Sustainability Reporting

In 2024, CQU provided over $3 million in urgent financial relief and scholarships to over 2000 domestic students identified as being from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Throughout 2024, over 180 staff supported the CQUniCares fund through regular workplace giving and one‑off contributions valued at over $50 000. The CQUniversity Annual Appeal raised more than $26 000 to benefit student scholarships, sea ranger training, and equipment and education for the U-BEACH project. 

CQUniversity continues to support the Delhi-based Salaam Baalak Trust, providing educational and cost-of-living expenses to these former street children of India. 

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 Fresh Food Pantry Project has been launched as a pilot initiative on CQUniversity’s Melbourne and Sydney campuses, which support a community of nearly 5000 international students.

The project features regular pop-up stalls across Term 2 and 3, and students can register to stock up for free on culturally-appropriate fresh fruit and vegetables.

The following initiatives are outlined in the 2024 Annual Report and provide insight into the University’s commitment to Good Health and Wellbeing for students, staff, and communities.

• Course delivery teams also continued to embed community outreach activity into some course units in allied health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Oral Health.
• CQUniversity and six other universities run 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.
• 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. In 2024, this project was named Universities Australia’s (UA) ‘Shaping Australia Awards’ Community Champion Award.
• CQU introduced of Mindwaves 2.0, an updated mental health and wellbeing strategy designed to support students and staff, building on the achievements of earlier initiatives.
• CQU renewed the Regional Medical Pathway (RMP) partnership, ensuring continued medical training in regional Queensland and providing a local pathway for students to become doctors.
• A new Public Health Research Centre was approved in 2024 and launched in 2025. The Centre will focus on improving health equity and wellbeing in regional, rural, and remote communities.
• Sitting under the Appleton Institute, a new group, HealthWise – specialising in combating health misinformation and the promotion of health literacy – was established.
• The CQU initiative ‘Early Recognition of and Response to Deterioration in the Older Adult’ project began delivery to aged care workers in the Bundaberg region.
• CQU’s Nursing course entered the QS World University Subject Rankings for the first time, ranking in the top 200.
• CQU began offering a preparation program exclusively online to assist internationally qualified registered nurses to undertake the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA’s) Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).
• The Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) Gambling and Racing Commission awarded the 2024 Survey on Gambling in the ACT to CQU’s Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory (EGRL) team. 

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 following initiatives are outlined in the 2024 Annual Report and provide insight into the University’s commitment to providing quality education:

• The CQUniversity Graduate 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. The course has been specifically designed to give students an opportunity to complete a qualification that will provide them with additional knowledge and leadership skills that will be valued by prospective employers.
• CQUniversity's alternative pathway and admission option, the Principal's Recommendation Scheme entered its sixth year of delivery in 2024.
• The Retention Equity Program was implemented and consolidates past efforts into a cohesive, evidence-based approach. The program focuses on key areas such as student support, onboarding processes, academic design, cultural inclusion, vocational education and data-driven systems.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL), a cornerstone of the university’s educational framework, played a pivotal role in supporting graduate employability with 9652 WIL placements successfully completed in 2024.
• Through the regional management model, Associate Vice-Presidents led efforts to ensure courses and training programs remain aligned with emerging industry demands. This approach drove the development of initiatives that responded to local needs and contributed to broader long-term regional development.
• Many school outreach programs were run throughout 2024 across Queensland. Over 393 engagement events, the outreach team aimed to inspire educational aspirations, particularly for prospective students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• CQU continued to support regional and remote communities through Regional University Study Hubs (RUSHs), reinforcing its leadership in delivering higher education access for students in geographically isolated places.
• The ‘First Nations Education and Student Success Strategy 2024-2028’ was launched, which outlines strategic measures to enhance outcomes for First Nations students.
• The ‘Future Digital Delivery Framework’ was launched in 2024, which outlines a multi-year strategy for enhancing physical and digital environments to support an immersive and flexible on-campus experience that adapts to evolving staff and student needs. 

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.

Gender Equality for Staff
CQUniversity is proud to demonstrate gender equality across our workforce, with women well represented at every level of the organisation. Women make up 54.4% of academic staff, 73.7% of professional staff, 64.4% of research staff, and 52.2% of VET educator staff. Overall, 64.8% of CQUniversity staff are female, reflecting our commitment to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where women thrive in teaching, research, leadership, and professional roles.

Gender Equality for Students
CQUniversity also promotes gender equality within our student community, with women comprising 59.2% of the total student body in 2024. To ensure women are equally represented across all fields, we actively support female participation in traditionally underrepresented areas such as STEM, agriculture, and trades through a range of targeted programs and initiatives, including:

• 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
• Women in Agri-tech project – a project that aimed to create and foster a strong network of female teachers who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM, and entrepreneurship in regional, rural, and remote areas.
• Women in STEM –  with only one-quarter of students studying STEM in Australia being women, we aim to inspire young women to pursue careers in science through programs and events through STEM Central. Events such as these work to change society's gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of women in STEM.
• Women Who Weld- The program aims to build gender diversity in the workplace and address Australia's trade skill shortage by exposing young women to welding.

Find out more about gender equity programs and mentoring we have available.

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

Highlights in 2024 include:

• 17% reduction in water consumption from 2023.
• 100+ native trees planted
• We have continuously promoted water conservation across our campuses, resulting in an 8% decrease in water consumption per person (staff and students), from 10.8kL in 2022 to 9.9kL in 2023. This improvement reflects the impact of water-conscious initiatives across campuses. Although total water usage only saw a 1% reduction, going from 150,973kL to 149,295kL, the per-person efficiency highlights the effectiveness of these conservation efforts.
• Our Rockhampton North campus features 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.
• Rainwater tanks with a capacity of 200,000L and electric pumps are installed across the campus to offset the usage of council-supplied potable water.
• Frenchman's Creek at Rockhampton was the site of a project involving students working towards 'Bringing Nature Back' by supporting bush regeneration.
• A CQUniversity-led ‘living seawall’ research project is helping ensure coastal habitats at Fisherman’s Landing, near Gladstone, thrive and survive.
• Researchers from the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre attended community events throughout the year to promote sustainable water practices and stewardship of our marine environments. 

Aligned to the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, CQUniversity demonstrates commitment through its staff, students and research. 

Our Staff

• CQUniversity employees are encouraged to pursue VET or higher education qualifications. More than 77% of staff are now studying for, or hold at least one academic qualification, exceeding the target of 75%.
• CQUniversity staff receive an Engaged Service Leave entitlement (equivalent of one working day) to volunteer within their community, at an organisation of their choice. In 2023, staff took 583.3 total hours of engaged service leave which is equivalent to 80.7 days spent volunteering for different causes and initiatives within the University’s many regions.
• CQUniversity conducted a series of voluntary, confidential focus groups that focused on workloads and flexible working arrangements. The findings of these groups is informing the development of a workload management guideline, as well as the Workplace Flexibility framework. 

Our Students

• The CQUniversity Graduate Guarantee, now in its second year, also 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. The course has been specifically designed to give students an opportunity to complete a qualification that will provide them with additional knowledge and leadership skills that will be valued by prospective employers.
• CQUniversity placed second in Australia for median full-time salary in the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS).
• The University’s commitment to industry engagement and graduate career outcomes is also evident in its ongoing focus on Work Integrated Learning (WIL), with 42 bachelor‑level courses now including an embedded WIL component. In the past year, there were 9652 higher education WIL placements recorded.
• CQUniversity’s Social Impact team delivered multiple workshops across regional Queensland aimed at supporting social enterprise start‑ups and female-owned enterprises. 

Our Research

• 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.

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 2023 Annual Report (page 11), we invested $13 million into facilities and infrastructure.

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. Domestic and international licensing agreements for the delivery of MASK-ED were enter into in 2023. 

Mango Auto-Harvester 

A major achievement in 2023 was the successful licensing of the mango auto‑harvester and crop load estimator technology to a commercial partner Agricultural Robotics, for commercial development and deployment. As part of this licensing, Agricultural Robotics have been successful in gaining the Federal Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation Grant. The project also won first prize at the Croc Pitch event as part of the Developing Northern Australia Conference, gaining access to $1 million in venture capital.

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 2023 Annual Report:

• 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.
• 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.
• The Digital Innovation Skills Hive (DISH) is located at the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay and showcases and promotes 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.
• Construction was completed and the doors were opened to the new School of Mining and Manufacturing in North Rockhampton and Gladstone.
• Construction of Stage 1 of the Rockhampton North TAFE Centre of Excellence commenced with funding of $8.4million in Government funding received for the project.
• Construction also commenced on the Mackay Heavy Automotive Facility with Government funding of $7.5million received for the project. 

Professor Maksym Spiryagin is the:

• Associate Editor for the journal Vehicle System Dynamics
• Associate Editor for the Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit
• Associate Editor for the journal of Railway Engineering Science
• on the Editorial Board for the journal Transport 

Dr Qing Wu is the:

• Associate Editor for the ASME Journal of Autonomous Vehicles and Systems
• Editorial Board Member for the journal Railway Engineering Science
• Editorial Board for the journal Electronic Research Achieve
• Editorial Board for the Advances in Mechanical Engineering

Professor Jamshid Aghaei is the:

• Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
• Editor of the Electric Power Systems Research/Elsevier

Sr Shah Neyamat Ullah is the:

• Reviewer for the Computers and Geotechnics Journal
• Reviewer for the Applied Ocean Research journal
• Reviewer for Ocean Engineering journal
• Author for the journal Marine Structures

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 2023 Annual Report.

• In 2023, CQUniversity received $6 720 531 in funding as part of HEPPP. This funding was used to deliver 12 programs aimed at reducing barriers to higher education for people from low‑SES and traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. Programs focused on activities including the provision of scholarships, financial assistance, peer mentoring, mental health and wellbeing, and academic learning skills and support.
• The University’s longstanding widening participation and school outreach program, CQUni Connect, continued to deliver educational aspiration programs 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 students who faced financial barriers to applying for university.
• During 2023, CQUniversity continued to support the Indigenous Girls Academy program across two Central Queensland high schools, helping to build confidence, attendance, and an understanding of future study pathways for girls in Years 7‑12. Delivered over the past few years, the program culminates at the end of each year with a much‑anticipated camp hosted on the Rockhampton North campus.
• CQUniversity’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences (SNMSS) partnered with Mackay Rotary to deliver a workshop program to a group of midwives and nurses from Timor‑Leste that was specifically designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to deliver better maternal and infant health outcomes. 
• Course delivery teams also continued to embed community outreach activity into some course units, this was particularly evident in allied health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Oral Health where classes worked with community organisations to design and deliver programs for community service users.
• Our oral health and physiotherapy staff and students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2023 Homeless Connect event in Rockhampton in May.
• 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. In 2023, this project was named Best Community Program at the 2023 Australian Disability Service Awards. 
• The 'How to Change a Life' podcast launched in 2021 and continued to bring relevant and insightful content to listeners throughout 2023.
• 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.

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, our focus on social innovation continued throughout 2023.  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:

• CQUniversity was re‑selected as a service provider for Queensland’s Regional Arts Services Network (RASN), with the role of hosting the CQ region’s share of the initiative.
• 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.
• Gooreng Gooreng artist Dylan Sarra led a group of high school students in creating a mural at Bundaberg campus.
• Bundaberg Campus hosted a film and television industry seminar.
• CQUniversity's Central Queensland Consortium of Music held many performances including The World Goes Round.
• The Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC) continued to 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.
• CQUniversity signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) to join forces to build regional capacity through education, training and research.
• CQUniversity continues to support local businesses within its regional footprint with more than $25.6 million spent with local suppliers across regional Queensland in 2023.

Change Champs and Social innovation commitment

Through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs”, the University’s Social Impact Lab 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 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.

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

• We reduced the amount of waste generated and sent to landfill.  In 2023, about 548 tonnes of rubbish were diverted from landfill, with 165 tonnes redirected to recycling.
• We reduced energy usage across the University by 35%.
• 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 the course. This saves approximately 225,000 pages from being printed (approx. 12,000 kg!) per year.
• The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences have adopted practices to reduce the consumption and production of waste including purchasing refurbished equipment and furniture instead of brand new items; minimising use of a manikins and utilising more sustainable task trainers; cleaning and repackaging consumables such as catheters and IV lines to mimic industry recourses for simulation exercises; and moving to electronic medical records platform for storage of simulated patient data. Read more about this on page 22 of the Sustainability Report. 
• Our student residential kitchen has diverted approximately 7000 chicken carcasses from landfill to the Koorana Crocodile farm for crocodile food. Read more about this on page 12 of the Sustainability Report. 
• 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. In 2023, over 800 tonnes of rubbish were collected and disposed of responsibly. 
• 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's 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.

Aligning with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action, we have demonstrated commitment to reducing our energy footprint and carbon footprint s in the following ways:

• 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.
• CQUniversity has supported tree planting days across multiple campus regions and encourages staff to participate in these community-based activities. 
• Climate scientist Professor Steve Turton published Surviving the Climate Crisis: Australian Perspectives and Solutions' the first textbook to offer local and practical approaches to the global challenge. 
• Installation of 200kW Solar Farm at the Emerald Campus. Read more about this on page 11 of the Sustainability Report. 
• Electric Vehicle charging stations has been installed at the Rockhampton campus and is available for use by staff, students and community members. 
• 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 2023 were an overall reduction of 35.3% which exceeds the target of 20% that was set for the year.
• We have committed to a Solar Energy Deal that will see 50% of 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.
• 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. In 2023, CHRE received government funding of $69.2million to further develop the hub. 
• Queensland secondary students can enrol into free online learning programs, Fuelling a Hydrogen Future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning, under a new partnership between CQUniversity and the Queensland Government. These micro-credential programs seamlessly integrate into classrooms and equip students with industry-relevant skills and tools for the future workforce.
• We partnered with Japan's J-Power in an Australian-first low carbon nature-based solutions Research and Development collaboration. 
• Renewable energy research Dr Umme Mumtahina was awarded a $240 000 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship for a Queensland grid project that could provide sustainable, renewable energy to rural communities in the state and beyond. 

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:

• 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.
• Researchers from the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre attended community events throughout the year to promote sustainable water practices, and stewardship of our marine environments. 

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:

• 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.
• Belmont Field Day- This annual event brings together livestock producers and land managers from across Central Queensland to embrace the latest innovations in land and cattle management. It includes new tools and techniques to monitor and maintain land condition, optimize pasture cover and productivity, measure carbon footprint and mitigate methane emissions, and connect these new performance drivers to genetic selection.
• Emerald Field Day- Farmers, agronomists and industry participants attended the event which included a series of researcher presentations, and a field walk to inspect new varietal lines and crop performance.
• Bundaberg School to Industry Partnership Program- CQUniversity has joined with AgForce Queensland to increase awareness about where food and fibre come from and the importance of farming for all Australians.
• Farm Safety Events CQ- CQUniversity delivered a series of free in-school workshops across Central Queensland to educate students on the cause of accidents and injuries on farms and what can be done to minimise risks.
• 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.
• CQUniversity has supported tree planting days across multiple campus regions and encourages staff to participate in these community based activities.

Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, the 2023 Annual Report (Page 14) 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 2023 Annual Report along with the key achievements of these committees for 2023.  

Activities undertaken throughout 2023 which align with our commitment to peace, justice and strong institutions are:

• A ground‑breaking initiative led by CQUniversity researchers was launched to help support and safeguard Queensland women as they navigate the world of online dating apps. The project named Inform, Prevent, Support: Helping Queensland Women to Safely Navigate Online Dating Apps, is a collaboration between the North Queensland Women’s Legal Service, CQUniversity lecturers in criminology, law and digital media, and the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney‑General.
• CQUniversity formally endorsed a 'Yes' position in the Voice to Parliament Referendum. 
• 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 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 2023 Annual Report and the 2023 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 2023. 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 2023 Annual Report or the most recent Sustainability Report.

Ashoka U

We are 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 2023.

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 2023 Annual Report.