We produce reports that outline our commitment to sustainability. Explore the information available below.

Key documents

It is evident in these documents, our commitment to sustainability and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The following information highlights the key activities as outlined in the 2022 reports that align with each of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our culture of sustainability is underpinned by the commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which informs the sustainable impact agenda for a better global future.

In 2022, aligning with SDG 01: No Poverty, we provided over $3.6 million in urgent financial relief and scholarships to 1,320 domestic students identified as being from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Throughout 2022, 160 staff supported the CQUniCares fund through regular workplace giving contributions valued at more than $42 000. The 2022 CQUniCares Appeal raised a further $130 000 through collective generosity of more than 150 alumni, staff, students and friends of the University- enough funds to support at least 13 students in 2023. 

The University, 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.

Triple Helix Project joins with the Indonesian Government and aims to support long-term food security in Indonesia. The project will see our agriculture researchers work alongside primary producers, industry bodies, and government to develop and grow Indonesia's beef supply chains and production prowess.

Through the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, CQUniversity researchers are undertaking research and delivering programs that may save Australian households money by reducing food waste.

The following initiatives are outlined in the 2022 Annual Report and provide insight into the University’s commitment to Good Health and Wellbeing for students, staff, and communities.

  • Our physiotherapy and chiropractic students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2022 Homeless Connect event in Brisbane in May.
  • CQUniversity welcomed the first cohort of students in the University's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course as part of the Regional Medical Pathway with 16 students in Bundaberg and 17 in Rockhampton. Read more about this on page 5 of the Annual Report.
  • CQUniversity united with six other universities to launch the Manna Institute, an innovative virtual research and training institute that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rural, regional, and remote communities. Read more about this on page 6 of the Annual Report.
  • CQUniversity's 10,00 Steps program - led by Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland have joined forces encouraging Queenslanders to take on the '10000 Steps Challenge' to boost physical activity.
  • The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Micro-Credential program was a finalist in the Buy Queensland Supplier Awards in 2022. Read more about this on page 7 of the Annual Report.
  • Aged-care workforce program- A new industry-linked careers pathway program has been established at Maryborough State High School (MSHS), to develop a workforce pipeline program to meet the growing demand in the aged-care sector.
  • U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disability in the region.
  • The 'How to Change a Life' podcast launched in 2021 and continued to bring relevant and insightful content to listeners throughout 2022.

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. The 2022 Annual Report outlines some of the important aspects and changes made to ensure quality education was provided to students.

Embedding social innovation into the curriculum

Our 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.

At the end of 2022, more than 80 per cent of undergraduate courses included social innovation components and initiatives embedded into the curriculum. We have 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).

In 2022, CQUniveristy launched its new Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Leadership which prepares students to lead positive social change through design thinking, entrepreneurship, and disruptive innovation. 

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. Read more about how social innovation has been embedded in the curriculum on page 29 of the 2022 Annual Report. 

Innovative higher education

Within our 2022 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.

Other educational program examples outlined in the 2022 Annual Report

  • CQUniversity welcomed the first cohort of students in the University's Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course as part of the Regional Medical Pathway with 16 students in Bundaberg and 17 in Rockhampton. Read more about this on page 5 of the Annual Report.
  • CQUniversity became the first Australian university to offer an 'employment guarantee' to graduates from 2022 onwards. The guarantee offers domestic and international graduates free access to the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship if they have not found related employment within six months of completing their undergraduate degree. Despite the offer, no applications were received for the program for 2022, largely because of the huge graduate employment rates at CQUniversity. Read more about this on page 26 of the 2022 Annual Report.
  • In its fifth year, the University's ConnectAbility program continues to provide personalised support to young people with a disability to access tertiary studies across Central Queensland. Read more about this on page 27 of the 2022 Annual Report.
  • CQUniversity's alternative pathway and admission option, the Principal's Recommendation Scheme entered its fourth year of delivery in 2022 and saw more than 450 students receive early offers for higher education courses. Read more about this on page 27 of the 2022 Annual Report.
  • Opportunities for students to travel overseas for study and exchange programs resumed in 2022. In total, 87 students participated in global programs in 2022 which saw students attend various programs in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, New Caledonia, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Vietnam and Malaysia. Read more about this on page 28 of the 2022 Annual Report.
  • Many school and community outreach programs were run throughout 2022 across our many regional areas. Read more about these programs and activities here.

Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 05: Gender Equality, our university 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.  Our 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 report revealed that 72.5 per cent of professional roles and 54.9 per cent of academic roles at our university 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.

The 2022 Annual Report highlights some achievements made in gender equality at CQUniversity:

  • CQUniversity supported gender transitioning staff and students by providing access to basic transitioning support guides. The guides provide staff and students with information on how to change name and gender within CQU systems, getting identity documents certified and accessing transgender healthcare in regional Queensland. Read more about this here. View the student guide here.
  • The Indigenous Girls Academy program was launched in 2022 at two Central Queensland schools to support school attendance, completion and pathways for First Nations girls in Years 7-12. 

We also provide 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.
  • The Future Female Conference is an annual event to connect and empower international students in Victoria is going virtual and hopes to reach its biggest audience yet despite COVID-19 challenges. The sessions are Transition into Workplace Culture in a Globalised World and a Mentoring Masterclass with education and business leaders including International Business Development Manager Alison Gutierrez. 
  • The ‘Women in Agri-tech’ project will create and foster a strong network of females who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas. They will be guided and mentored by female researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop engaging learning resources which will, in turn, inspire girls in the classroom to realise the opportunities available to them. 

For more information about gender equity programs and mentoring available through CQUniversity click here

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

We 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 was names the second most energy efficient University in Australia as a result of the Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association (TEFMA) annual benchmarking survey. A contributing factor to this result was reduction in water consumption by 15 mega liters of water. 

Frenchman's Creek at Rockhampton was the site of a project involving students working towards 'Brining Nature Back' by supporting bush regeneration. 

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

In 2022, the University has completed or started work on a number of projects relating to the Affordable and Clean Energy Goal. These projects include:

  • Smart HVAC Upgrades - While undertaking a project to replace old and failing air conditioning plant on the Rockhampton campus the project was designed to include new pipework that would allow a number of buildings to be joined together allowing for efficient use of the HVAC chillers and equipment. The system now allows a larger existing chiller to operate in its most efficient range and provide cooling water to three buildings instead of one. Other chillers can be used as back up and for support in high temperature days. We have also installed a new chiller that is new and claims 0% ozone depletion.
  • Energy Reduction – We have continued to replace high energy lights with LED lights across our campuses and adopt other practices and opportunities to reduce our energy consumption (GJ/m2). Our overall energy results for 2022 were an overall reduction of 36% based on 2015 figures. This exceeds the target of 20% that was set for 2022.
  • 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.
  • We have 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.
  • We have 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.
  • The Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energies provides world-class research, training and support to the emerging hydrogen and renewable energy industries in Central Queensland.
  • CQUniversity is set to enhance Gladstone's role in transforming Australia's advanced manufacturing sector after officially unveiling Gladstone's newest industry training and research hub - The School of Manufacturing. It will provide Gladstone with a world-class training facility to support the skills needs of future workforces within the advanced manufacturing and hydrogen and renewable energy industries.

Aligned to the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, the University's People and Culture Directorate implemented ongoing programs and new initiatives to move us forward in the areas of workplace health and safety, employee and industrial relations, Indigenous employment, equity, salaries, superannuation, systems, and professional development. Increasing our 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 university community. This includes nutrition seminars, skin checks, cancer prevention/detection services.

The Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC) undertakes 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.

CQUniversity continued to work closely with unions and the University’s Office of Indigenous Engagement (OIE) on engaging with Indigenous staff to enhance support networks for current staff as well as providing more employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to join the University. Read more about this on page 32 of the 2022 Annual Report.

CQUniversity became the first Australian university to offer an 'employment guarantee' to graduates from 2022 onwards. The guarantee offers domestic and international graduates free access to the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship if they have not found related employment within six months of completing their undergraduate degree. Despite the offer, no applications were received for the program for 2022, largely because of the huge graduate employment rates at CQUniversity. Read more about this on page 26 of the 2022 Annual Report.

 

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 2022 Annual Report (page 11), we invested $18.9 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 2022 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

Our 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.

Other industry, innovation and infrastructure program examples outlined in the 2022 Annual Report:

  • In 2022 CQUniversity progressed the strategic relationship with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance and TAFE Queensland with the Queensland Future Skills Partnership. The QFS Partnership is fast tracking the development and delivery of automated technology pathways, skill sets and qualifications for the mining equipment, technology and services sector. Read more about this on [age 2 of the 2022 Annual Report.
  • Researchers from CQUniversity's Institute of Future Farming Systems are working extensively with industry partners throughout the Wide Bay region as part of the Hinkler AgTech Initiative to implement, monitor and report on technological innovations that are designed to improve on-farm productivity and efficiencies. 
  • CQUniversity secured $74 million in critical infrastructure funding commitments from the Federal Government including $50million to complete the Coastal Marne Ecosystems Research Centre in Gladstone, and $9million to construct the Mackay Electric Vehicle and Energy Training Centre. Read more about this on page 2 of the 2022 Annual Report. 
  • The Digital Innovation Skills Hive (DISH) was launched in 2022 in partnership with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. DISH is located at the Resources Centre f Excellence in Mackay and will showcase and promote initiatives that support the collective efforts of industry players and education providers in addressing the challenges of existing and emerging digital technologies and their impacts on work, workforces and communities. Read more about this on page 5 of the 2022 Annual Report. 
  • Construction was completed and the doors were opened to the new School of Mining and Manufacturing in North Rockhampton and Gladstone.

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. 

Our commitment to reducing inequalities for students and communities can be shown through the following partnerships and initiatives which are reported on in the 2022 Annual Report.

  • Our physiotherapy and chiropractic students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2022 Homeless Connect event in Brisbane in May.
  • CQUniversity united with six other universities to launch the Manna Institute, an innovative virtual research and training institute that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rural, regional, and remote communities. Read more about this on page 6 of the Annual Report.
  • U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disability in the region.
  • The 'How to Change a Life' podcast launched in 2021 and continued to bring relevant and insightful content to listeners throughout 2022.
  • CQUniversity was recognised for its excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Regional, Remote and Rural education at the 2022 Australian Rural Education Awards.
  • The University’s longstanding widening participation and school outreach program, CQUni Connect, continued to deliver educational aspiration programs to more than 11 000 students across 48 secondary schools throughout the Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Burnett, and Far North Queensland regions. Through the program, CQUniversity worked closely with school, community and industry partners to deliver regionally relevant and targeted subject area experiences. The program also delivered Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) vouchers to more than 460 students who faced financial barriers to applying for university.
  • CQUniversity launched the Indigenous Girls Academy program at two Central Queensland schools to support school attendance, completion and pathways for First Nations girls in Years 7 to 12. 
  • Now in its fifth year, the University’s ConnectAbility program continues to provide personalised support to young people with a disability to access tertiary studies across Central Queensland. 

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, our focus on social innovation continued throughout 2022.  Our university 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.

We are passionate about supporting industries and communities in regional and remote areas of Australia.

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

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 University footprint to deliver socially innovative activities, programs and partnerships including:

The following examples demonstrate our commitment to reducing waste on campus and in communities. Read more about these in our 2023 Sustainability Report

  • We reduced energy usage across the University by 36%
  • Two new buildings were delivered and met the requirements of 5-star rating
  • Stage 1 recycling rollout was completed across the University. On-site providers have adopted plastic free delivery and recycling practices
  • Various business units across the University have adopted the 'containers for change' program which helps by recycling containers and giving the funds to charity organisations. 
  • High energy lights have been replaced with LED lights across our campuses
  • The University started a campaign to reduce the amount of printed paper generated across the entire business. One example of savings of printed paper is from our School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, from CG91 Medical Sonography. Introduction of a laptop system for each ultrasound machine in the sonography labs is used for mock and real assessment marking, as well as provision of weekly student feedback and tutor resources across nine units within CG91. This will prevent the printing out (paper, water and energy wastage) of approximately 48 documents/student. The total of this for the discipline will be around 225,000 printed pages (approx. 12,000 kg!) per year of less waste, as well as saving the resources used to produce it. 
  • We have implemented changes to our graduation ceremonies to adopt more sustainable practices including offering cold water bubblers and recyclable paper cups instead of plastic water bottles to guests and online graduation booklets instead of printed copies. 
  • We continued the whole-of-university sustainability awareness campaign, Ditch the Disposables, across our national footprint. The Ditch the Disposables campaign aims to reduce the number of single-use plastics used by staff and students 
  • We maintained our commitment to a cleaner, healthier tomorrow through our Platinum Business Supporter membership with Clean Up Australia 
  • 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, we have demonstrated commitment to reducing energy use across our campuses. 

We are reducing our energy footprint and carbon footprint s in the following ways:

  • In 2022, CQUniversity was a winner in the Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards for our Preparing for the Unimaginable project.
  • Noosa Tree-planting- Funded by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) along with supporting partners' Noosa Council' Zero Emissions Noosa' Greenfleet' and Noosa Landcare, the CQUniversity-led study aims to understand why many people particularly young people' suffer ongoing feelings of hopelessness and despair about the future due to climate change and how they can overcome their concerns by taking action. Tree planting is a positive action that can be undertaken relatively simply but is often overlooked in its importance in the fight against climate change. The event is part of an iconic revegetation project in Noosa Shire with results also contributing to a large study into eco-anxiety across Australia.
  • Bringing Nature Back to Frenchman's Creek- This project allows participants to study local flora and fauna, control exotic weeds and support bush regeneration by planting native plants.
  • We have continued to replace high energy lights with LED lights across our campuses and adopt other practices and opportunities to reduce our energy consumption (GJ/m2). Our overall energy results for 2022 were an overall reduction of 36% based on 2015 figures. This exceeds the target of 20% that was set for 2022.
  • We have 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.
  • We have 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.
  • The Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energies provides world-class research, training and support to the emerging hydrogen and renewable energy industries in Central Queensland.
  • CQUniversity is set to enhance Gladstone's role in transforming Australia's advanced manufacturing sector after officially unveiling Gladstone's newest industry training and research hub - The School of Manufacturing. It will provide Gladstone with a world-class training facility to support the skills needs of future workforces within the advanced manufacturing and hydrogen and renewable energy industries.

Our 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) – our 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.
  • CQUniversity launched a new seagrass research and education facility in partnership with the Konomie (North Keppel) Island Environmental Education Centre (KIEEC), and Woppaburra TUMRA. The facility will see school students and Traditional Owners assist in the delivery of important marine research being conducted on Konomie Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
  • 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.  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.
  • 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, our University 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.
  • 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.
  • 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:

  • Noosa Tree-planting- Funded by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) along with supporting partners' Noosa Council' Zero Emissions Noosa' Greenfleet' and Noosa Landcare, the CQUniversity-led study aims to understand why many people particularly young people' suffer ongoing feelings of hopelessness and despair about the future due to climate change and how they can overcome their concerns by taking action. Tree planting is a positive action that can be undertaken relatively simply but is often overlooked in its importance in the fight against climate change. The event is part of an iconic revegetation project in Noosa Shire with results also contributing to a large study into eco-anxiety across Australia. 
  • A community event held at Horseshoe Lagoon in Woorabinda included native tree-planting, water quality testing, birth watching, and learning about land and water life and creatures. This event was run in conjunction with the Woorabinda Rangers, Greening Australia, BMA, Darumbal Rangers, Birdlife CQ, and the Department of Environment and Science. 
  • Bringing Nature Back to Frenchman's Creek- This project allows participants to study local flora and fauna, control exotic weeds and support bush regeneration by planting native plants. 
  • Prawn Industry Technology Workshops
  • Bundaberg Agriculture Forum - CQUniversity showcased innovative farm technology and provided Bundaberg growers with information on the latest knowledge, technology and practices available in the industry at the recent Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System Field Day.
  • Northern Genomics Field Day- CQUniversity researchers presented at the field day held at Belmont Research Station. 
  • Farm Safety Events CQ- Community members had the opportunity to refresh their farm safety skills at the Next Generation Farm Safety Roadshow that visited Rockhampton, Blackwater and Emerald. Delivered by CQUniversity in partnership with AgForce, the sessions covered the hazards and dangers on farms that are particularly important for children as well as ways in which to mitigate risks and increase confidence to undertake safe practice.
  • Emerald Field Day- The latest varietal performance data and agronomy insights for dual-purpose peanuts, sesame and mungbeans was available to Central Queensland farmers at a field day in Emerald.
  • Wildlife Law and Protection in Vietnam- The tour partners with Education for Nature Vietnam and Vietnam National University School of Law and allows CQUniversity law students to understand first-hand the legal, cultural and environmental context of wildlife protection and illegal trafficking.

Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, the 2022 Annual Report (Page 12) outlines the university’s governance including our 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 the University’s interests. The Council Charter governs Council operations and requires members to comply with our employee Code of Conduct. 

Our committee structure includes twelve committees that sit under the Council, these are listed on page 14 of the 2022 Annual Report along with the key achievements of these committees for 2022.  

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

Outlined in the 2022 Annual Report and the 2022 Sustainability Report are the different collaborations and programs that are actively facilitating or participating in to support tackling the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. CQUniversity has continued to strengthen existing partnerships within the community and industry and was proud to partner with and support more than 150 organisations in 2022. The organisations share similar values to CQUniversity when it comes to education access, community engagement, regional development, and philanthropy. 

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 2022 Annual Report or the most recent Sustainability Report.

Ashoka U

We are being recognised as Australia’s first and only Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U, an exclusive global social innovation group of only 42 education institutions across the world

Great Keppel Island Hideaway

CQUniversity entered a partnership with the Konomie (North Keppel) Island Environmental Education Centre (KIEEC), and Woppaburra TUMRA. Through the partnership, CQUniversity researchers from the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) will work with KIEEC and Traditional Owners to involve school students in seagrass regeneration activities. The partnership will also allow for CQUniversity students such as those studying environmental science, digital media or conservation and land management to visit Konomie Island as part of their coursework and assessments.

Columboola Solar Farm

The Columboola Solar Farm will supply clean and affordable energy to most of our sunny Queensland locations and will allow it to operate more sustainably. This partnership will see 50 per cent of the energy on our Queensland Campuses come from renewable sources. 

Digital Innovation Skills Hive (DISH)

CQUniversity and BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) partnered to launch a Digital Innovation Skills Hive (DISH) in Mackay. Located at the Resources Centre of Excellence, the DISH will showcase and promote initiatives that support the collective efforts of industry players and education providers in addressing the challenges of existing and emerging digital technologies and their impacts on the current state and future of work, workforces, and communities.

Woorabinda Regional Council and Yoonthalla Services

We 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 through 2022.

Australian College of Kuwait

Researchers from our University 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).

Further examples of partnering for goals with both local, national, and international stakeholders can be found in the 2022 Annual Report.

External reports

Workplace Gender Equality Agency Public Report 2022

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency Public Report 2021 provides a summary of our 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. To view CQUniversity's summary, visit the WGEA website, select the 'Analyse Business Specific Trends' and search for Central Queensland University.