Engagement with Policy Makers
As part of our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), we engage with policy makers such as government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to form policies and provide policy advice aligned to SDG themes.
Our involvement with boards, professions and industry associations allows us to purposefully input into national government policy and strategy development aligned to SDG themes to actively identify problems and challenges.
What we did in 2021
Industry Associations
Through our involvement and engagement with industry associations, we impact, provide advice for and inform policies aligned to SDG themes.
SDG 4: Quality Education
The Regional Universities Network (RUN) is a network of seven universities with headquarters in regional Australia and a shared commitment to playing a transformative role in their regions. Through their educational and research contributions to regional economics, social, cultural and environmental development, the RUN member universities play an important and distinctive role in advancing Australia's national prosperity, productivity and identity.
RUN was established in October 2011 and CQUniversity is one of the foundation members.
For further information visit the RUN website.
SDG 4: Quality Education
CQUniversity is a member of Universities Australia (UA), the peak body for the sector representing 39 member universities. UA provides policy advice, analysis, and media commentary on higher education matters. For more information about UA, view their strategic plan for 2017-2021.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Andrew Irving, Amie Anastasi, and Emma Jackson provide advice on the Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program technical sub-committee in relation to water, sediment and biological monitoring.
SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
CQUniversity is a member of many professional associations, represented by our Academic Leads including Deans or Head of Course for each discipline area. These organisations support Australian education and make submissions to government inquiries and implementing projects that improve the quality of education in Australia.
- Australian Council of Engineering Deans
- Australian Council of Deans of Education
- Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery
- Australian Council of Deans of Science
- Australian Council of Deans of Health Science
- Australian Universities International Directors Forum
- Australian Business Deans Council
- Victorian International Directors Forum
- National Association of Enabling Educators Australia
- National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium
- International Education Association of Australia
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council: this body is involved in matters pertaining to professional standards for Nursing and Midwifery. Moira Williamson, Dean of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences is a member of the Strategic Accreditation Advisory Agency Committee. Leeanne Heaton, Head of Course for the Bachelor of Nursing is a member of the Registered Nurse Accreditation Committee. See pages 76-81 for the full member list.
Government-created working parties
CQUniversity has input into Governmental policy development via membership on government-created working parties. These activities align to SDG themes such as SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 15 Life on Land.
Local & State Working Parties
SSDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The following Local and National Working Parties address matters aligned to the themes of the United Nations SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. Members of the CQUniversity team play an active role in these working parties.
Local Working Parties
Capricorn Enterprise (Kim Harrington, Board Member)
Advance Cairns (Jodie Duigan-George, Director)
Advance Rockhampton Committee of Rockhampton Regional Council (Kim Harrington, Committee Member)
National Working Parties
Advance Queensland Expert Panel (Professor Grant Stanley, Member)
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Qld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research was set up under an agreement between the Qld Government and the University, with the Centre to deliver research-informed practice which provides training and resources to practitioners in the domestic violence space
SDG 15: Life on Land
The following Local Working Parties address matters aligned to the themes of the United Nations SDG 15 Life on Land. Members of the CQUniversity team play an active role in these working parties.
Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
CQUniversity has been delivering on commitments under its Indigenous Engagement Strategy including the appointment of a First Nations Employment Coordinator within the Office of People and Culture and establishing a Working Group to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan.
Regional Development Australia working parties
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Regional Development Australia is an Australian Government initiative that seeks local input into policy development of Regional Australia. Members of the CQUniversity team actively participate in the following Regional Development Australia Working Parties:
- Regional Development Australia – Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday (Professor Pierre Viljoen, Committee Member)
- Regional Development Australia – Far North Queensland and Torres Strait Inc (Jodie Duignan-George. Committee Member)
- Regional Development Australia – Fitzroy and Central West (John Abbott, Deputy Chair)
QLD Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (QCDFVR)
The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research receives funding from the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women to undertake research into domestic violence.
Growing Central Queensland
Professor John Rolfe is the project manager on Growing Central Queensland. John presents to the steering committee on the progress of the project, and the progress on agricultural innovation projects which the respective joint organisations fund.
Expert commentary
As part of our purposeful involvement and engagement with policymakers, CQUniversity researchers and academics provide expert advice and commentary to external stakeholders and organisations on matters relating to the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Explore the examples below of the expert commentary provided by our team.
Climate change
- Steve Turton provides expert advice on weather and climate events and what Australia’s future looks like.
Education
- Ken Purnell, discusses the benefits of staggering school start times.
Business
- Ritesh Chugh discusses effective feedback in the workplace.
Indigenous commentary
- Dr Benjamin Jones discusses Australia's colonial past, the monarchy and Republicans, as well as what 'mateship' means to Australians.
- Jacob Deem and Susan Bird discuss the new research that reveals high support for a First National Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution.
Health
- Olasupo Owoeye had work cited by the Australian Federal Parliament in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill, Citing D Nicol & O Owoeye ‘Using TRIPS Flexibilities to Facilitate Access to Medicines’ (2013) 91(7) Bulletin of the World Health Organization 533-539). The work was cited as one of the academic works calling for some of the changes introduced by the bill.
- Olasupo Owoeye was the lead Consultant/Resource person for African Regional Intellectual Property Organization’ Seminar on using TRIPS Flexibilities for public health (2019).
- Dean J. Miller discusses the impact of LED face masks on sleep.
- Benjamin Veness discussed COVID vaccines for older Australians and ventilation masks for health care workers.
- Kelly Hennessy was interviewed for the discussion on the safety of teeth whitening.
Technology
- Dr Michael Cowling, a senior lecturer in education technology, discusses expiration dates on smart-devices and weighs in on technology and teaching.
- Ritesh Chugh discusses the cost of phone repairs and how to deal with water damage.
- Mahmoud El Khodr discusses international arrivals to Australia and digital passenger declaration systems.
- Amy Johnson discusses women and closed Facebook groups and the impact on the moderators.
- Dr Michael Cowling and Amy Johnson discussed the question- are phones designed to slow down over time.
- Amanda-Jane George discussed what could happen if machines could be inventors
- Steven Moore discussed space suit technology and limited stock for use
Media and Government
- Emma Turley discussed the UK government’s violence against women strategy
- Donna Lee Brien joined other experts to cast their eyes over the STELLA shortlist of contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and non-fiction which undertakes impressive trapeze acts across genre boundaries.
Sport
- Alex Russell talks about the future of the Melbourne Cup.
- Alexandra McEwan discusses the need for tracking of Greyhounds in the Racing Industry to ensure animal welfare standards and regulatory guidelines are being met.
Research related activity
Our academics and researchers have undertaken a range of research-related activity in collaboration with government departments. Explore the examples of the policy-focussed research undertaken in 2019.
Collaboration with Government Departments
SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
- The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research receives funding from the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women to undertake research into domestic violence.
- 10 000 Steps is a community health promotion initiative delivered by CQUniversity and funded by the Queensland Health Department.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program (PCIMP)
- As part of the PCIMP, CQUniversity is a member of the collaborative made up of industry, government and education specialist monitoring Port Curtis waterways, Gladstone Queensland. The PCIMP data and advice is utilised and considered by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection in the creation of Water Quality Objectives.
Fitzroy Partnership for River Health
- CQUniversity is a partner in and conducted research into ecosystem health for the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health a collective of government, agriculture, resources, industry bodies.
Fitzroy Basin Authority
- CQUniversity has participated in research via the Fitzroy Basin Authority (FPA). The FPA works closely with all levels of government to deliver environmental programs.
Gladstone Healthy Harbour
- CQUniversity is a partner in the Gladstone Healthy Harbour monitoring organisation which includes Government and Industry stakeholders in the health of the Gladstone Harbour.
SDG 15: Life on Land
- The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries fund the research position of Professor of Horticulture Science which is held by Professor Philip Brown.
- The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries worked with CQUniversity to research water quality impacts on sugar cane.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
We're proudly committed to the sustainability of our communities socially, environmentally and economically, an approach that is underpinned by the United Nations SDGs.

Student Activities
Explore where our students have been volunteering and contributing to projects.

Our policies and the SDGs
University policies that govern and guide our commitment .

Boards, associations and committees
CQUniversity has input into policy development aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals via membership on a range of industry, professional and government-related boards, associations and committees. A sample of the memberships is provided below.
Hospital and Health Service Boards
CQUniversity academics fulfil roles on a number of Hospital and Health Service Boards. These Boards provide input into health policy from a local perspective. These boards include:
- Mackay Hospital and Health Service Board (Leeanne Heaton, Board Member)
Other Board and Working Group Involvement by CQUniversity Staff
- Advisory Committees of the Australian Institute of Criminology research projects (Brian Sullivan, Member)
- ANMAC Midwifery Education Review Committee/Working Party (Bridget Ferguson, Member)
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (Moira Williamson, Member of the Professional Reference Group)
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) Strategic Accreditation Advisory Committee (Moira Williamson, Member)
- Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of QLD (Pammie Ellem, Board Director)
- Cancer Nursing Society Australia (Pammie Ellem, National Board Director)
- Central Queensland Clinical Council for the PHN (Primary Health Network) (Sonja Saluja, Member)
- COMPACT Consortium (Colleen Johnston-Devin, Member)
- Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand) (CDNM), Executive Committee (Moira Williamson, Member)
- Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce (Bridget Ferguson, Member)
- CRPS Awareness – The Purple Bucket Foundation, Our Recovery and Australian Pain Management Association (Colleen Johnston-Devin, Member)
- Mater Hospital Community Consultative Committee (Pammi Ellem, Member)
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India (Olasupo Owoeye, Resource Person)
- Nursing in the Community COI, Australian College of Nursing (Pammi Ellem, Communication Director)
- Parkinson’s Australia Carers Committee (Eileen Willis, Member)
- Paramedicine Accreditation Committee, Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Authority (Eileen Willis, Member)
- Queensland Statewide Persistent Pain Management Clinical Network Steering Committee (Colleen Johnston-Devin, Member)
- Queensland Persistent Pain Education Working Group (Colleen Johnston-Devin, Member)
- Queensland Nursing & Midwifery Executive Council (QNMExC) (Moira Williamson, Member)
- Queensland Child and Youth Clinical Network (Katrina Lane-Krebs, Advisory Member)
- Qld Health Working Party for the Development of the Maternal and Neonatal State-Wide Clinical Guidelines (Bridget Ferguson, Member)
- World Health Organisation (Olasupo Owoeye, Resource Person)
- Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) working group on the Higher Education Research Commercialisation IP Framework (Amanda-Jane George, Member)
- Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership - Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) aims to foster a world-class teaching profession, where teachers are leaders in the learning of school students across Australia. CQUniversity's former Provost (retired 2023), Professor Helen Huntley, was a Committee member of the Teacher Education Expert Steering Committee (TEESC). TEESC was formed to advise the AITSL Board on matters relating to initial teacher education programs including those that relate to implementation, maintenance and further development of the national approach. Refer to page 26 of the 2020-21 AITSL Annual Report for more information about the role of TEESC.
- Co-operation in Development (Australia) Incorporated – Olav Muurlink is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Innovation at CQUniversity and is chair of the management committee (board) of Co-operation in Development (Australia) Incorporated, an Australian international NGO building and running schools and kindergartens in remote and disadvantaged regions of Bangladesh. He is also Head of Country, Bangladesh, leading operations of the NGO in Bangladesh.
- Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee (Dr Gemma Mann, Member)
- BreastScreen Queensland Rockhampton Service LGBTIQ+ Advisory Group (Dr Gemma Mann, Member)
- Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs Council for Women and Families United by Defence Service (Amy Johnson, Member)
Qld Gov Sub-Committee for Skills and Training for Hydrogen (Steve Hall, Member)
Dr Linda Colley is an Associate Professor in Human Resources/Industrial Relations at CQUniversity and is the Chair of the Work Health and Safety Board. This role works with the Board to provide recommendations on matters relating to work health and safety to the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. The Work Health and Safety Board is an authority under the Queensland, Work Health and Safety Act and is a Queensland Government entity.
Olav Muurlink is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Innovation at CQUniversity and is advising the Queensland Police Commissioned Officers’ Union Of Employees regarding safe work practices for senior police decision-makers.
- Future of Aviation Reference Panel (Aruna Ranganathan, Doug Drury)
- Australasian Railway Association Rail Industry Group Committee (Colin Cole, Member)
- Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (Colin Cole, Member)
- Australian Space Agency’s Technical Advisory Group (Steven Moore, Member).
- Australian Standard Development Group (Dr Shah Neyamat Ullah, Member)
- IEEE Standard Association committee - Critical Infrastructure Protection initiative (CIPi)” lead by IEEE & IoTSec Australia (Dr. Biplop Ray, Member)
- Asset Management Council (Subhash Sharma, Australian Member)
- Queensland Government-Wide Bay/Burnett/Fraser Coast (WBBFC) Regional Forum (Dr Karen Menzie-Ballantyne, Member)
- National Advocate for Arts Education Council (Linda Lorenza, Councillor)
- Fitzroy Basin Association (Michael Thomson, Board Member)
- Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management (NRM) (Prof. Phil Brown, Member)