled entities or non-controlled entities, these entities include:

Mask-Ed International Pty Ltd

MASK-ED™ (KRS simulation) is a high fidelity simulation technique which is informed by a teach process and involves realistic body silicone props work by an educator to create a new identity for simulation teaching.

DataMuster Pty Ltd

CQUniversity’s Precision Livestock Management system, DataMuster is a fast, simple and accurate tool for automatically monitoring and managing the performance of your herd, right down to the individual animal.

Hortical Pty Ltd

HortiCal was initiated as a joint venture between CQUniversity and Colour Vision Systems (CVS) to commercialise their interests in non-invasive fruit-sorting technology.

Yayasan Pendidikan Tanah Ratu

Yayasan Pendidikan Tanah Ratu is a not-for-profit foundation established in Jakarta, Indonesia in June 2021.

Other Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Program Examples Outlined In The 2021 Annual Report:

• In March 2021, CQUniversity, Sumitomo Australia (Sumitomo), Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), Gladstone Regional Council (GRC), and Australian Gass Networks (AGN) as part of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) joined forces through the signing of an MoU to explore opportunities to develop a hydrogen ecosystem in Gladstone. The ecosystem will initially pursue domestic offtake and mobility solutions before moving to enable large-scale export.
• CQUniversity, Sumitomo Australia (Sumitomo), Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), Gladstone Regional Council (GRC), and Australian Gass Networks (AGN) as part of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) joined forces through the signing of an MoU to explore opportunities to develop a hydrogen ecosystem in Gladstone. The ecosystem will initially pursue domestic offtake and mobility solutions before moving to enable large-scale export.
• In July 2021, CQUniversity opened the Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC). CRESC will undertake research focused on the development and enhancement of economic systems, the tourism industry and supply and value chains- all of which are vital to regional and rural communities.
• In August 2021, CQUniversity researcher Corneel Vandelanotte was awarded $1.1 million to develop a physical activity chatbot driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve workplace productivity in sedentary office workers.
• A CQUniversity clinical project that uses electrical stimulation to improve the lives of those living with spinal cord injuries was named a finalist in the Bionics Challenge 2021. Led by CQUniversity lecturer in Neurological Physiotherapy Dr Vanessa Bochkezanian, the Electrical Stimulation (E-Stim) treatment aims to increase muscle mass, reduce spasticity and improve overall physical health.
• In September 2021, CQUniversity secured $2.1 million in Commonwealth funding to research and develop hydrogen applications for Central Queensland's burgeoning regional hydrogen industry.
• Professor Pierre Viljoen was appointed as the inaugural BMA Chair of Automation and Future Work Skills at CQUniversity. The role aims to identify research and development opportunities that will be critical in driving the development of new innovative training qualification and courses, in response to automation in the workplace and related skills.
• In September 2021, CQUniversity secured $2.1 million in Commonwealth funding to research and develop hydrogen applications for Central Queensland's burgeoning regional hydrogen industry.
• In November 2021, CQUniversity announced a partnership with DU, JCU and the CRCNA to jointly deliver flagship research activities that address water infrastructure and security knowledge gaps required to inform key decision-making.
• CQUniversity helped launch the new Central highlands Social Enterprise Alliance (CH SEA), after six months of work to inspire and promote social entrepreneurship across the region.

At CQUniversity, we believe that education is for all and we actively promote opportunity and inclusiveness for students through our courses, support services and innovations.

Aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 10: Reduced Inequalities, our innovative Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2022-2024 was developed to influence the way the University performs its business to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic, health and social opportunities.  

CQUniversity’s commitment to reduce inequalities for students and communities can be shown through the following partnerships and initiatives which are reported on in the 2021 Annual Report.

• The furthering of CQUniversity’s strategic partnership with BMA, which provided support for CQUniversity’s First Nations Disaster Management research project. BMA also continued to deliver ongoing funding support for student scholarships, research projects and university engagement with Indigenous communities.
• The ongoing delivery of the Whanu Binal Indigenous Entrepreneur program in partnership with Arrow Energy.
• A new partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to deliver Indigenous girls’ academies in Mount Morgan and Baralaba schools over the next three years.
• Continued delivery of STEM outreach activities at STEM Central in Gladstone through a funding partnership with Australia Pacific LNG.
• The establishment of a partnership with the Oasis Townsville to support veterans through education delivery.
• The renewal of CQUniversity’s partnership with Salaam Baalak over a three-year period to deliver continued support to the Salaam Baalak Trust to support street children in New Delhi with education, accommodation, and university scholarships.
• Within the Mackay region, CQUniversity partnered with Kutta Mulla Gorrina Inc to formally establish the Independent Non-State Special Assistance School for disadvantaged young people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth
• CQU actively expanded our presence by partnering with and supporting new study hubs in under-serviced Australian Communities. Partners in this project include Taree Universities Campus, Country University Centre and Uni Hub Upper Spencer Gulf, Yoonthalla Services and Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council.
• The Indigenous Research higher Degrees Academy will assist the University to increase Indigenous participation in research and, more importantly, assist candidates to achieve strong levels of cultural, pastoral, and academic support that is critical for success.
• Mackay Hospital and Health Service partnered with CQUniversity and Australian Training Works with support from Northern Queensland Primary Health Network to launch a new healthcare careers pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The program recruited 20 Year 11 students to a school-based traineeship in 2021. The program has been named Budyubari Bidyiri Kebi Stapal, which translates to Big Dreams, Small Steps.
• CQUniversity physiotherapy and chiropractic students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2021 Homeless Connect event in Brisbane in May. Read more on P. 8, 2021 Annual Report.
• CQUniversity partnered with the Rockhampton Regional Council through their economic development initiative, Advance Rockhampton, to launch a bespoke business and entrepreneurship training program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• CQUniversity Australia and O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), India, signed an MoU that will see the two universities provide education pathways for students in both countries.

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, our focus on social innovation continued throughout 2021.  CQUniversity embodies a purposeful commitment to the sustainability of its communities socially, environmentally and economically by producing new knowledge and global leaders who deliver innovative, solutions-focused outcomes and drive change to address real-world challenges.

CQUniversity is passionate about supporting industries and communities in regional and remote areas of Australia.

Programs and initiatives facilitated by CQUniversity aligning with SDG 11, include:

• Woorabinda Art Exhibition-  Outlined on Page 32, 2021 Annual Report, The Woorabinda Art Exhibition at CQUniversity Emerald was held in March 2021 and showcased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in collaboration with Central Queensland Regional Art Services (CQ RASN).
• Regional Medical Pathway  The Regional Medical Pathway was launched with The University of Queensland, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS). The RMP will help to address the critical issue of ensuring regional health workforces are equipped to meet future needs.
• Central Highlands Social Enterprise Project CQUniversity partnered with Central Highlands Community Services to establish the Central Highlands Social Enterprise project.
• CQUniversity’s Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) hosted a summer spectacular for school students in the region to hone their theatre skills with guest director Dale Pengelly.
• CQUniversity helped launch the new Central highlands Social Enterprise Alliance (CH SEA), after six months of work to inspire and promote social entrepreneurship across the region.
• CQUniversity opened the Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC). CRESC will undertake research focused on the development and enhancement of economic systems, the tourism industry and supply and value chains- all of which are vital to regional and rural communities.
• At the end of 2021, CQUniversity was announced as the project management partner of the Savannah Way Arts Trail. The project, funded by Arts Queensland’s Regional Arts Services Network and Regional Arts Development Fund; the Year of Outback Tourism Events Program through Department of Premier and Cabinet; and the Monsoon Trough fund through the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, engaged with professional artists to work with six communities along the Savannah Way in Far North Queensland to create geographically and culturally significant permanent public art pieces, that will become tourism drawcards. Artists Glen Manning and Kathy Daly have been engaged to work on the arts trail during 2022.

Social Innovation at CQUniversity

In 2021, CQUniversity continued to lead in the area of social innovation by delivering programs and activities to engage students, communities and industry in change-making activity. Further described on Page 34, 2021 Annual Report, the Initiatives included:

• Student participation in the Big Idea social enterprise design competition (in which a CQUniversity postgraduate team won for their social enterprise idea)
• The development of the self-paced and ultra-flexible iActivate course that guides aspiring and early-career social entrepreneurs from idea to impact, the delivery of the annual Festival of Change (delivered entirely online this year)
• the national workshop series Social Innovation through an Indigenous Lens.

This continued focus on driving and inspiring change has also led CQUniversity to be reaccredited as Australia’s only Ashoka U Changemaker Campus. Ashoka U, an exclusive international network of universities committed to social innovation, enterprise and impact, has recognised only 45 members worldwide. Read more on Page 41, 2020 Annual Report.

Change Champs and Social Innovation Commitment

Through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs”, the University’s Office of Social Innovation has shown a commitment to engaging with communities to address entrenched social issues.

The University partnered with a wide range of organisations, businesses and individuals across the CQUniversity footprint to deliver socially innovative activities, programs and partnerships including:

• the Festival of Change (FoC)
• The Big Issue’s social enterprise competition
• Seven Women  partnership and global study experience project collaboration
• India’s Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) charity and sponsorship of the city walk
• iActivate short course developed in collaboration with Impact Boom that aims to highlight sustainable solutions for community issues.

In line with the SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, CQUniversity’s commitment to reduce consumption is reported in both the 2021 Annual Report and the 2022 Sustainability Report.

Within our Sustainability Report, you can read about our Waste, Energy, and Water consumption and production hard and soft targets. You can also see how we have contributed and focused on these areas to make improvements and move towards making and establishing more responsible and sustainable practices across the University. This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

The following examples demonstrate CQUniversity’s commitment to reduce waste on campus and in communities (additional examples can be found in the 2022 Sustainability Report p.14):

• CQUniversity delivered a whole-of-university sustainability awareness campaign, Ditch the Disposables, across its national footprint. The Ditch the Disposables campaign aimed to reduce the number of single-use plastics used by staff and students (p. 34 – 2021 Sustainability Report)
• CQUniversity has ‘stepped up’ its commitment to a cleaner, healthier tomorrow by becoming the first university to join Clean Up Australia as a Platinum Business Supporter and we will be continuing our support to the organisation. (p. 14 – 2022 Sustainability Report)
• Rockhampton Regional Council adopted a new waste strategy 2020‐2030, to become a “zero‐waste” community by 2050, diverting 90% of waste from landfill. DFM Sustainability team worked closely with the Rockhampton Regional Waste and Recycling team to bring new waste management and commercial composting technologies to the region, aligned with their long term plan to achieve zero waste by 2050 (p. 15 – 2022 Sustainability Report).

Aligning with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action, CQUniversity has demonstrated commitment to reducing energy use across our campuses. More information on CQUniversity’s commitment to Climate Action can be found in the 2022 Sustainability Report (Page 10).

CQUniversity is reducing its energy footprint in the following ways:

• In 2020 CQUniversity entered into a long term energy contract for most of our campuses in Qld. The contract provides CQU with energy with 50% of renewable energy sources.
• Department of Facilities Managements’ (DFM) Sustainability Team undertook a Hydro Panel demonstration project as a part of showcasing new sustainability technology and innovation in the drinking water supply and consumption area. It demonstrates how renewable energy can be harnessed to produce clean, great‐tasting water and provide drinking water independence in remote and regional areas.
• DFM Projects and Sustainability team has undertaken a Water Monitoring and Measuring Project for the CQUniversity Rockhampton North campus. The project aims to install IoT (Internet of Things) enabled water meters at the key areas to measure and monitor water usage. This project uses innovative technology and is trialled for the first time in CQUniversity.

More information on projects and initiatives undertaken in 2021 by CQUniversity can be found in the 2022 Sustainability Report

CQUniversity’s commitment to SDG 14: Life Below Water is demonstrated through the number of projects and initiatives developed to encourage protecting and enhancing aquatic ecosystems. Examples of these initiatives are provided below and are explained in the 2021 Annual Report and the 2022 Sustainability Report.

• Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (CMERC) - CQUniversity Australia’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has been established to work with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for our unique coast and marine environments. The CMERC is working closely with Gladstone Ports Corporations, Indigenous and school groups to undertake cutting edge research.
• Project Pioneer Trials for Land Management Practises - Pilot trials were conducted as a part of a collaboration between the Project Pioneer Team and CQUni Researchers to improve land management practices to deliver cleaner runoff water to the reef. CQUniversity researchers compared water run‐off from properties managed under regenerative grazing principles with those of neighbouring properties that are not yet subject to regenerative land management.
• Smart Irrigation Project For Cairns Parks - Under the Cairns Regional Council’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, the University is working on smarter irrigation for Cairns parks which aims to save water and protect the reef.
• Island Classroom - CQUniversity Environmental Science and Horticulture students will gain invaluable experience in an 'island classroom' environment at the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, thanks to a unique partnership between the University and Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
• The Drain Buddies project led by Dr. Angela Capper at  CMERC, shared in $1 million worth of Queensland Government grants to deliver a project that will modify and install microplastic traps across Rockhampton and Livingstone shires, with monitoring to determine where the littering is occurring.  CQUniversity Environmental Science and Horticulture students will gain invaluable experience in an 'island classroom' environment at the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, thanks to a unique partnership between the University and Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
• Researchers at CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) have been working with passionate citizen scientists to engage communities and regenerate ecologically important seagrass meadows. Their flagship citizen science project involves engaging community volunteers to collect seagrass flowers so that seeds can be germinated and transplanted to regenerate existing meadows and establish new ones.
• The Sea Flowers: growing community engagement for seagrass restoration project is being implemented at intertidal seagrass banks within Gladstone, Bundaberg, and the Sunshine Coast.
• CMERC also works closely with the Gidarjil Development Corporation as part of the Land and Sea Rangers program. The partnership with Gidarjil provides benefit to the overall project as it allows researchers to learn about and apply traditional ecological knowledge and practices and how they can combine them with western science.
• Researchers from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Queensland, CQUniversity and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) NSW Fisheries are collaborating on a Fisheries Research and Development (FRDC) co-funded research project on mud crab populations in Queensland
• Critical to the Harvest Strategy for the Qld Mud Crab Fishery are processes for monitoring and assessing fishery performance.
• CMERC are working with nature Investigations for Sea Wall Designs in the Port of Gladstone.  This project investigates designs for seawalls to create hard and soft substrate intertidal habitats within the Port of Gladstone, with a particular focus on working with nature, where habitat creation is incorporated into part of the final design.
• CQUniversity have conducted Research and Assessment of Yellow Chat (Capricorn subspecies) population and associated marine plain habitat on Curtis Island (2020-2025).
• CMERC are working on a project that is prioritising seagrass restoration in the Whitsunday Islands. The aim of this project was to collate baseline mapping, connectivity, present distribution, and habitat suitability of the seagrass communities of the Whitsunday Islands, to support resilience-based management and guide restoration activities.

Our Sustainability Report outlines a number of targets relating to the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land. In particular, our Biodiversity targets relate to increasing green land area with the expansion of native plant species and reporting against a land development plan, and our Estate and Building Environment targets relating to best industry practices to achieve 5 green star building standards and increase renewable energy sources across our estate.

Examples of programs and initiatives relating to the Life on Land SDG are below and explained further in the 2021 Sustainability Report.

• CQUniversity Conservation and Land Management students worked with Great Keppel Island to undertake revegetation and land management projects including weeding, tree planting across the island. Read more on page 26, Sustainability Report.
• CQUniversity Environmental Science and Horticulture students are gaining valuable experience in an 'island classroom' environment at the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, thanks to a unique partnership between the University and Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
• Two CQUniversity researchers were awarded prestigious Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships- to evaluate dietary supplements that reduce methane emissions by using cutting-edge technology to efficiently add these compounds into the livestock water supply; and to produce transport-grade liquid fuel from landfill mixed-waste and establish an optimal commercial mixed waste-to-fuel value chain

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, CQUniversity outlines in the 2021 Annual Report (Page 12) the university’s governance including the CQUniversity Council and its membership. The council consists of 16 participatory bodies from different areas in the university including elected student members, elected non faculty staff and elected faculty staff, as well as external community representation from schools, businesses, government and community representatives.

Council members are duty-bound to act honestly and with integrity; exercise due care, skill and diligence in their duties; make appropriately informed decisions; and to act always in CQUniversity’s interests. The Council Charter governs Council operations and requires members to comply with CQUniversity’s employee Code of Conduct.

CQUniversity committee structure includes twelve committees that sit under the Council, this are listed on page 14 of the 2021 Annual Report along with the key achievements of these committees for 2021.

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, CQUniversity’s work towards partnering with other universities, community organisations and government bodies to provide meaningful work to develop best practice on working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Outlined in the 2021 Annual Report and the 2022 Sustainability Report are the different collaborations and programs that CQUniversity is actively facilitating or participating in to support tackling the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Examples of the partnerships and linkages in place to address the Sustainable Development Goals are listed below, further information on more partnerships can be found in the 2021 Annual Report or the most recent Sustainability Report.

Ashoka U

CQUniversity being recognised as Australia’s first and only Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U, an exclusive global social innovation group of only 45 education institutions across the world (Page 34, 2021 Annual Report)

Great Keppel Island Hideaway

Partnering with Great Keppel Island Hideaway, the “island classroom” agreement will see students and researchers work on real-world projects that contribute to the environmental sustainability of a busy tourist drawcard on the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.

Columboola Solar Farm

The solar farm will supply clean and affordable energy to most of CQUniversity’s Queensland locations and will allow it to operate more sustainably. This partnership will see 50 per cent of the energy on CQU’s Queensland Campuses come from renewable sources.

Bakrie University

CQUniversity opened its first Australian university centre in Indonesia, in partnership with Bakrie University in Jakarta (Page 4, 2021 Annual Report).

Woorabinda Regional Council and Yoonthalla Services

CQUniversity signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with Woorabinda Regional Council and Yoonthalla Services to partner on a range of initiatives to create more sustainable communities through partnership.

Australian College of Kuwait

Researchers from CQUniversity and the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) collaborated on six research projects in the engineering discipline, and three research grants funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) (Page 28, 2021 Annual Report).

Yurika

CQUniversity partnered with Yurika to undertake the Regional and Remote Microgrid feasiblity study.  The study was funded by the Australian Government under the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Funds.

Cairns Regional Council

Under the Cairns Regional Council’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program, the University is working on smarter irrigation for Cairns parks which aims to save water and protect the reef.

Central Highlands Community Services

CQUniversitys' Office of Social Innovation and Central Highlands Community Services (CHCS) unveiled the Central Highlands Social Enterprise Project at CQUni’ s Emerald Campus‐ Strengthening social enterprise to boost the Central Highlands community.  Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, through its program Tackling Tough Times Together, is funding the Central Highlands Social Enterprise Project.

Rockhampton Regional Council

Rockhampton Regional Council adopted a new waste strategy 2020‐2030, to become a “zero waste” community by 2050, diverting 90% of waste from landfill.  CQUniversity worked closely with the Rockhampton Regional Waste and Recycling team to bring new waste management and commercial composting technologies to the region, aligned with their long term plan to achieve zero waste by 2050 (Page 15, Sustainability Report).

Further examples of partnering for goals with both local, national and international stakeholders can be found in the 2021 Annual Report.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency Public Report 2021 provides a summary of CQUniversity's gender composition of the workforce, gender composition of governing bodies and other gender equality matters that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality.