2023 Green Gown Awards Australasia

The 2023 Australasian Green Gown Awards recognised 12 universities and 1 TAFE; celebrating 11 winners and 8 highly commended across 10 different award categories. The hybrid awards ceremony streamed live from The Studio at Melbourne connect from 3.00pm AEDT on the 2nd November 2023, hosted by Trent McCarthy – Director of Precincts and Sustainability at Melbourne Polytechnic. ACTS was delighted to welcome special guest presenters, finalists and an audience both in-person and online to announce the winners.

The University of Wollongong were the first winners announced, taking home the Benefitting Society award for their RISE program. This program supports underrepresented groups in regional areas to ‘RISE stronger from the ashes’; building hope and long-lasting sustainability in businesses.

Setting outstanding targets for mitigation, adaptation and engagement to address Climate Change, and well on their way to meeting them, Western Sydney University was announced as winner of the Climate Action award for co-designing towards Climate Positive initiatives.

The University of Tasmania, continuing their efforts as the most highly awarded institution within the Australasian Awards, added a Creating Impact award to their long list of accolades. This year, for their ongoing Species Hotel project, creating big homes for little creatures. They also received a Highly Commended acknowledgement for their work in Leading the Circular Economy.

The inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability award went to The University of Sydney for their crucial work in mapping, protecting and enriching Aboriginal Cultural Heritage landscapes.

The Australian National University was a deserving recipient of the Student Engagement award for the Thrive Kitchen Garden. Their project has fostered social connectedness, improved food literacy and accessibility and has had excellent staff and student collaboration to support their campus community.

The Next Generation Learning and Skills award, recognising achievements in the development of academic courses, skills and capabilities relevant to sustainability as awarded to the University of Queensland won for their Masters of Sustainable Energy program. This is the second year running UQ has won this particular category.

Judges were so impressed with the high calibre of finalists for the Sustainability Champion – Staff award that two champions were awarded as joint winners of the category. Brandan Espe from James Cook University and Jesikah Triscott from the University of Otago both demonstrated outstanding commitment as leaders in the sustainability field.

Fien Van den Steen, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, was awarded as Sustainability Champion – Student. Fien is inspiring accessible sustainability through her advocacy work across a number of student groups at local, national and international levels.

Last, but certainly not least, the University of Melbourne was recognised for their significant and ongoing achievements Leading the Circular Economy and as Sustainability Institution of the Year. The University of Melbourne’s holistic approach to sustainability and their ongoing innovation was on display last night and truly are well-deserving of their recognition.

It’s been a real privilege to announce the 2023 award winners! Following a record number of applications this year, and some of the most difficult selections our judges have ever had to make, the winning initiatives reflect creativity, passion and the tangible impact Higher and Further Education institutions have in the transition to a sustainable future. We hope the inspiring work of our winners, and all the finalists, will help serve as a catalyst for the tertiary sector to continue to advance and expedite our sustainability work and ensure we are equipping learners for their futures as part of a just and fair society. Rhiannon Boyd, CEO, ACTS

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to making this year’s awards a resounding success, including our independent judging panel and awards partners. We look forward to continuing the ethos of the Green Gown Awards and ensuring the lessons and examples of best practice are shared within the sector and beyond.

Organisational

Benefitting Society
University of Wollongong Winner

Climate Action
Western Sydney University Winner

Creating Impact
University of Tasmania Winner
University of the Sunshine Coast Highly Commended
UNSW Sydney Highly Commended

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability
The University of Sydney Winner

Next Generation Learning and Skills
The University of Queensland Winner
TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Highly Commended
University of Otago Highly Commended

Leading the Circular Economy
University of Melbourne Winner
University of Tasmania Highly Commended

Student Engagement
Australian National University Winner

Sustainability Institution of the Year
University of Melbourne Winner

International category

Individual

Sustainability Champion – Staff
Brandan Espe (James Cook University) Winner
Jesikah Triscott (University of Otago) Winner
Catherine Donovan (Massey University) Highly Commended

Sustainability Champion – Student
Fien Van den Steen (University of the Sunshine Coast) Winner
Demi Lawerence (University of Otago) Highly Commended
Trisha Striker (University of Tasmania) Highly Commended

Creating Impact sponsor

Leading the Circular Economy sponsor

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability sponsor

Category criteria

Benefitting Society

As anchors in their communities and cities, tertiary education institutions benefit society in many ways. This category captures the powerful and innovative ways education institutions are realising their purpose in today’s society to benefit the lives of individuals, communities and wider society. Examples will range from economic, social and environmental impacts with organisations and sectors outside the institution where innovative new approaches to bringing positive benefit can be found.

Although all applications will be considered on their merits, the judges will particularly be looking for innovative community engagement type of initiatives which have an element of proactive, new, community and social concern and positive impacts, rather than the very worthy and commendable ‘grassroots’ and ‘business as usual’ activities.

Amongst others, examples might include how an institution applies and exchanges its student and academic knowledge with communities or partner organisations, how it uses its finances and investments, and how it designs and manages its campus – all to demonstrate its values and the positive value it brings to society. A powerful example of such innovative and proactive engagement is the Living Lab approach: establishing projects that draw on students’ curricular work or academic research to address real sustainability challenges in stakeholder partnerships with community bodies.

Activities which have a substantial student element should be submitted to the Student Engagement category.

Judges recognise that not all projects will have a carbon saving, or include elements of environmental, social, cultural as well as economic benefit.

Judges will, particularly this year, want to see how the pandemic has impacted on initiatives and what opportunities this has brought.

The Winning entry will automatically be put forward for the International Green Gown Award for Benefitting Society.

Climate Action

Carbon reduction and adaptation to the effects of climate change are essential for institutional resilience and business continuity – both executive-level issues. Institutions are exposed to significant climate risks and responsibilities to meet targets; institutions have to be taking bold steps to meet these targets while ensuring student outcomes and satisfaction are maintained.

This category focuses on the steps that institutions are taking and planning to take to reach net-zero emissions targets. The judges are looking for innovative ideas and approach that institutions are taking or planning. It is recognised that there may not be the normal evidence or impact available as this category includes current plans, however, institutions that can provide evidence on implemented actions will be favoured by judges.

The judges will be looking for:

Innovative plans for achieving net-zero.
Focus on achieving Scope 1 and 2 emissions initially with Scope 3 in the horizon.
How do you know you are getting there? Outline what steps are being taken in the area of measurement and verification of impact of efforts on the progress towards net-zero.
What steps are being taken on mitigation and adaptation?
Actions that can be scalable and transferable to other institutions/across the sector including how barriers and challenges have been identified and if possible overcome.
Plans and actions that are looking at the whole institution and holistic approach.
Examples of using internal research and academic knowledge in helping advance actions.
Examples of working in partnership within your local community and other stakeholders.

The aim of this category is to share the good efforts institutions are taking as well as learning from each other in areas that have not worked so well. Whilst the end results may not be available, judges will look at projected impacts.

Judges will, particularly this year, want to see how the pandemic has impacted on climate actions and what opportunities this has brought.

Creating Impact

Sponsored by

This category recognises institutions that have achieved significant sustainability-related outcomes, on campus or within their community, using minimal and/or limited resources. Initiatives need to demonstrate the relationship/link between the number of resources used (for example staffing, budget, time) and the level of impact achieved (for example quantifiable changes in behaviours and/or reportable metrics).

Initiatives could include those which can demonstrate significant sustainability achievements (such as sustainable products, processes or learnings) in a relatively short period and/or with a restricted budget, and/or with a small staff base e.g. good progress from a low base. Projects that raise the broader profile of sustainability will be particularly favoured.

Applications must show how learning from others has been implemented and for the greater chance of success demonstrate how the initiative can be extended to and/or replicated by other organisations.

Initiatives can cover a single aspect of sustainability or have multiple foci, including but not limited to: facilities & operations; learning & teaching, research; leadership and governance; community; procurement, and; engagement. However, regardless of the topical focus, the primary aim of this category is to demonstrate how institutions can still achieve creative and high impact outcomes with limited resources.

Judges will be particularly interested in initiatives that have gone towards supporting a social and environmental sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic that have been embedded and will be sustained post-pandemic. This might be a surprising collaboration, changing practices or a new opportunity for your institution.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability

Sponsored by

This new category is recognising the work institutions undertake to integrate equity, social justice and inclusion within their sustainability work. Disadvantaged groups will be impacted the most by climate change so equity and equality are core to achieving a sustainable world. Institutions have to take new approaches and different ways to engage broader diverse audiences and champions. The sector needs to look at the barriers that exist which exclude particular protected characteristics and celebrate areas where these have been broken down and accelerated to a more inclusive sustainability approach.

This category recognises those surprising collaborations and innovative approaches that staff and students take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in their sustainability work. Approaches may include how institutions promote sustainability as a career to a broad audience to cultivate diverse and equitable professional opportunities. Judges will be looking for institutions that have ongoing commitments to embed equality and inclusion within sustainability practices or impactful initiatives that push the boundaries and challenge the status quo to improve diversity, equity and inclusion.

Judges will be looking for institutions that have innovative collaborations within or beyond their institutions. Examples could be, but not limited to:

Integrating within teaching that encourages diversity in sustainability
Engagement with the wider community to focus on under-represented groups within your local region to engage with sustainability
Leading practises or initiatives that lead to greater access and participation in sustainability
Innovative internal collaborations across departments
Leading research that addresses barriers and challenges.

Judges will be looking for evidence of the impact of the initiative and must be able to show that it exceeds normal performance as well as looking at the potential to scale-up and replicate across the sector.

Other categories recognise community and student engagement more generally and applicants are to apply under those categories where protected characteristics and/or elevated community vulnerability to climate change was not central or only part of the initiative.

Leading the Circular Economy

Sponsored by

Institutions will play a vital role in the global transition towards a circular economy. By growing momentum through: teaching and learning, research and student action; utilising campuses as living labs, and; using purchasing power and progressive procurement to make campus operations and supply chains more circular; there is significant scope for the sector to ‘close the loop’.

This category recognises institutions taking a ‘circular economy’ approach to resources, considering not just waste reduction and recycling efforts, but a holistic approach to the entire waste hierarchy (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle and rot) within campus communities. There is no expectation for institutions to be doing everything perfectly, however, judges will be looking for creative solutions that capture the interest of staff and students and demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement internally and externally to inspire change.

Specific projects can be submitted, however, applications demonstrating a range of innovative solutions contributing to analysing supply chains and changing all waste systems on campus will be highly favoured by judges.

Applications will need to provide evidence of ‘closed loop’ systems and activities that have resulted in measured reductions of virgin materials and/or maximised reuse, repurposing and resource efficiency, integrated sustainable practices, sustainable procurement, as well as engagement with stakeholders, supply chain and partners and/or created real-world examples for student engagement and teaching and learning.

Next Generation Learning and Skills

This category recognises achievement in the development of academic courses, skills and capabilities relevant to sustainability. These can be vocational, undergraduate or postgraduate courses or related to wider purposes such as community involvement, global or environmental awareness or to support lifestyle changes.

Examples of possible application topics include:

Effective integration of sustainability principles and/or practices within and across disciplines and existing courses, especially those not traditionally engaged with sustainability;
The development of new courses focused on sustainability issues;
Use of practical sustainability-related projects or other practical activities within courses including work-based learning initiatives.
Training for apprenticeships;
Continuing professional development (CPD) activities;
Skill-focused courses leading to professional or vocational qualifications;
Adult & community learning, and short courses for practitioners and;
Demonstrating/implementing sustainability practices in the workplace.

Applications can be made for activities connected with undergraduate or other academic courses if there is a practical focus on the development of specific skills which goes beyond the normal activities of the disciplinary curriculum, e.g. running community-based projects which give students considerable autonomy and develop their communication, management abilities etc.

Possible applicants for this category include: Higher Education institutions; Further Education colleges; adult and community and work-based learning providers.

Judges will, particularly this year, want to see how the pandemic has impacted on initiatives and what opportunities this has brought.

The Winning entry will automatically be put forward for the International Green Gown Award for Next Generation Learning and Skills.

Student Engagement

This category reflects that students and staff must work together to achieve goals using “top-down” and “bottom-up grassroots” methods to achieve maximum understanding and engagement across an institution. This, in turn, aids student progress and allows for opportunities to gain transferable employability skills. It looks at both the student input and the staff commitment and the relationship between the two. It must be clear that initiatives include both staff and students (not just one party) working in partnership, however, judges will look favourably on activities that have been initiated by and/or demonstrating strong leadership by students.

Where staff and students are involved, as well as including the actual numbers, including how they are involved and what impact/influence they have had.

Examples could include: Social media projects; Awareness and communication campaigns; Procurement actions; Sustainability reporting and websites; Volunteering activities organised by unions, societies and similar organisations within institutions; Community projects.

Judges will, particularly this year, want to see how the pandemic has impacted on initiatives and what opportunities this has brought.

Applications are equally welcomed from institutions or student bodies.

The Winning entry will automatically be put forward for the International Green Gown Award for Student Engagement.

Sustainability Institution of the Year

This category recognises sustained, whole-institution commitment and impact to becoming a sustainable organisation.

To improve social responsibility and environmental performance through a whole of institution approach, strategic sustainability activities through four main areas must be achieved:

Leadership and Governance
Facilities and Operations
Learning, Teaching and Research
Partnerships and Engagement

Applications are only likely to be successful if they provide considerable quantitative evidence on the nature of the improvements made and also demonstrate a causal relationship between activities undertaken and improvements achieved based on the four key areas. Economic cost savings, where appropriate and if available would also be welcome. Initiatives must have been running for at least two years.

Judges will be looking for key areas where it is felt that the institution is distinctive compared to its peers, and provide supporting evidence. Tangible evidence of high-level commitment, and its incorporation into management procedures, will also carry great weight with the judges as will engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and public reporting of performance.

Judges welcome more granular data so others in the sector can learn and replicate approaches taken by these leading institutions.

Judges will, particularly this year, want to see how the pandemic has impacted on initiatives and what opportunities this has brought.

The Winning entry will be put forward for the International Green Gown Award for Sustainability Institution of the Year.

Sustainability Champion – Staff

This award is open to all staff members, at any level, within an ACTS member institution, who deserve recognition for continued and ongoing efforts to lead on the transformation to a sustainable future. The award will recognise those who have worked hard at implementing a social or environmental sustainability project/initiative (or several) and whose involvement has had a positive impact on either their peers, their institution, their students or their local community.

Judges will favour applicants whose actions and impact are considered over and above normal job requirements, particularly for those currently employed within a professional or academic sustainability role. Applications should detail how the applicant has demonstrated strong leadership, championed good practice and/or engaged and inspired others, and provide evidence of their impacts.

Individuals apply themselves but should be formally nominated by a manager or peer (within or outside the sector). Please ensure the application is written in the first person (ie. “I did”). Individuals that have won previously can reapply after 2 years.

Sustainability Champion – Student

This award is open to any student within an ACTS member institution, who deserves recognition for sustainability-related activities undertaken. The award will recognise those who have worked hard at implementing a sustainability project/initiative (or several) and whose involvement has made a positive impact on either their peers, their institution, their students, their local community or their local workforce.

Activities may include campaigning, inspiring and motivating others or championing a cause on campus or outside. If studying a sustainability-related topic, activities over and above normal course requirements will be favoured. Initiatives or campaigns through an organised group or union are eligible, with judges favouring those that can demonstrate significant personal involvement or leadership.

Applications must provide evidence of impact, and of good leadership/championing practice in engaging and inspiring others. Judges will favour applications where quantifiable outcomes can be demonstrated.

Case Studies

Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners

The University of Melbourne's Holistic Approach to Sustainability

The University of Melbourne (UoM) has always been committed to sustainability, implementing environmental improvements since the 1990’s. It made its first public, high-profile commitment with a sustainability framework in 2016, including its Sustainability Charter and first Sustainability Plan 2017-2020. These commitments are holistic across the institution, including leadership & governance, operations, learning & teaching, research, partnerships & engagement. UoM has launched its second Sustainability Plan 2030, demonstrating cross-disciplinary collaboration, governed by its senior Sustainability Advisory Group. Targets align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and UoM annually reports progress. In the 2024 QS world university rankings, UoM has jumped up to 14th (from 33rd last year), noting that sustainability has been included as a key criteria in these global rankings. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, in recent years, UoM achieved zero-net emissions from electricity for the second year, invested $12 million in energy-efficiency upgrades, and pioneered innovative approaches such as the Choose to Reuse program. Melbourne Climate Futures, launched in 2021, hosting the inaugural Climate Futures Summit, which provided a forum for 255 in-person and 792 online attendees to hear from an interact with policy, industry, and research leaders. UoM integrates sustainability principles into curriculum disciplines, offering 30 sustainability-focused courses with over 1,000 students enrolled annually. UoM’s achievements serve as a model for other institutions.
Benefitting Society

UTS Startups: Enabling sustainable and inclusive self-employment at scale

UTS Startups is the largest Australian entrepreneurship program, revealing and sharing entrepreneurial capability, in order to create and support large numbers of new tech-enabled entrepreneurs.

Distinct from traditional accelerators, incubators and curriculum, UTS Startups does not create a small exclusive group of high-potential entrepreneurs, instead it engages at scale with people to create realistic and sustainable pathways into entrepreneurship.

We want people to see, understand and be supported in emulating entrepreneurial role models that share their capabilities and circumstances. We visit 100 schools each year. We UTS Startups Summit each year for another 30 schools worth of year 9 and 10 students. We run workshops for 5,000 UTS students each year. And we have converted the busiest street corner in Sydney into a hybrid event space for large scale engagement in entrepreneurial storytelling.

We now support 640 student-launched startups, creating 572 new jobs last year and 420 the year prior.
Benefitting Society

Unearthed Gem: cultivating community mental wellbeing through the university-led EMERALD program

UniSC’s Thompson Institute created the EMERging Anxiety, Loneliness, Depression (EMERALD) program in 2020 in rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program addressed the anticipated increase of emerging mental health challenges in the population as a result of pandemic impacts.

The personalised 8-week mental health program uses telehealth coaching and online learning modules to support adoption of lifestyle strategies proven to boost mental health. It supports individuals to self-manage emerging mental ill health symptoms, improve their psychological wellbeing, and increase their ability to manage life stressors.

It’s unique in its focus on prevention and early intervention; use of evidence-based lifestyle medicine; the translation of research into practice for the benefit of community; and ease of access to multidisplinary consultants and education.
Benefitting Society/Winners

Rising stronger from the ashes: UOWs RISE program building hope and long-lasting support for regional entrepreneurs

iAccelerate is the University of Wollongong’s world-class business incubator and accelerator that is committed to helping build and scale sustainable businesses that have a positive impact. An important part of iAccelerate is to support underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship, as exhibited through the iAccelerate RISE Program. Building on a 5-year partnership supporting entrepreneurs in the Bega Valley, in 2021 the RISE program, was established. RISE delivered education to support promising entrepreneurs and business owners in bushfire devastated regions of NSW. The program was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF).

The RISE program introduced the UN SDGs during the first module which were embedded throughout the program. Since RISE’s delivery, new, sustainable, and socially responsible jobs and business models have prospered in the local regions. This has led to expansion of RISE, with the co-creation of RISE First Nations.
Climate Action

Driving Towards Tomorrow’s Campus with Vehicle-to-Grid EV Technology

As part of Flinders University’s drive to innovate and become a leader in climate action, the University launched its Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiative. This involved installing and maintaining 20x V2G and smart chargers for its growing electric vehicle fleet. Leveraging 100% renewable energy generated by ENGIE’s Willogoleche Wind Farm and Flinders University’s solar power systems, this enables the storage of renewable energy in EV batteries to be discharged on campus during peak demand periods. Hence, allows for these EV fleets to operate as a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to deliver peak demand management and optimization of behind-the-meter generation.

Overall, this initiative demonstrates the reliability and scalability of bi-directional and uni-directional smart-charging systems for EVs in reducing GHG emissions while facilitating teaching, research, and innovation opportunities. Moreover, it exemplifies a sustainable and innovative solution to scale energy storage technology and increase renewables.
Climate Action

Our journey to 2030: net carbon zero at Otago

Our journey to net zero carbon by 2030 and beyond at the University of Otago is informed by the wayfinding approach of Polynesian explorers and contemporary Indigenous academics’ focus on wayfinding leadership.

Te Ao Māori-based principles underpin our mahi (work) to reflect our bi-cultural sustainability approach, which centres on enhancing all lifes’ health and wellbeing (orangatanga). Mātauranga (knowledge, learning) is wrapped around everything we do, from projects using living labs for decarbonisation and native forest regeneration to engaging students through coursework, events and work opportunities.

Our emissions decreased 32% from 2019 and University leadership endorses ambitious category-based emissions targets beyond 2030 that include ensuring we don’t lose gains from reduced travel during the pandemic.

As active local, national and international network members, we share information to maximise our work’s impact – including reducing menu ingredients’ and student travel’s carbon footprint. One network is New Zealand’s first city-based Zero Carbon Alliance, in Ōtepoti|Dunedin.
Climate Action/Winners

Co-Design towards Climate Positive

In 2021, Western Sydney University committed to the UN-led “Race to Zero for Colleges and Universities” setting targets of Carbon Neutral 2023 and Climate Positive 2029. This proposal outlines the co-design strategies underway for mitigation, adaptation, engagement and broader integration. In 2023, Climate Active certification was achieved as Carbon Neutral, and a 5 Year Carbon Transition Plan was developed with Veolia Energy Solutions and key functional representatives building upon carbon engineering and co-design. Resilience planning for adaptation has followed two iterations adapting the Resilient Cities model and lessons learned from the 2019-2020 bushfires. Engagement has focused around Living Labs, building upon established initiatives with developing strategic Nature Positive, Circular Economy and Smart Building clusters. These provide the emerging strategic narrative towards our Climate Positive target.
Creating Impact

Where knowledge meets habits: Empowering students for a sustainable tomorrow

Our online Sustainability Challenges offer participants an engaging, self-paced learning experience centered around a specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG). Requiring minimal resourcing and at zero-cost to participants, we’ve created replicable, compact, scalable, and impactful learning opportunities that result in real impact.

The Challenges follow a structured process that moves participants from knowledge gain to simple action to celebration, to establish small but mighty habits relating to waste and carbon emissions. This approach recognises that knowledge alone is often insufficient to drive behaviour change, and that ease of action and celebration are crucial components in creating sustainable habits.
Creating Impact/Winners

Turning Over a New LEAF: Driving sustainability in laboratories

The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) is an internationally-recognised accreditation that aims to improve environmental outcomes and build a culture of sustainable practice in laboratories around the world. LEAF is hosted on an online platform that supports laboratory groups in taking achievable, lab-specific actions to reduce their environmental impact. After registration, laboratories progress through Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation levels based on sustainability achievements. Using in-software emission calculators, LEAF provides quantifiable data for efficiency and sustainability.

In 2021, UNSW became the first organisation in Australasia to receive LEAF accreditation. To date, 30 UNSW laboratory teams have been registered, with 5 achieving Silver accreditation, and a further 19 achieving Bronze. UNSW laboratories have accomplished significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, laboratory expenses, and single-use plastics usage. In 2023, the UNSW LEAF program is continuing to grow, recruiting more laboratory groups and is on track to achieve the first Australasian Gold accreditation.
Creating Impact/Winners

Putting the Uni in Community: regional university empowers local community to reduce suicide and improve mental health outcomes

The Alliance for Suicide Prevention addresses the Sunshine Coast’s unacceptably high suicide rate through a framework that is creating population-based change. Led by the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Thompson Institute, the Alliance brings together 165 community, private, and public sector organisations, working to create meaningful change through public awareness, community training, upskilling of health professionals and supporting high-risk groups. Alliance initiatives have benefitted 30,692 people through the program’s award-winning engagement model.

More than 3,419 people have completed the Alliance’s suicide prevention training programs to help them identify the signs that someone may be thinking of suicide. Sectors with clients at higher risk, such as domestic violence, housing, and Indigenous health, are offered fully funded training in suicide prevention skills. This targeted approach has allowed the Alliance to have a powerful impact on upskilling key people in the community to help address suicidality in the region.
Creating Impact

Building carbon neutral capabilities at UQ

Art and accounting may seem unlikely bedfellows for creating sustainability impact, but UQ successfully brought the two together to achieve carbon neutral certification for its 2022 Oceanic Thinking event. Running from February to June at UQ Art Museum, the exhibition presented new ways of understanding the ocean and our planet. It also provided UQ with a practical opportunity to increase its understanding and capability for carbon emissions accounting. Learnings will guide further discussions around how this could potentially be reproduced for other events or operations. Combining these two objectives enabled the University to deliver a compelling sustainability story that resonated with 13,650 students, staff members and external visitors who engaged with the five-month long art event.
Creating Impact/Winners

Species Hotel: Big Homes for Little Creatures

From humble beginnings in 2016 as a first-year Architecture and Design course project with a tiny budget, the University of Tasmania’s Species Hotel project is having a huge impact in Tasmania and beyond. Centred on the creation of bespoke timber sculptures that serve as homes for threatened native animal, insect and bird species, it has grown to directly involve almost 400 UTAS students, as well as schools, environmental groups, artists, farmers, scientists and members of the wider community. The impact of the project has expanded exponentially through extensive media coverage, journal articles, a podcast, conference speaking opportunities, exhibitions and widely shared social medial posts (#specieshotel), all of which have provided inspiration to others to conduct similar projects in their own location.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability

Mātauranga Māori and Sustainability: Guiding Community Engagement With Indigenous Values

Through a collaborative design process involving Māori and Pākehā (non-Māori) students and academic staff at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington – a unique online resource was recently developed for the university community that maps foundational values of Mātauranga Māori to principles of sustainability. The colourful website (accessible on the University’s Sustainability website) uses bespoke illustrations and animations to support the translation of key terminology from Te Reo to English. The intersection of visual and text-based communication enables the illumination of diverse and complex information, including: the definition of Māori values and their correlation to Western concepts of sustainability, exemplars that highlight how the university is supporting these values through the Living Pā project, and a series of proposition to elicit everyday participation with the values introduced for staff and students alike. This culturally-contextual project celebrates the value of indigenous worldviews in addressing sustainable development both on campus and beyond.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability/Winners

Mapping, protecting and enriching Aboriginal Cultural Heritage landscapes

The mapping, protecting and enriching Aboriginal Cultural Heritage landscapes project seeks to enhance existing relationships with local Aboriginal communities and Elders, and recognise the tangible and intangible cultural heritage embedded in landscapes at regional and remote campuses. At Narrabri NSW, scar trees and axe grinding grooves were noted to be on site by local Gamilaraay community members, which formed the foundation of the project to map and assess cultural assets, and to guide future planning to best preserve, acknowledge and protect sites.

This project is significant as it is facilitating exchanges of knowledge by prioritising local values and people in the cultural heritage mapping process, and is creating a safe space for sharing knowledge, generating recommendations and action plans, and hosting community days to implement tree planting days (involving staff and students).

Finally, this project has enriched the implementation of sustainability initiatives to encompass social, governance, and enhance operational endeavours.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability
UTS Climate Impact Lab: working with social housing residents to save energy, reduce bills and cut greenhouse pollution

UTS has a plan to be climate positive by 2029. This vision contributes to our outreach work and partnerships with the local community. By implementing strategies to help reduce the carbon footprint and emissions in our local area – with a specific focus on social and public housing – this project sought to contribute to our carbon reduction goals and vision, whilst simultaneously enhancing the wellbeing of local public housing residents. The project aimed to:

reduce household energy bills

improve thermal comfort and health

empower the Glebe community to take action against climate change

reduce greenhouse gas emissions (with UTS facilitating local ‘climate positive’ actions).

This initiative is distinct in its elevation of community voice and experience. By drawing on both contextual and disciplinary expertise, the approach helps ensure that decisions are well-informed and have the best potential of take-up and success.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

The SHED (Sustainability in Higher Education) project

The SHED (Sustainability in Higher Education) project represents a skills-focused sustainability-related design project within QUT undergraduate courses and includes work-based learning with the outcome being a space for sustainability activities and education on campus.

The SHED project was born from an idea of creating a small sustainable building, that could become an on-campus hub connecting staff, students and the community to sustainability knowledge and discovery. Through effective collaboration across organisational areas of the university, students across multiple units and disciplines were provided a project where they could apply their design ideas and creativity, engage with clients, seek guidance from Indigenous Australians, undertake professional work experience, and create a living design using the principles of circular economy and connection to Country that would help to achieve organisational sustainability outcomes across education and operations. This project seamlessly integrates sustainability and campus to Country principles and highlights the significant interrelationships between them.
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners

Embedding sustainability into everything that we do

TAFE Queensland Robina Campus has been purpose-built and designed to be sustainable in building, fit-out, procurement, curriculum, operations, governance and culture. It is TAFE Queensland’s flagship for demonstrating their commitment to social and environmental sustainability. Our priorities align with the United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) under the banner of people, planet and performance.

Our educators have completed a professional development process to embed sustainability knowledge and practices in all aspects of delivery, assessment, and campus community life which ensures that every student, no matter what they study, is fully immersed in the goals of the campus.

The campus is a living laboratory – students are engaged with green-skilling programs, lunchbox engagement activities and opportunities to work with like-minded partners. Increasing and improving accessibility is supported with Technology Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) spaces. The students are being empowered and mobilised as global citizens through increased awareness of sustainability issues.
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners

Pūhau ana te Rā: Creating tailwind conditions for a thriving future

The New Zealand Climate Change Commission (CCC) referred to creating “tailwind conditions” for a lower emissions Aotearoa. This speaks directly to the role of Tertiary Education in contributing to a thriving future.

The phrase Pūhau ana te Rā refers to travelling with sails full of wind. In this context, it is a metaphorical reference to undergraduates and emerging researchers creating tailwind conditions and accelerating our progress towards a thriving future.

Each summer students from different programmes and stages of study undertook 12-week scholarship projects hosted in the Sustainability Office and funded by a range of collaborators. Projects addressed real sustainability issues in specific contexts, and frequently used the University as a living lab. Project reports are presented at a public symposium and the research is captured in a new open access journal. The journal now an options for capturing any undergraduate or emerging researcher contributions that contribute to a thriving future.
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Virtual Labs and Field Trips (ALSDO: The Alternative Lab & Studio Delivery Options Project)

The ALSDO Project (ALSDO) was developed from the need to identify alternative, pedagogically sound methods of delivering practical hands-on teaching in a world where physical access to labs may not always be guaranteed. The cross-campus collaboration of academic and technical staff has continued within the Sustainability Hub with the recognition that the materials developed to support remote teaching and learning also offer a range of sustainability benefits. ALSDO projects include:

Virtual Labs (VL): hands-on, practical learning material online (e.g. interacting with a functioning steam conditioning apparatus; learning how to use pipettes, conducting a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study of a patient). Supports not only immersive VR headsets, but also other devices (laptops, smartphones).

Virtual Field Trips (VFT): innovative learning experiences, including authentic role-play games and engaging experiences (e.g. walk-through of a hospital ward; trip exploring volcanoes and their hazards).
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners

UQ’s Master of Sustainable Energy: a successful multidisciplinary model to educate leaders for a Net Zero future

The University of Queensland (UQ)’s Master of Sustainable Energy Program educates leaders for the transition to a Net Zero energy future. It provides a multidisciplinary learning experience with a focus on industry engagement through teaching, an advisory board and a dedicated alumni network. The Program has experienced significant growth since its inception in 2017, and graduates have achieved strong employment outcomes across more than 30 countries worldwide. The target market is early-mid career professionals, with the flexible program allowing students to pivot their careers to focus on the future sustainability of energy generation and use. The Program addresses a crucial workforce bottleneck, as Australia requires an additional 700,000 people in the energy workforce to achieve Net Zero by 2050. UQ’s Sustainable Energy Program serves as a successful model with its flexibility, multidisciplinary approach, and industry partnerships, which can be replicated across Australia to ensure a sustainable future.
Leading the Circular Economy

Drop For Good and Shop For Good – students supporting students through the circular economy

In a New Zealand first – and possibly Australasian – Drop For Good and Shop for Good combat thousands of students relying heavily on skips at year-end when packing up flats and buying new goods for flats at the start of the year.

This collaboration between the University of Otago Toitū te Taiao – Sustainability Office and the University of Otago Students Association coordinates the massive task of organising volunteers to collect students’ many unwanted goods for free, then to sort, repair and test those goods for storing until the following year, when volunteers help sell them to students for $NZD20 or less each at the large-scale Shop for Good. The sale’s income pays for Drop for Good.

This circular economy working model has, in three years, diverted about 213 tonnes from landfill, sold 3,700 items,and used about 1110 volunteer hours,while encouraging students to think sustainably by offering them easily accessible, affordable options.
Leading the Circular Economy/Winners

Creating a just and circular economy by Choosing to Reuse!

The University of Melbourne’s circular economy journey began in 2012 with the launch of the award-winning Furniture and Equipment Reuse Program (FERS), providing second-hand office items to the University community, and the student-led Wash Against Waste reuse program, both diverting thousands of items from landfill, annually. In 2019 the University piloted a substantial upgrade for its retail community, launching the Choose to Reuse Plate Program (C2R), a reusable dishwashing service, which diverted 240,000 items from landfill in its first 6-months and the Choose to Reuse Events Service. In 2020, it launched a new Reuse Vending Machine (selling reusable items) and Green Caffeen, a swap cup program.

During this time, the University updated retail contracts to include sustainability clauses (e.g. compulsory dishwashing, sustainable and ethical procurement) for all tenants in Union House and the new Student Precinct. With the opening of the Student Precinct (6 buildings) in 2022, the inclusion of C2R was compulsory, with a dedicated waste hub, waste scales and a food waste processor, the University was able to provide reuse services in a way it never has before. These efforts align with the University’s Sustainability Plan 2030, which includes dedicated waste and circularity targets.
Leading the Circular Economy/Winners

Closing the loop for holistic circularity

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has delivered significant changes regarding ‘waste’ by bringing together procurement, re-use, recycling, composting, engagement and data. Initial attempts to address our waste issues a decade ago sometimes had us running in circles but broadening our approach has led to a circularity journey over the past few years. This journey has delivered significant financial savings and achieved early wins for further commitments in a future-focussed Waste Minimisation Action Plan targeting a minimum 25% reduction of landfilled waste by 2025. We have delivered new buildings with in-built ‘deconstructability’ in mind as well as re-using materials from other sectors for structural components. Fitting out the builds and major refurbishments comes from excess furniture within UTAS and what we cannot re-use is donated or disassembled for recyclable components. Ensuring organics waste is collected for composting and providing recycling options beyond the co-mingled bin are also elements of a circular mindset.
Student Engagement/Winners
The ANU Thrive Kitchen Garden

The Kitchen Garden is a co-operative community for all ANU students that aims to bring the community together to share and connect with nature, each other and to enjoy growing and eating fresh, healthy food. There are two gardens on campus, each one has regular gardening sessions including an element of growing food, food preparation, skill sharing followed by a communal lunch.

The Kitchen Garden Program offers ANU students the opportunity to:

work creatively and cooperatively, share skills, knowledge and learn together;

build confidence and capability to nurture and grow food and to prepare fresh, healthy, budget friendly and seasonal meals;

create personal connections and networks through a Kitchen Garden community, a safe, respectful, and inclusive space;

develop and build on life skills and capabilities beyond the classroom; and

engage in volunteer work and contribute to the local community as an active citizen and share a sense of purpose with others.
Student Engagement
Sustainability Leaders creating real impact!

La Trobe created a unique Sustainability Leaders volunteering program to increase engagement with students on campus and empower them to act against waste and promote sustainability. It included the following initiatives:

Promoting the reusable crockery implementation,

Increasing knowledge action of other students on campus to diversion comingled recycling and organic waste from landfill.

Focus on waste audits and data,

Improved signage through new waste posters for students living on campus.

Collaboration with Cirka (our cleaning and waste partner) to create a waste wall and;

Learning all things sustainability (net zero, biodiversity, waste, reusables, engagement)

These initiatives yielded significant results and with a reduction in waste contamination by almost 40% at the residential buildings and engagement with over 80 groups of people for the Reusable Revolution.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners

Brandan Espe

Environmental Officer / Acting Grounds Supervisor

Brandan has brought over 50 federally listed Endangered species of plant into the James Cook University living collection, many of which have never been cultivated and are found in no other collection in the world.

Of these, over half have been sustainably wild collected, inclusive of field and clone data, so they can be used for ongoing conservation, research and teaching, the remaining being sourced from private and partner organisations through favours of service or trades.

He personally funded the project from 2019-2022, until funding was awarded for the program due to its success, with the program now being engrained into the Universities landscapes for ongoing management should he leave JCU, creating a threatened species legacy collection.

The program has now expanded beyond this, with an additional 48 species now funded for further addition, some of which are only known from less than 5 sightings in history.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners

Catherine (CeeJay) Donovan

Veterinary nurse – Anaesthesia

From establishing the Massey Vet School Green Team to leading impactful initiatives, my commitment to environmental sustainability has been making waves. With the help of my team, I have accomplished numerous small, yet meaningful actions, including integrating a sustainability lecture for final year vet students and implementing battery recycling alongside rechargeable battery use. Our larger projects encompass the introduction of green waste and soft plastics recycling bins, an energy audit resulting in power-saving measures, and playing a part in a successful rubbish audit. I spearheaded the ‘6 in 6’ campaign, empowering individuals with six simple steps for workplace sustainability. Through the SustainaVet social media pages I help to educate and inspire peers nationwide. As the Massey School of Veterinary Science sustainability champion, I had the privilege of speaking at the annual veterinary conference on sustainability in clinical practice. Currently I’m conducting pioneering research on responsible cat waste disposal. Together, we’re forging a greener future, one initiative at a time.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners

Jesikah Triscott

Kaitakawaenga / Engagement Team Lead

Since starting in the Sustainability Office in 2019, I have contributed not only to the initiatives and services that we offer in the Sustainability Office, but across the University and into the wider community.

My initial role was to run some student engagement events such as talks and fair-trade stands. This has grown through taking on extra responsibilities, stepping up to challenges, and leading innovations. The impact has included supporting the delivery of the 2019 ACTS conference, developing and implementing an engagement programme (Green Your Scene), establishing a group of part time employed student leads (Tētēkura), Establishing Te Oraka (The Good Space), integrating a treaty based bicultural approach to sustainability, creating collaborations with groups in the wider community, and developing a brand and engagement strategy for student to student communications and media.

This work has been diverse. This has placed my media skills at the centre of leading change through positivity.
Sustainability Champion – Staff

Liam Hoffman

Resource Recovery Assistant – Compost Master

I manage and run Pōpopo at the Otago Polytechnic/Te Pūkenga, which is the only large-scale composting hub in the New Zealand tertiary sector that recycles all of the food waste produced by our on-campus facilities including our culinary school, student residences, staff common rooms, cafes, and campus organics bins. This food waste is combined with our compostable packaging and gardening waste to produce nutrient-rich compost and vermicompost (worm castings) that is used to feed the various food gardens and permaculture beds we have on campus. These in turn produce free organic foodstuffs for any staff and students that want or need fresh, locally grown produce.

Recycling our organic waste means that we avoid emitting tonnes of highly potent methane and my work alone is the equivalent of taking at least 10 internal combustion vehicles off the roads on an annual basis. As part of my work, I run workshops for the many individuals and organisations that also wish to make a difference and secure a brighter future for us all.
Sustainability Champion – Staff

Melissa Edwards

Director of the Executive MBA program and Research Director of the Centre for Business and Sustainable Development

Melissa is a Director of the Executive MBA program and Research Director of the Centre for Business and Sustainable Development at the UTS Business School. She is also the inaugural Climate Action Fellow for the Australian Business Deans Council. Melissa has won multiple awards for innovation for her expertise in embedding sustainability pedagogy into programs in Business and Transdisciplinary studies and for applied industry research on newly emerging sustainability topics. Globally, she works with colleagues to create and establish the field of sustainability in management education and contributes to two United Nations PRME working groups on the sustainability mindset and an action group on climate and environment.

At UTS and beyond she is a deeply inspiring sustainability practitioner who leads by example, facilitating the involvement of others and mentoring students and peers. She walks the talk by supporting the Higher Education sector to achieve positive climate and sustainability impacts.
Sustainability Champion – Staff

Terese Fiedler

Senior Lecturer in Accounting / Associate Head of Learning and Teaching Performance

Terese Fiedler is a University of Tasmania (UTAS) educator, researcher and the Associate Head of Learning and Teaching for the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics – a ‘warrior’ accountant. She has a passion for changing traditional perceptions about accounting, so it becomes a tool for accountability and sustainability. She has transformed first-year accounting at UTAS, the Accounting Major and High School education so that students know its power for creating a better world. Her research is centred on social and environmental accountability, highlighting the use of accounting for human and planet welfare. She has provided recommendations for changes in taxation to create circular economies and brings this knowledge to the classroom, inspiring real change. Understanding the potential of accounting to empower marginalised groups, she developed the First Nations Accounting Mentoring Program and Indigenised the accounting educational space. Her initiatives, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contribute to a broader societal impact.
Sustainability Champion – Student/Winners

Demi Lawrence

TĒTĒKURA – STUDENT LEAD OF THE SUSTAINABILITY NEIGHBOURHOOD

I will spend about 400 hours on sustainability work this year and spent about 300 last year while studying at University for my future sustainability career – this included my sustainability internship research that showed Dunedin Hospital could halve food waste.

As Students for Environmental Action Otēpoti co-president (2022, 2023), I initiated collaborative relationships with sustainability groups across campus and the community to reduce competition and create greater impact, while also starting a biannual Clothes Swap, now S.E.A’s most popular event.

I successfully proposed being the University Sustainability Office’s first dedicated Tētēkura – Student Lead for the Sustainability Neighbourhood to create peer guidance to help student residents lead sustainable lives.

On a sponsored two-year Student Leadership Award, I am doing hands-on sustainability volunteering.

I aim to do mahi (work) with immediate and long-lasting effects myself, while also taking roles that can influence others and bring people together so sustainability becomes more sustainable.
Sustainability Champion – Student/Winners

Fien Van den Steen

Student Bachelor Environmental Management

Inspiring accessible sustainability. That is my mission. I accomplish this by taking and giving others agency to create ripple effects that contribute to transformative change. A powerful and hopeful antidote to the challenging times we face.

To inspire sustainable and accessible sustainability, I have taken actions aimed at empowering students, staff and the wider community. Since I started studying environmental management two years ago, I have been going above and beyond in student representation from advocating and volunteering for student groups to representing the entire student population as Co-Chair of the Student Senate and member on the University Council. I launched and have been leading the Enactus division at our university over the past year in which we won 2 prizes at the National competition. Finally, I co-launched a series of upskilling sustainability workshops honouring my Green Ambassadorship to Humanitarian Affairs.
Sustainability Champion – Student

Jacinta Wong

Year 4 Medical Student (2022) – currently an intern at Gosford Hospital (2023)

As a medical student at the University of Sydney in 2022 I was involved in promoting and improving sustainability principles at several levels, including at our clinical school, the University, and local health district. I held various student leadership positions, including President of the Northern Clinical School Society (2021), Sustainability Representative for my clinical school on the Sydney Medical School Sustainability Leadership Group, and the Northern Sydney LHD Planetary Health Committee. In these roles, I worked with teams to connect students and junior doctors with tangible sustainability projects – including sustainability education related to the impact of climate change on health and embedding sustainability principles into clinical practice. Since starting my current internship and taking on a new leadership role as the Environmental representative in the Central Coast Resident Medical Officers Association, I feel empowered to continue working towards achieving a Net Zero healthcare system and inspiring change.
Sustainability Champion – Student

Louis Walmsley

SDG Coordinator Monash Association of Sustainability, Office Bearer Monash Student Association’s Environmental and Social Justice Department, Masters of Environment and Sustainability Student

Louis is an exceptional student sustainability leader at Monash University. His passion and dedication to sustainability have made a significant impact on the community. Louis’s values revolve around sustainability, which is evident upon meeting him. He actively participates in various sustainability groups, demonstrating his commitment to creating a more environmentally conscious society.

One of Louis’s notable involvements is with Precious Plastic Monash, where he organizes remarkable events and fosters collaboration among like-minded individuals, student groups, and staff. His contributions to the Monash Association of Sustainability have allowed him to conduct valuable research on plastic usage and climate action, resulting in positive changes within the university.

Through his work with the Monash Student Association, Louis has engaged hundreds of students in fun and interactive sustainability initiatives. He took the initiative to organize a sustainability food fair, which was one of the largest sustainability-related events held at Monash post-COVID. This accomplishment is a true testament to Louis’s hard work and creativity.

Louis is an outstanding student leader whose efforts in sustainability have had a lasting impact on Monash University and its community. His inspiring nature resonates with everyone who knows him.
Sustainability Champion – Student

Madeline Taylor

Master of Environment (Conservation & Restoration) student / Biodiversity Engagement Officer

Urbanisation presents many challenges and opportunities for biodiversity. Species-rich urban spaces are increasingly being acknowledged for their positive impact on human wellbeing and nature connectedness. This motivated me to conduct a research project on the contributions of urban BioBlitzes to local biodiversity knowledge. Findings from my research have informed event design of BioBlitzes I coordinate for staff and students at the University of Melbourne. These events have inspired +80 people to connect with nature and contribute +1,500 biodiversity records to science. I have supported the research of others through co-chairing Victorian Biodiversity Conference, which engaged +600 attendees in the latest ecological research. As an Urban Bushland Initiative committee member, I have fostered community’s connections with nature by delivering three community events, resulting in the construction of several wildlife hollows and planting of +3,400 trees. I aspire to coordinate regional and state-wide projects that enhance and promote our unique urban species.
Sustainability Champion – Student/Winners

Trisha Striker

Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS) fellow

I am passionate about the flourishing of human beings. I believe all people should have the freedom to choose the life that they consider flourishing. My advocacy and actions aim to ensure equality and equity. I am passionate about the health and wellbeing of people from migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker communities here and everywhere.

By providing education about slavery and exploitation, I use my voice to bring visibility to those made invisible in our global supply chains. At the University of Tasmania (UTAS), I work with staff and students to prevent slavery in clothing supply chains through advocating for Fairtrade certification. As a UTAS Sustainability Fellow (SIPS), working over one year, both UTAS and the Tasmanian University Students Association (TUSA) have started to purchase Fairtrade certified products, resulting in a large Tasmanian based supplier stocking Fairtrade certified options for all clients, creating far reaching impacts for the wider community.
Benefitting Society

Griffith University

Performance and Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL): Advancing Climate Care in the Performing Arts

Griffith University’s Performance and Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) is advancing climate care in the performing arts by addressing a critical knowledge gap in how the Australian sector responds to ecological crisis. Through research, collaboration and eco-creative practice, P+ERL supports artists, organisations, educators and cultural institutions to rethink how performance is made, programmed, taught and shared.

Working across national and international partnerships, P+ERL combines bottom-up industry collaboration with top-down policy influence. Its work includes the ARC Linkage project Culture for Climate, eco-literacy and eco-creativity workshops, curriculum development, community-engaged performance projects, and a formal contribution to the National Cultural Policy supported by major industry organisations.

By positioning the performing arts as a powerful vehicle for climate literacy, public reflection and cultural change, P+ERL is helping the sector move beyond resource-intensive production models toward sustainable practice, ecological stewardship and creative climate leadership.
Benefitting Society

Griffith University

Making it Matter: Driving Social Impact Through Community Internships and SDG Partnerships

Griffith University’s ‘Making it Matter’ initiative uses the Community Internship and Partnerships for SDGs course to connect student learning with real-world social and environmental impact. The curriculum-embedded Work Integrated Learning model combines service-learning, community engagement and sustainability education, enabling students to contribute their skills to not-for-profit, public sector and social impact organisations.

Using the United Nations SDGs as the organising framework, students apply disciplinary knowledge to projects addressing issues such as food security, disability inclusion, mental health, homelessness, refugee and migrant support and environmental advocacy. The course transforms internships from workplace exposure into purpose-driven opportunities for meaningful social contribution. By strengthening organisational capacity, expanding equitable access to employability opportunities and building socially responsible graduates, the initiative delivers measurable benefits for students, partners and the communities they serve.
Benefitting Society

Macquarie University

Macquarie University Food Hub: Nourishing Students, Reducing Waste, Building Community

Macquarie University’s Food Hub is a holistic, student-focused initiative addressing rising food insecurity through free and low-cost food access, food literacy, and sustainable food redistribution. The program has evolved from a small breakfast service into a centralised hub offering grocery pick-ups, breakfast and lunch support, cooking workshops, exam-period dinners, Christmas hampers and seasonal support.

By combining immediate food relief with cooking skills, nutrition literacy, community connection and food waste reduction, the Macquarie University Food Hub demonstrates a scalable model for supporting student wellbeing while building more sustainable and resilient food systems.
Benefitting Society

Murdoch University

Connecting children in hospital with nature: eight integrated initiatives

Murdoch University’s ‘Connecting Children in Hospital with Nature’ initiative reconnects children undergoing cancer treatment with the natural environment through accessible, nature-based educational resources focused on native Western Australian plants and ecosystems. Led by Dr Janene Sproul, the project responds to the reality that children in oncology care often spend long periods in highly controlled clinical environments where access to plants, gardens and natural elements is restricted.

The initiative brings together eight interconnected projects, including the Taxonomy Tournament, Nature Cuddlebooks, Forever Flowering Gardens, decodable readers, digital ecosystem games, community garden learning and dieback action programs. These resources are designed for use across hospital, school, home and community settings, supporting wellbeing, learning continuity and ecological literacy.
Benefitting Society

University of Tasmania

Island of Ideas – engaging society for informed change

The University of Tasmania’s Island of Ideas is a flagship public engagement initiative that translates research into accessible knowledge and fosters informed community dialogue. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, the program delivers free, hybrid public events that connect researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and community voices to explore complex societal challenges.

Created in 2020, the program responds to barriers such as geographic isolation, regional access constraints and limited access to expert information. Through in-person events, livestreams, recordings and podcasts, Island of Ideas has reached nearly 90,000 live and virtual participants, with 89% of attendees sharing insights within their networks.

By strengthening community capability, supporting evidence-informed discussion and enabling civic participation, Island of Ideas demonstrates how universities can act as trusted civic convenors. The program provides a scalable model for delivering measurable societal benefit through public knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, community decision-making and ongoing partnerships.
Climate Action

The Australian National University

Becoming Carbon Smart: A multi-dimensional transition

The Australian National University’s Carbon Smart approach is a whole-of-organisation response to climate change, empowering people to make low-emissions choices, embed carbon awareness into decision-making, and direct efforts to where impact is most significant. The program targets emissions reductions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, supporting ANU’s ambition to reach below zero emissions by 2040 while adapting to emerging climate risks.

The multi-dimensional program combines infrastructure transformation, systems change, and behavioural and cultural engagement. This includes electrifying heating with innovative heat pump technologies, transitioning towards 100% market-based renewable electricity, improving building energy performance, transforming their travel policy, mapping value-chain emissions, expanding EV infrastructure, and creating tools and education opportunities for staff and students.

By integrating research, teaching and operations with real-world climate action, ANU’s Carbon Smart approach demonstrates how a large institution can embed climate responsibility across infrastructure, governance, culture and daily decision-making.
Climate Action

Monash University

Decarbonising Pharmaceutical Science: A Whole-of-Institute Climate Health Transformation

Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) is addressing the dual challenge that medicines both respond to and contribute to climate change. Through an institute-wide climate health initiative, MIPS is embedding sustainability across research, education and operations, transforming an energy-intensive research environment into a model for low-carbon innovation.

The initiative has implemented coordinated operational and behavioural change at scale, with 80% of laboratories engaged in My Green Lab certification; the highest number of participating My Green Lab laboratories and Green-level certifications nationwide.

By embedding sustainability capability through staff training, student learning and industry partnerships focused on Scope 3 emissions, the initiative is delivering measurable outcomes. It establishes a scalable, sector-leading model for sustainable pharmaceutical science.
Climate Action

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka - University of Otago

Navigating to Net Zero: Values, Data, Action

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago’s Net Carbon Zero Programme is a whole-of-institution climate action programme designed to deliver the University’s commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Since its inception, the programme has been grounded not only in emissions reduction and scientific rigour, but also in a broader systems view of wellbeing guided by Indigenous knowledge and values. These principles shape both what the programme does, reducing emissions, and how it does it, through partnership, transparency and collective responsibility.

A defining feature is the adoption of a wayfinding approach, inspired by Pacific navigation traditions. This enables adaptive, evidence-based decision-making, supported by staff and student engagement and continuous reassessment of progress in challenging and uncertain times.
Climate Action

University of Technology Sydney

UTS towards Climate Positive

The University of Technology Sydney recognises climate change as one of the greatest existential threats facing the world and was the first Australian university to sign a Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019. Through UTS towards Climate Positive, the University is applying a whole-of-institution approach to decarbonise as rapidly as possible, achieve net zero and become climate positive by 2029.

The Climate Positive Plan provides the framework for action across education, research, operations and engagement. This includes energy efficiency, renewables, electrification, embodied carbon, circular economy and offsets for residual emissions, supported by strong governance, transparent reporting and executive-level commitment.

Over the past two decades, UTS has made significant progress because of their plan and by embedding sustainability and climate action across curriculum, research, campus operations and partnerships, UTS is building institutional capability and supporting broader climate leadership beyond the University.
Sustainability Leadership

University of Technology Sydney

Associate Professor Paul James Brown

Director – Diploma in Innovation, Transdisciplinary School

Associate Professor Paul James Brown has spent the past 15 years spearheading sustainability innovation across teaching, research and organisational strategy at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Through collaborative, future-focused leadership, Paul has helped embed sustainability into curricula, operations and institutional decision-making, while building cross-sector partnerships that address complex sustainability challenges.

As a long-standing member of the UTS Sustainability Steering Committee, Paul has contributed to major initiatives including more ambitious carbon targets, a Green Revolving Fund, renewable energy procurement, divestment and the University’s early Climate Emergency declaration. His teaching and research have engaged thousands of students and staff, informed policy and industry practice, and supported UTS’ transformation into a recognised sustainability leader, including as International Green Gown Awards Sustainability Institution of the Year 2025. By bridging academia and practice, Paul empowers others to act and helps create lasting sustainability capability across the University and beyond.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Curtin University

Wicked Problems, Collaborative Solutions: The Curtin University Sustainability Challenge

Curtin University’s Sustainability Challenge is an intensive, credit-bearing, challenge-based learning unit that equips students with the skills, confidence and experience to respond to complex sustainability problems. Delivered over one week during the mid-year trimester break, the program brings together students from across disciplines to work in interdisciplinary teams on real sustainability briefs posed by industry, government, community and university partners.

Structured around the themes of net zero emissions, circular economy and nature positive outcomes, the Challenge mirrors professional sustainability practice. Students work under genuine time pressure, receive mentoring from academic and industry experts, and present their solutions at a public showcase attended by partners, university staff and community members.
Student Champion

Griffith University

Hosna Saba

Biomedical Science Student, Leader of the Refugee Background Student Success Program and Founder of the Rising Phoenix Association

Ms Hosna Saba is a Biomedical Science student at Griffith University and founder of the Rising Phoenix Association, a student-led initiative supporting inclusive, sustainable community-building. Drawing on her lived experience as a refugee student, Hosna has created welcoming spaces where students from refugee, multicultural and diverse backgrounds can build confidence, connection and practical life skills.

Through her leadership, Hosna has made sustainability more accessible by linking it with belonging, wellbeing, low-cost living, cultural exchange and participation. Her work demonstrates how student-led social sustainability can strengthen community resilience and create a more inclusive campus culture.
Nature Positive

UNSW Sydney

UNSW Nature Positive - Delivering net gain in Nature Value across a major urban campus

UNSW Sydney’s Nature Positive initiative demonstrates how a major urban university can deliver measurable biodiversity improvement while continuing to grow. Through an institution-wide approach, UNSW has transformed biodiversity from a series of isolated greening projects into a measurable organisational performance outcome.

The initiative established a bespoke Nature Value metric, created a campus baseline, embedded biodiversity requirements into planning and operations, and introduced transparent governance, monitoring and reporting. By 2024, UNSW achieved its Environmental Sustainability Plan target of net gain in Nature Value across the Kensington campus and maintaining this result in 2025.
Digital Futures

University of Technology Sydney

Energy Intelligence: An AI-Driven Building Optimisation Program for a Smarter, Lower-Carbon Campus

The University of Technology Sydney’s Energy Intelligence project uses advanced data analytics and AI-driven insights to optimise building performance and reduce campus emissions. Launched in May 2024 as part of UTS’s Building Optimisation Strategy, the program draws on existing data sources, including half-hourly electricity metering, WiFi-derived occupancy data, HVAC telemetry, building management systems and weather data.

Led by the Data, Analytics and Insights Unit in partnership with Facilities and Operations, the initiative applies machine-learning forecasting, anomaly detection and signal processing to identify where, when and why energy is used. These insights have directly informed decisions on lighting controls, building closures, cleaning schedules and demand management. By using existing data rather than capital-intensive retrofits, UTS demonstrates how digital insight can drive measurable sustainability gains and support a smarter, lower-carbon campus.
Powerful Partnerships

University of the Sunshine Coast

UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation

The UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation is a place-based partnership between the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and Turtles in Trouble Rescue Inc. Established on Butchulla Country, the Centre integrates First Nations knowledge, Western science, specialist wildlife care and community engagement to support sea turtle conservation on the Fraser Coast.

The Centre was developed in response to increasing sea turtle strandings and mortalities following extreme weather events in 2021–22, and the absence of a local treatment facility. Since opening in May 2026, the Centre has improved local triage and treatment capacity, reducing the need for injured turtles to be transported long distances for care. By combining research, rehabilitation, cultural governance, education and digital engagement, the UniSC Milbi Centre demonstrates a powerful partnership model delivering environmental, cultural, social and educational impact.
Sustainability Institution of the Year

Auckland University of Technology

Perseverance with Purpose – Sustainability at AUT

Auckland University of Technology’s Perseverance with Purpose – Sustainability at AUT reflects a whole-of-institution commitment to embedding sustainability across learning and teaching, research, leadership and governance, facilities and operations, and partnerships and engagement. Since launching its first Sustainability Plan in 2018, AUT has worked steadily towards 2025 targets, using influence, reporting, collaboration and practical action to drive progress despite limited dedicated sustainability funding.

The initiative has delivered measurable outcomes across the University. Between 2020 and 2025, the proportion of students enrolled in one or more sustainability-focused course increased from 10% to 20%, while SDG-related research outputs increased from 17% to 36%. Operationally, AUT reduced carbon emissions by 34% between 2018 and 2025, reduced air travel emissions by 48%, improved waste diversion, introduced compostable collections across three campuses and planted 59 different species of native plants.

By combining persistence, executive support, cross-functional collaboration and staff and student engagement, AUT demonstrates how a university can make significant sustainability progress through existing systems, budgets and relationships.
Powerful Partnerships

Griffith University

25 Years of Shared Leadership for Sustainability Education: the EcoCentre Partnership

Griffith University’s EcoCentre partnership is a 25-year collaboration with the Queensland Department of Education that connects P–12 education, tertiary learning, environmental research and community engagement through place-based sustainability education. Located on the remnant ecosystems of Toohey Forest at Griffith’s Brisbane South campus, the partnership provides a living laboratory where school students, university students, educators and community members engage directly with biodiversity, climate and sustainability challenges. The partnership delivers hands-on co-designed programs, shared governance and joint investment, which have sustained the partnership across changing educational and environmental needs.
Student Champion

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago

Lily Bond

Master of International Development and Planning Student & Tētēkura at Toitū te Taiao Otago University’s Sustainability Office

Lily is a Master of International Development and Planning student and a Tētēkura, student sustainability leader, with Toitū te Taiao, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago’s Sustainability Office. As Operations Lead for Te Oraka, Lily supports student-led circular economy initiatives that connect sustainability with affordability, wellbeing and community.

Through her leadership, Te Oraka has become a high-impact student sustainability space, redistributing clothing, bikes and e-rescue items while creating accessible events, paid student opportunities and strong digital engagement. Guided by care for Papatūānuku, student voice and community-centred sustainability, Lily’s work demonstrates how circular economy practice can become part of everyday student culture.
Sustainability Leadership

University of Tasmania

Mary Gill

Waste Officer

Mary Gill is the Waste Officer at the University of Tasmania, where she leads the operational side of waste management and champions the University’s Reuse Program. Mary brings practical problem-solving, strong values and infectious enthusiasm to her work, helping staff rethink waste as a resource and find better outcomes for materials that might otherwise end up in landfill.

Through her leadership, UTAS has achieved major waste reduction outcomes ahead of target, including a 41% reduction in waste to landfill in 2024. Mary’s work has supported large-scale reuse across campus relocations and building upgrades, with furniture and equipment repurposed within the University and donated to community groups across Tasmania. Her people-centred, solutions-focused approach has delivered environmental, financial and social benefits, earning recognition through the TEFMA Sustainability Clever Campus Award and Circular North Waste NoT Awards.
Student Engagement

The Australian National University

Campus as classroom: ANU Green’s work-integrated sustainability internships

The Australian National University’s ‘Campus as Classroom’ initiative brings students directly into the University’s operational sustainability work through work-integrated internships, course-embedded projects and collaborative learning opportunities. The program treats the campus as a living classroom, where students contribute to real institutional sustainability challenges while developing practical skills for future careers.

Through co-designed projects, students work alongside professional sustainability staff to investigate, shape and deliver work that supports ANU’s environmental goals. The program connects students from diverse disciplines with applied sustainability practice, helping them understand how climate action, resource efficiency, behaviour change and governance are addressed within a complex organisation.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Flinders University

Embedding sustainability in teaching through a Gamified Sustainability Learning Lab

Flinders University’s ‘Gamified Sustainability Learning Lab’ is a digital learning initiative designed to embed sustainability principles and practices across disciplines, education levels and learning contexts. The Learning Lab includes three connected layers: interactive microlearning content, a first-person sustainable city design game, and a multiplayer Sustainable Development Goals role-playing game.

Since its development, the Learning Lab has engaged more than 1,000 learners across high school, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional contexts. Developed through the University’s Embedding Sustainability in Teaching scheme, the project demonstrates how institutional strategy can move beyond policy by funding practical, scalable tools that support academics to integrate sustainability into everyday teaching.
Staff Champion

The Australian National University

Millan Pintos-Lopez

Head of Operations, Residential Experience Division

As Head of Operations for the Australian National University (ANU) Residential Experience Division, Millan Pintos-Lopez oversees the facilities and services that support more than 5,500 students living on campus. While sustainability is not a formal part of his role, Millan has made it central to his leadership, driving practical initiatives that reduce the environmental footprint of the ANU residential community.

Since taking on the role, Millan has led a suite of improvements across the residential estate, including redesigned end-of-year waste infrastructure, expanding reuse and donation pathways, adding recycling streams and a formal sustainability interface between the Division and its facilities management contractor. Through personal initiative and stakeholder collaboration, Millan is embedding sustainability into the everyday operations of campus residential life.
Powerful Partnerships

The University of Sydney

The Wiser Healthcare NetZero Leads Partnership

The University of Sydney’s Wiser Healthcare NetZero Leads Partnership is a co-designed collaboration helping to decarbonise clinical care across NSW Health. The partnership brings together the University’s Wiser Healthcare research group, NSW Health’s Climate Risk and Net Zero Unit, ten clinician Net Zero Leads, the Agency for Clinical Innovation, Health Consumers NSW and the HEAL Network to address healthcare’s significant carbon footprint.

The partnership supports clinician-led decarbonisation projects across high-impact clinical areas, including anaesthetics, pharmacy, emergency care, intensive care, allied health, surgery and medical imaging. By combining frontline clinical expertise with academic rigour, policy alignment and translation pathways, the initiative evaluates carbon, cost and care-quality outcomes together.
Sustainability Leadership

Macquarie University

John Macris

Biodiversity Advisor

John Macris has led high-impact biodiversity initiatives across 17 years as Biodiversity Advisor at Macquarie University, delivering measurable ecological outcomes while helping transform the campus into a living laboratory for interdisciplinary learning. Through strong partnerships across faculties, curriculum-aligned field experiences and international study tour opportunities, John has embedded biodiversity into teaching, research and student engagement.

John developed the biodiversity KPI for the University’s Sustainability-Linked Loan, only the second of its kind in Australia, creating a peer-reviewed, data-driven framework to measure forest condition and restoration. His leadership has also supported restoration of the endangered Turpentine-Ironbark Forest and long-term rehabilitation of Mars Creek. His work demonstrates how operational sustainability, research and education can be integrated to deliver lasting environmental and institutional value.
Creating Impact

Massey University

Rage to Rags

Rage to Rags is a creative, low-cost circular economy initiative led by Te Paepto Seedlings at Massey University. The project responded to a local op shop’s challenge of managing large volumes of unsellable textile donations by connecting the shop with local mechanics who could reuse the materials as workshop rags.

To support the initiative, the team hosted a student “Rage to Rags” event during exam season, where students helped rip unusable textiles into rags while releasing stress in a fun, practical and purposeful way. The event raised awareness of local waste challenges, engaged students in hands-on sustainability action, and helped prepare materials for reuse by mechanics.

The project has created an ongoing relationship between the op shop and local mechanics, reducing waste to landfill, generating a new income stream for the hospice supported by the op shop, and replacing imported rags with a local, lower-impact alternative. It demonstrates how simple community connections can unlock practical circular economy solutions.
Staff Champion

Victoria University

Celeste Young

Collaborative Research Fellow

For over a decade, Celeste Young has worked alongside communities, volunteers and emergency management organisations to help Australia adapt to the growing impacts of climate-driven disasters. Grounded in the belief that those most affected hold valuable knowledge and solutions, Celeste’s work brings community voices into critical conversations about recovery, volunteering, inclusion and capability.

Through community-engaged research, workshops and long-term partnerships, her work has influenced Australia’s Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, informed the National Emergency Volunteering Strategy, shaped recovery policy following the Black Summer bushfires, and supported workforce capability planning across emergency management and beyond. Celeste’s leadership is helping communities, institutions and emergency management systems better adapt, respond and thrive in an increasingly uncertain climate future.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

University of Technology Sydney

Transformative Learning at Scale: A University-Wide Transdisciplinary Electives Program

The University of Technology Sydney’s Transdisciplinary Electives Program embeds learning across all undergraduate degrees, ensuring every UTS student develops the capability to work across disciplines, sectors and perspectives. Through eight innovative subjects, each co-designed with an industry, community or government partner, students engage with real-world sustainability and societal challenges as a core part of their degree.

By embedding authentic partner engagement at scale, the program helps students move beyond learning about sustainability to learning for sustainability. It builds systems thinking, collaboration, creativity, reflexivity and professional confidence, while generating fresh insights and practical value for partner organisations and wider society.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Western Sydney University

Integrating regenerative living labs in science curriculum

Western Sydney University’s ‘Integrating Regenerative Living Labs in Science Curriculum’ initiative embeds the Hawkesbury campus’s unique environmental and agricultural assets directly into science teaching and learning. The program uses regenerative agriculture, water recycling, biodiversity stewardship, emerging rewilding initiatives and digital tools such as GIS, drones and AI as practical learning environments for students.

By integrating campus operations, curriculum, data stewardship and industry-relevant skills development, the initiative supports job-ready graduates equipped to respond to climate change, nature risk and evolving land management challenges in Western Sydney and beyond.
Powerful Partnerships

The University of Melbourne

Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition

The University of Melbourne’s Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition is a cross-sector partnership supporting health service staff to design and deliver sustainable healthcare quality improvement projects. Led by the Melbourne Medical School Sustainable Healthcare Team and delivered with university-affiliated health services, the competition combines training, practical tools, local support, impact measurement and recognition to help staff improve care while reducing emissions, waste and costs.

Over four years, 76 projects have been submitted, collectively delivering site-reported savings of almost $3 million, approximately 3,700 tCO₂e avoided, 69 tonnes of waste diverted and more than 800,000 items kept from landfill. The partnership demonstrates how universities and health services can work together to build sustainable healthcare capability and scale local innovation.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Envirotech Education

Removing barriers to sustainable blue economy careers: bilingual, on Country cross-cultural marine VET pathways

Envirotech Education’s initiative creates inclusive, accredited marine conservation training pathways for learners who have historically been excluded from tertiary and vocational education. Through bilingual, on-Country delivery, community-controlled governance and practical conservation placements, the program supports diverse learners to access sustainable careers.

The initiative centres on Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration VET qualifications developed by Envirotech with community and industry partners. Delivery is shaped through partnerships, including Traditional Owner organisations, research institutions and marine conservation partners. The model demonstrates how inclusive vocational education can remove barriers, build local capability and create pathways into marine conservation, restoration and climate-resilient livelihoods.
Student Champion

Griffith University

Natalia Drazek

Bachelor of Environmental Science / Bachelor of Business

Miss Natalia Drazek is a Griffith University student studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science / Bachelor of Business. Her work as a sustainability student champion connects research, student engagement and community partnerships to create practical, scalable impact.

Through her leadership, Natalia has contributed to circular economy research, student food security, community-based conservation and international sustainability projects. Her approach focuses on translating complex sustainability challenges into accessible programs, tools and partnerships that benefit students, communities and organisations.

By combining research capability with student-led action, Natalia has demonstrated how young leaders can create measurable environmental and social outcomes while building pathways for ongoing sustainability impact beyond university.
Creating Impact

The University of Melbourne

Sustainability Week 2025: Driving Behaviour Change at Scale

The University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Week 2025 was a flagship, university-wide initiative designed to drive behaviour change at scale. The program engaged more than 2,000 students, staff and community members through 42+ events delivered across five themed days, moving beyond awareness-raising to embed sustainability into the student and staff experience.

Delivered through a collaborative, community-led model, Sustainability Week connected institutional frameworks including Melbourne Plus and Green Impact, creating clear pathways for continued engagement beyond the event itself. The program addressed key sustainability priorities including circular economy, climate action, biodiversity, health and wellbeing, and social sustainability.

By combining large-scale engagement with structured follow-on opportunities, Sustainability Week 2025 created a scalable model for long-term cultural change. It strengthened cross-campus collaboration, increased participation in sustainability programs, and contributed directly to the University of Melbourne Sustainability Plan 2030.
Creating Impact

The University of Sydney

Beyond the Cohort: Building Sustainable Systems in Healthcare Education

The University of Sydney’s Beyond the Cohort: Building Sustainable Systems in Healthcare Education addresses the environmental impact of clinical simulation, one of the most consumable-intensive teaching environments in health education. The project responds to a sector gap by creating sustainability guidelines, waste diversion pathways and reuse protocols for simulation settings without compromising educational quality or clinical fidelity.

Led by a small Faculty of Medicine and Health team using faculty operational funding, the project established a structured waste diversion workflow through Medcycle, embedded a sustainability learning module into simulation teaching, and developed co-designed guidelines now adopted across multiple sites. The project has also produced a peer-reviewed publication, practical guidelines for sector-wide adoption, and an invitation to present at Laerdal Medical’s SUN Conference 2026, demonstrating its value as a scalable model for embedding sustainability into healthcare education.
Sustainability Institution of the Year

The University of Melbourne

Closing the Loop: A Whole-of-Estate Circular Economy Program

The University of Melbourne’s Closing the Loop: A Whole-of-Estate Circular Economy Program embeds circular economy principles across the University’s physical estate, from demolition and capital works to daily waste management, events, dining and student engagement. Rather than treating circular economy as a standalone initiative, the program integrates reuse, donation, recovery, procurement and behaviour change into the way the University builds, operates and connects with its community.

Through contractual sustainability targets, reusable service ware, asset recovery, Indigenous procurement, volunteer engagement and transparent reporting, the University demonstrates how circular economy can be delivered at scale. The program creates environmental, financial and social value while influencing contractor behaviour and sector practice beyond the campus.
Nature Positive

University of Technology Sydney

Coral Nurture Program

The University of Technology Sydney’s Coral Nurture Program is a science-led, industry-supported reef restoration initiative working to restore high-value sites across the Great Barrier Reef. In partnership with Wavelength Reef Cruises and other tourism operators, researchers, Traditional Owners and local communities, the program combines coral propagation, outplanting and long-term monitoring to enhance biodiversity, coral cover and ecosystem resilience.

By embedding restoration into tourism operations, the Coral Nurture Program demonstrates how conservation, science, community stewardship and reef-based livelihoods can reinforce one another. With more than 133,000 corals planted across 119 species, the program provides a scalable model for achieving nature-positive outcomes while supporting climate resilience, education and global reef restoration practice.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

The University of Melbourne

The Undergraduate Chemistry Practical Subject Rejuvenation

The University of Melbourne’s Undergraduate Chemistry Practical Subject Rejuvenation has transformed first-year laboratory education by embedding sustainability into both curriculum and laboratory practice. Reaching more than 3,000 students annually, the initiative ensures future scientists learn to consider environmental impact, resource use, waste management and safer chemical practices alongside scientific technique and experimental outcomes.

The project redesigned the practical chemistry program to include sustainability as an explicit learning outcome, with each experiment incorporating a defined sustainability takeaway. Students now learn in laboratories that model best practice through reusable materials, optimised reaction scales, improved waste systems, sustainable procurement and safer chemical substitutions.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Wodonga Institute of TAFE

Growing Belonging

Wodonga Institute of TAFE’s ‘Growing Belonging’ project created an inclusive community garden learning environment for English language students, connecting language development with sustainability, wellbeing and community participation. Designed for culturally and linguistically diverse learners, including students from refugee backgrounds, the project moved learning beyond the classroom into a hands-on outdoor space where communication could develop naturally through shared tasks.

Co-designed by the Environmental Strategic Project Lead and English Language educators, the garden enabled 42 students to contribute to planting decisions, composting, worm farming, food growing, watering, harvesting and garden care. Learners used English in authentic, low-pressure settings while drawing on their own cultural knowledge, agricultural experience and lived expertise.
Student Champion

Murdoch University

Chloe Elsegood

Bachelor of Science, Honours

Chloe is a Bachelor of Science Honours student at Murdoch University whose leadership has delivered practical biodiversity and student engagement outcomes through the Murdoch Community Garden. As Secretary and then President, Chloe initiated and led a native bushland revegetation project at the Environmental Technology Centre site, creating new habitat while strengthening student connection to campus nature.

The project restored approximately 975m² of bushland, including a 140m² Miyawaki Forest planted with locally native species. Through grant funding, stakeholder collaboration and volunteer engagement, Chloe created a lasting educational and ecological asset that supports native wildlife, student learning and ongoing community stewardship.
Digital Futures

University of Tasmania

Digital Futures for Sustainability: Embedding Impact Across Systems, Behaviour and Scale

The University of Tasmania has developed a sector-leading digital futures sustainability model that embeds environmental and social impact directly into digital systems, decisions and behaviours. The initiative moves beyond isolated projects by integrating sustainability across the digital ecosystem, from IT asset lifecycle management to responsible AI use and low-carbon digital marketing.

By embedding sustainability into digital platforms, AI guidance frameworks and marketing technologies, the University enables real-time, data-informed decision-making at scale. In 2025, the model diverted 728 devices from landfill, avoided 3.9 tonnes of e-waste, recovered around $31,000 in asset value, and reduced digital marketing emissions by 33–48%, while improving campaign performance.

Distinctively, the model links operations with behaviour change, empowering students and staff to make informed digital choices. This integrated, scalable approach demonstrates how digital transformation can accelerate sustainability outcomes across institutions and beyond.
Nature Positive

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Growing our Future

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington’s Growing our Future project is regenerating native forest on a 26-hectare site on the edge of Wellington, creating a restoration area larger than all the University’s campuses combined. Developed in partnership with Wellington City Council, the project responds to the limited space available for large-scale biodiversity enhancement on the University’s urban campuses by restoring nearby public land within the city’s Outer Green Belt.

Since 2021, the project has planted more than 28,000 native trees, helping to close a gap in a corridor of native habitat along Wellington’s western ridge. The restored site provides a stepping stone for native fauna, including kiwi, while contributing to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, soil stabilisation, water filtration and community access to nature.
Powerful Partnerships

Climate Scenarios Working Group

A sector-wide partnership to navigate climate futures

The Climate Scenarios Working Group brought together twelve Australian universities through the ACTS network to create the sector’s first shared climate scenario framework. Inspired by earlier work in Aotearoa New Zealand, the partnership recognised that climate change presents shared, systemic risks that are better addressed through collective action than isolated institutional efforts.

By pooling funding, expertise and delivery capacity, the partnership avoided duplication, reduced costs and created a publicly available framework now being used to inform climate risk assessments, strategic planning and sustainability reporting. The collaboration has since evolved into an expanded Climate Risk and Adaptation Group, demonstrating lasting sector value.
Sustainability Leadership

The University of Melbourne

Raveena Grace

Sustainability Coordinator

Raveena Grace is the Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Melbourne and a passionate sustainability leader dedicated to empowering staff and students to create positive change. Driven by a belief in the power of collective action, Raveena designs programs that inspire individuals to become changemakers within their communities.

Over the past eight years, Raveena has led flagship initiatives including Green Impact, Sustainability Week, the Sustainability Awards, Sustainability Advocates and sustainable events programs, engaging tens of thousands of people in sustainability action. Her leadership has delivered more than 8,700 verified sustainability actions, over 1,000 events, and significant environmental outcomes through waste reduction, reuse and emissions reduction. Through sector-leading tools such as the Sustainable Events Framework, Environmental Management System and ACTS Sustainable Events Certification, Raveena’s work is creating lasting behavioural and cultural change within the University and across the global Green Impact network.
Staff Champion

Murdoch University

Dr Grey Coupland

Research Fellow – Ecology

Dr Grey Coupland developed and leads Murdoch University’s Miyawaki Forest Outreach Program, empowering students and communities to create dense native pocket forests that support urban greening, biodiversity restoration and climate action. Since 2021, the program has grown to 24 school and community forests, engaged more than 5,200 participants, and generated over 40,000 citizen-science data points on biodiversity, soil health and urban cooling.

By combining circular-economy composting, hands-on ecological restoration, STEM learning and long-term forest monitoring, Grey has helped transform schools into living laboratories and supported communities to take practical environmental action. The program has informed WA’s approach to urban greening, received UNESCO Green Citizens recognition, and gained national finalist recognition through the Banksia Foundation Awards and Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, demonstrating meaningful environmental and societal impact beyond the university.
Staff Champion

The University of Western Australia

Ibrahim Faseeh

Manager, Research Operations, Minderoo OceanOmics Centre

Ibrahim Faseeh is the Manager, Research Operations at the Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at The University of Western Australia, where he oversees laboratory operations, safety, resource management, and sustainability initiatives within advanced wet laboratory research environments.

With a strong background in quality assurance, operational management, and regulatory compliance in life science research, Ibrahim is passionate about improving the environmental sustainability of research laboratories through practical and evidence-based solutions. He has led the implementation of internationally recognised laboratory sustainability frameworks, helping the OceanOmics Centre become the first research laboratory in Western Australia to achieve My Green Lab Green certification and the first laboratory at UWA to achieve LEAF Gold certification.

Through collaboration, staff engagement, and operational leadership, Ibrahim continues to champion sustainable laboratory practices and contribute to broader institutional sustainability initiatives across the university sector.
Student Champion

University of Tasmania

Jack Oates Pryor

President, Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA)

Jack Oates Pryor is President of the Tasmanian University Student Association and a student sustainability leader committed to embedding student voice, equity and sustainability into university governance and student life. Through a Students-as-Partners approach, Jack has worked to move beyond consultation towards genuine co-design between students, TUSA and the University of Tasmania.

Jack’s leadership has supported major student wellbeing, food security, transport, reconciliation and governance initiatives across Tasmania. By connecting environmental, social and economic sustainability, Jack has helped strengthen student participation, expand support services and embed values-driven decision-making across institutional systems.
Sustainability Institution of the Year

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka/University of Otago

Tī Kōuka: A vision of a thriving future

Tī Kōuka: A vision of a thriving future is Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago’s institution-wide sustainability framework, moving sustainability from aspiration into measurable action. Grounded in mātauraka Māori and shaped by the characteristics of the Tī Kōuka tree valued by Kāi Tahu Whānui, the framework provides a shared, place-based approach for embedding sustainability across governance, operations, research, education, student life and external impact.

Co-led by Toitū te Taiao and the Office of Māori Development, Tī Kōuka positions Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago as a Tiriti-led, regenerative university. It has supported major progress, including a 32% reduction in total emissions since 2019, 45% reduction in staff air travel emissions, 68% reduction in landfill emissions, and growing integration of sustainability across curriculum and research.

Through localised planning, student leadership, mātauraka Māori, operational innovation and community partnerships, Tī Kōuka demonstrates how a university can embed sustainability as a whole-of-institution responsibility and create long-term cultural, environmental and social change.
Student Champion

The University of Queensland

Megan Barkman

Masters Student of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Megan Barkman is a Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering student at The University of Queensland whose leadership has strengthened student engagement, climate education and environmental action across campus. Through roles including President of the UQ Climate and Energy Society and UQ Union Environment Officer, Megan has created opportunities for students to engage with sustainability through discussion, practical action, industry connection and cross-political collaboration.

Her work has helped students build confidence, connect with professionals and contribute to campus sustainability strategy. By creating initiatives designed to last beyond individual leadership cycles, Megan has helped embed a stronger culture of climate action, biodiversity awareness and student-led sustainability at UQ.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

University of Tasmania

This is Me - Innovation and leadership matter for inclusivity

The University of Tasmania’s ‘This is Me’ project is a whole-of-system identity transformation designed to ensure everyone can have their names, pronouns, titles and gender accurately reflected across university systems. Created in response to gender-diverse staff and students reporting exclusionary identity update processes, the project replaces manual, inconsistent workflows with self-service, real-time identity updates across more than 100 IT systems.

Co-designed with lived-experience participants, the project prioritised user dignity and safety over technical convenience. ‘This is Me’ demonstrates how inclusive digital infrastructure can reduce harm, improve data integrity, strengthen belonging and set a new benchmark for diversity, equity and inclusion in tertiary education.
Sustainability Leadership

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / University of Otago

Dr Ray O’Brien

Tumuaki / Head of Sustainability

Dr Ray O’Brien has led research-informed, whole-of-institution change towards a more sustainable and Tiriti-led university through the Leadership by Learning Design model he developed. As Tumuaki / Head of Sustainability, Ray co-led the development of Tī Kōuka: The Sustainability Strategic Framework, that has reshaped how Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / University of Otago governs, teaches, researches and operates.

Ray’s leadership is grounded in active decolonisation, embracing complexity, futures thinking and transformational learning experiences. As an ally, his approach is to create space, support others to lead and help embed sustainability across learning, research and operations. This work has contributed a significant number of papers and publications aligning to the SDGs, a reduction in total emissions, and award-winning, sector-leading practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Student Engagement

Auckland University of Technology

Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders at AUT

Auckland University of Technology’s ‘Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders’ program supports students to engage with sustainability through practical, inclusive and community-focused action. Delivered through a combination of staff-supported activities and student-led initiatives, the program creates accessible pathways for students to build confidence, develop leadership skills and contribute to sustainability across campus life.

Through Green Impact and a range of hands-on engagement opportunities, students are supported to move from participation into leadership, designing and delivering projects that reflect their interests and communities. The program has strengthened student agency, built cross-campus collaboration and embedded sustainability as a shared part of the student experience. AUT has created a scalable model for student engagement that develops future sustainability leaders while delivering social, environmental and wellbeing benefits across the university community.
Powerful Partnerships

Victoria University

Stopping Broken Powerlines Before They Spark Disaster

Victoria University’s ‘Stopping Broken Powerlines Before They Spark Disaster’ is an eight-year partnership with Powercor addressing a critical bushfire protection gap in rural and regional electricity infrastructure. The project responds to the risks posed by ageing Single Wire Earth Return powerlines, which supply electricity across approximately 200,000 kilometres of rural and regional Australia and can ignite vegetation if they break while energised.

The initiative combines Victoria University’s research capability with Powercor’s live-network access, operational expertise and field crews. Now trialled across five regional Victorian SWER networks and moving towards rollout across ten additional networks by 2027, the project demonstrates how sustained university–industry collaboration can deliver practical climate resilience and public safety outcomes.
Creating Impact

University of Tasmania

Circular creativity student workshops

The University of Tasmania’s Circular Creativity Student Workshops is a youth-led project demonstrating how students can inspire community hope and practical sustainability action with limited resources. The project promoted upcycling and encouraged participants to see potential in everyday waste items, while also responding to student cost-of-living pressures by creating opportunities for connection, creativity, saving money and reducing waste.

Seven student leaders from the Student Living University Gardening Society, across Hobart and Sandy Bay, and Togatus student magazine collaborated to design and deliver the project. Supported by a Youth Climate Action Fund microgrant, they co-designed and ran three participatory workshops across two campuses, engaging 35 participants, 80% of whom were young people.

Through the workshops, students upcycled waste materials into 12 food garden beds, created origami seed packets from old magazines, and generated online engagement. The project demonstrates a low-cost, replicable model for community-centred circular economy action that builds skills, confidence, social connection and sustainability leadership.
Student Engagement

Charles Sturt University

Student Voices, Sustainable Choices: Leading Impact from the Ground Up

Charles Sturt University’s ‘Student Voices, Sustainable Choices’ initiative empowers students to lead sustainability action through its Student Sustainability Advisers program. Now in its eighth year, the program uses a peer-to-peer model where students design and deliver initiatives that resonate with their campus communities.

Supported by the University’s Sustainability team, advisers help embed sustainable behaviours into everyday student life through education, events, volunteering, resource reuse and community engagement. The program strengthens student leadership while extending the reach of a small professional sustainability team across regional campuses.

By giving students paid, practical experience in sustainability engagement, the initiative builds confidence, employability and a stronger culture of care for people, place and the environment.