2023 Sustainability Report
Engagement and partnerships
Domain: Mobilising knowledge for action
Aspiration to 2030: Our partners, collaborators and associated stakeholders have increased their sustainability performance through meaningful engagement and partnerships with the University.
Progress against targets
| Target | Target status | Progress in 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| The University’s community partnerships demonstrate localised and co-created approaches to sustainability. |  In progress |
|
| The University has led or influenced discussions with precinct partners to further precinct-specific approaches to sustainability. | In progress |
|
| The University plays a leading and convening role on sustainability challenges and opportunities internationally, with particular focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Asia and the Pacific. | In progress |
|
Explore our progress
and our stories
Our stories
Indigenous-led design guidelines for Fishermans Bend campus
Currently under development, the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct aspires to be a vibrant place of large-scale research and project-based learning that creates interdisciplinary collaboration and deepens the University’s partnerships with industry. The new campus will be located on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung / Bunurong Country, in a landscape which has been a significant place of knowledge, learning and innovation.
In 2023, place-specific Ngargee Design Guidelines were developed through an Indigenous-led co-design process with representatives of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Boon Wurrung Foundation and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. Ngargee is a word shared amongst the wurrung language groups of the Kulin Nation meaning ‘gathering to celebrate’, a sacred ceremonial meeting of many different people for the purpose of connecting through ritual, song and dance.
The guidelines support the process and delivery of First Nations co-design through concept, schematic and detailed design phases of the Fishermans Bend campus. They present a vision for the precinct as ‘a place which reflects "Country", providing opportunities for two-way learning, where everyone can appreciate and celebrate the richness of Australia’s First Nations Peoples heritage, reconnect with the environment and engage with the world’s oldest surviving culture.’ Ngargee Design Guidelines, p.32
Supporting evidence-based and data-driven sustainability policies in Victoria
Researchers in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) partnered with the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (CES) Victoria to support evidenced-based sustainability policy and decision-making. Professor Abbas Rajabifard and colleagues in FEIT’s Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration developed tools and dashboards for the CES to align its work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These tools enable CES decision-makers and stakeholders to examine different scenarios, quantifying benefits and trade-offs to develop data-driven and evidence-based sustainability policies. The project highlighted the challenges of sourcing and preparing localised data addressing SDG indicators, with researchers carefully addressing data discrepancy issues and making reasonable assumptions to enable effective use of the data available. Read more about sustainability in initiatives in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology: FEIT Sustainability Portfolio (unimelb.edu.au)
Collaborating with Victorian Government on the Environmental Sustainability in Schools policy
Researchers from the Faculty of Education and policy-makers from the Victorian Government Department of Education partnered in 2023 to develop a new ‘Environmental Sustainability in Schools’ policy for Victoria’s 2700+ schools. The new policy provides resources and guidance for schools to implement a whole-school approach to environmental sustainability. The policy covers six priority areas: school leadership, facilities and operations, teaching and learning, community partnerships, Koorie perspectives, and student-led action.
The partnerships-focused project involved collaboration between the Department of Education, the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) project, led by Professor Marcia McKenzie in the Faculty of Education, and additional researchers across the University. Sustainability education specialists at Sustainability Victoria, as well as with other stakeholders across the state, also provided important input. This included a scoping workshop and a series of consultations with peak school bodies, youth organisations, school and student representatives, and a range of education and climate change stakeholders. The finalised policy includes guidelines and resources for implementation. Explore the Environmental Sustainability in Schools policy video.
Exploring possibilities for urban retrofitting in Melbourne and beyond
The Retrofit Symposium in November 2023 brought together academic, government and industry experts to advance Australian cities’ transformation through retrofitting, a resource-efficient approach that enhances environmental standards while preserving cultural integrity. The two-day event, convened by Professor Sarah Bell and colleagues from the University’s Retrofit Lab, featured keynotes, panel discussions and site visits, offering a platform for knowledge exchange. Keynote presentations explored the boundaries and possibilities of retrofitting and shared transformative refurbishment stories. Panel discussions covered diverse topics, including decision-making processes, First Nations knowledge integration, and residential and commercial building retrofits. The symposium established a consortium for ongoing innovation and collaboration in local precincts like Fishermans Bend and the Arden Urban Retrofit Project, mobilising knowledge for action towards a sustainable urban future. Watch sessions from the symposium on the Melbourne School of Design YouTube channel.
Reach Alliance: Student-led sustainable development research in India and Guatemala
The Reach Alliance is a global partnership to mobilise sustainability knowledge for action. Reach is a network of eight top global universities, including the University of Melbourne, collaborating to support the world’s most marginalised. In 2023, the University supported two student teams to undertake research projects in India and Guatemala. Supported by professional coaching and expert mentors, student researchers conducted field research to investigate how sustainable development programs are engaging communities, and distil key learnings to inform global good practice.
Team India investigated how a local non-profit can scale its work addressing depressive and anxiety disorders without compromising service quality. Team Guatemala researched how empowering local education leaders can increase the relevance and quality of education outcomes in rural and Indigenous communities. Both teams were multidisciplinary, with students from public policy, international development, education and science backgrounds working together on projects with benefits for host communities and learning opportunities for the students. Master of Development Studies student Daniela gained a new perspective from completing the research project with Team Guatemala: “I developed my Sustainability Advocacy capability by joining the Reach Alliance,” says Daniela, “One thing I learnt from this is that development should be community-led and that, as external actors, we shouldn’t be importing solutions or ignoring the context in which we are working. This leads to a higher ownership of the projects by locals, sustainable results, and broader positive impacts." Read more about the Reach Alliance and how students can get involved.
Our sustainability strategy
At the University of Melbourne, our efforts in sustainability are guided by Sustainability Plan 2030 - a roadmap for sustainable delivery of our institutional strategy Advancing Melbourne.
Read more about how we are advancing sustainability at the University:
