Sustainability Reporting

In 2023, aligning with SDG 01: No Poverty, we provided over $4.2 million in urgent financial relief and scholarships to over 2000 domestic students identified as being from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Throughout 2023, over 180 staff supported the CQUniCares fund through regular workplace giving and one‑off contributions valued at over $53 000. The CQUniversity Annual Appeal raised more than $120 000 to beneft student scholarships, the First Nations Research Pathways Program and research being carried out by the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC). More than 200 students received over $900 000 in donor‑funded scholarships in 2023, helping them begin or continue their studies. Close to 100 students received emergency grants, made possible by donations, helping them overcome unexpected financial hardship. 

The University, through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs” has partnered with Nepal-based social enterprise, Seven Women, for project collaboration and global study experiences. Seven Women has helped thousands of disadvantaged and disabled women through education, training, health and income generation programs.

The Seven Women range is available through the Bookshop thanks to a collaboration with the Office of Social Innovation, and every purchase supports women in Nepal through education, training, health and income-generation programs.

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

Staff from our Melbourne campus, home to nearly 2000 international students, distributed food packages to struggling students. The packs were distributed three times throughout 2023 and this ongoing initiative aims to support students through cost of living challenges. 

The following initiatives are outlined in the 2023 Annual Report and provide insight into the University’s commitment to Good Health and Wellbeing for students, staff, and communities.

• CQUniversity’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences (SNMSS) partnered with Mackay Rotary to deliver a workshop program to a group of midwives and nurses from Timor‑Leste that was specifically designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to deliver better maternal and infant health outcomes. 
• A free nursing refresher pilot was delivered in Bundaberg for qualified aged care nurses, to refresh their skills in different care settings, to reduce aged care hospital admissions. 
• Course delivery teams also continued to embed community outreach activity into some course units, this was particularly evident in allied health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Oral Health where classes worked with community organisations to design and deliver programs for community service users.
• Our oral health and physiotherapy staff and students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2023 Homeless Connect event in Rockhampton in May.
• The Regional Medical Pathway – a medical education and training pathway pioneered by CQUniversity, The University of Queensland, and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services – will now see the popular program continue thanks to the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the four partners.
• CQUniversity united with six other universities to launch the Manna Institute, an innovative virtual research and training institute that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rural, regional, and remote communities. Read more about this on page 6 of the Annual Report.
• CQUniversity's 10,00 Steps program - led by Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland have joined forces encouraging Queenslanders to take on the '10000 Steps Challenge' to boost physical activity.
• U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disability in the region. In 2023, this project was named Best Community Program at the 2023 Australian Disability Service Awards. 
• The 'How to Change a Life' podcast launched in 2021 and continued to bring relevant and insightful content to listeners throughout 2023.

As a leader in higher education, our approach to teaching and education aligns with the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. The 2023 Annual Report outlines some of the important aspects and changes made to ensure quality education was provided to students.

Embedding social innovation into the curriculum

Our commitment to social innovation education means that its graduates have the capabilities and mindset to positively shape their world. It also means that they are equipped with ‘future of work' skills, such as creativity, innovation and collaborative leadership.

At the end of 2023, more than 85 per cent of undergraduate courses included social innovation components and initiatives embedded into the curriculum. We have continuously expanded the activities and opportunities available, to develop this social innovation mindset. For example, many courses include iChange as an introduction to social innovation during the first year of study (such as the Bachelor of Psychology and the Bachelor of Criminology).

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

Students across many courses also have opportunities to think about entrenched social issues, explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and learn how to creatively and effectively problem-solve with their peers. The Office of Social Innovation (OSI) supported the development of extra-curricular activities such as the Festival of Change (FoC), a virtual event held over three days, to engage staff and students in social innovation-related activities. Read more about how social innovation has been embedded in the curriculum on page 28 of the 2023 Annual Report. 

Innovative higher education

Within our 2023 Annual Report, you will find more information about how our approach to streamlining work-integrated learning provides a supportive, quality experience for our students and increases their job readiness on graduation, and how some of our academic schools, such as the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, commenced projects that blended work-integrated learning with social innovation.

We also introduced a number of new courses, and exit awards are now an integral part of our new coursework degrees.

Other educational program examples outlined in the 2023 Annual Report

• The CQUniversity Graduate Guarantee, now in its second year, also offers domestic and international graduates, free access to the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship if they have not found related employment within six months of completing their undergraduate degree. The course has been specifically designed to give students an opportunity to complete a qualification that will provide them with additional knowledge and leadership skills that will be valued by prospective employers. There was only one student undertaking the program in 2023, which is a testament to the employability of CQUniversity graduates. Read more about this on page 25 of the 2023 Annual Report.
• CQUniversity's alternative pathway and admission option, the Principal's Recommendation Scheme entered its fifth year of delivery in 2023.
• In 2023, a total of 131 students participated in a learning abroad programs delivered across Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Indonesia, the USA, Tonga, Japan, Sweden and Mongolia. Read more about this on page 28 of the 2023 Annual Report.
• Many school and community outreach programs were run throughout 2023 across our many regional areas. Read more about these educational programs and activities.

Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 05: Gender Equality, our university is committed to ensuring the workplace provides equal opportunities for all employees.

This approach has been recognised through the Universities Australia Gender Equity Report which measures the percentage of women in professional and academic roles at Australian Universities.  Our outstanding results were recognized through the Annual Gender Equity Report that measures the percentage of women in professional and academic roles at Australian universities. Data from the Commonwealth Department of Education report revealed that 73.2% of professional roles and 55% of academic roles at our university were filled by women. Both figures are significantly higher than the Australian sector average of 64.9% for professional staff and 50.6% for academic staff.

The 2023 Annual Report highlights some achievements made in gender equality at CQUniversity:

• CQUniversity supported gender transitioning staff and students by providing access to basic transitioning support guides. The guides provide staff and students with information on how to change their name and gender within CQU systems, getting identity documents certified and accessing transgender healthcare in regional Queensland.
• During 2023, CQUniversity also continued to support the Indigenous Girls Academy program across two Central Queensland high schools, helping to build confidence, attendance, and an understanding of future study pathways for girls in Years 7‑12. Delivered over the past few years, the program culminates at the end of each year with a much‑anticipated camp hosted on the Rockhampton North campus.
• CQUniversity exercise science researcher Dr Melanie Hayman joined a new Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) taskforce for championing women’s health in the sport. 
• A ground‑breaking initiative led by CQUniversity researchers was launched to help support and safeguard Queensland women as they navigate the world of online dating apps. The project named Inform, Prevent, Support: Helping Queensland Women to Safely Navigate Online Dating Apps, is a collaboration between the North Queensland Women’s Legal Service, CQUniversity lecturers in criminology, law and digital media, and the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney‑General

We also provide opportunities that encourage female students to build skills through training events and initiatives. Examples of these opportunities are:

• Advancing young and mature women in STEM+C education
  WinTech (Women in Technology) STEM club is committed to improving gender disparity in Science Technology, Engineering and Maths + Computing (STEM+C) education, and in doing so STEM+C workshops are hosted every year for young and mature women across the community. These workshops are conducted in response to bringing change in STEM education, making female students more interested and more confident in taking up STEM+C subjects as their career.
• The Future Female Conference is an annual event to connect and empower international students in Victoria is going virtual and hopes to reach its biggest audience yet despite COVID-19 challenges. The sessions are Transition into Workplace Culture in a Globalised World and a Mentoring Masterclass with education and business leaders including International Business Development Manager Alison Gutierrez. 
• Women in Agri-tech project – a project that aimed to create and foster a strong network of female teachers who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM, and entrepreneurship in regional, rural, and remote areas.
• Women in STEM –  with only one-quarter of students studying STEM in Australia being women, we aim to inspire young women to pursue careers in science through programs and events through STEM Central. Events such as these work to change society's gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of women in STEM.
• Women Who Weld- The program aims to build gender diversity in the workplace and address Australia's trade skill shortage by exposing young women to welding.
• The Regional Female Founder Accelerator was curated by women, for women, and addressed specific challenges for driving innovative business and social impact in regional Queensland. Supported by Advance Queensland’s Accelerating Female Founders Program, the CQUniversity‑led initiative built on its proven iActivate social enterprise course, that has been supporting entrepreneurs to launch social impact businesses and careers since 2020.

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

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

We have continuously promoted water conservation across our campuses, resulting in an 8% decrease in water consumption per person (staff and students), from 10.8 kL in 2022 to 9.9 kL in 2023.This improvement reflects the impact of water-conscious initiatives across campuses. Although total water usage only saw a 1% reduction, going from 150,973 kL to 149,295 kL, the per-person efficiency highlights the effectiveness of these conservation efforts.

We installed two hydro panels to demonstrate how the new renewable energy technology can be harnessed to produce clean, great tasting water and provide drinking water independence in remote and regional areas.

New rainwater tanks with a capacity of 200,000 litres and electric pumps were purchased and installed across the campus to offset the usage of council-supplied potable water.

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

A CQUniversity-led ‘living seawall’ research project is helping ensure coastal habitats at Fisherman’s Landing, near Gladstone thrive and survive.

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

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

In 2023, the University has completed or started work on a number of projects relating to the Affordable and Clean Energy Goal. These projects include:

• Installation of 200kW Solar Farm at the Emerald Campus. Read more about this on page 11 of the Sustainability Report. 
• Electric Vehicle charging stations has been installed at the Rockhampton campus and is available for use by staff, students and community members. 
• Smart HVAC Upgrades - While undertaking a project to replace old and failing air conditioning plant on the Rockhampton campus the project was designed to include new pipework that would allow a number of buildings to be joined together allowing for efficient use of the HVAC chillers and equipment. The system now allows a larger existing chiller to operate in its most efficient range and provide cooling water to three buildings instead of one. Other chillers can be used as back up and for support in high-temperature days. We have also installed a new chiller with 0% ozone depletion.
• Energy Reduction – We have continued to replace high-energy lights with LED lights across our campuses and adopt other practices and opportunities to reduce our energy consumption (GJ/m2). Our overall energy results for 2023 were an overall reduction of 35.3% which exceeds the target of 20% that was set for the year.
• Conducting continuous energy metering data and minor improvements. This data collection enables the ability to monitor energy use and trends in order to identify faults and opportunities to improve.
• We have committed to a Solar Energy Deal that will see 50% of its energy for the Queensland campuses sourced from renewable solar, committing to a pathway for a reduction of about 9,000 tonnes of CO2-e offset annually.
• The Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energies provides world-class research, training and support to the emerging hydrogen and renewable energy industries in Central Queensland. In 2023, CHRE received government funding of $69.2million to further develop the hub. 
• The School of Manufacturing. located at the Gladstone campus, provides Gladstone with a world-class training facility to support the skills needs of future workforces within the advanced manufacturing and hydrogen and renewable energy industries.
• A Memorandum of Understanding signed between CQUniversity Australia and publicly owned energy company Stanwell Corporation, will see the University taking a lead in the delivery of renewables training, career development and research in Central Queensland. 
• Queensland secondary students can enrol into free online learning programs, Fuelling a Hydrogen Future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning, under a new partnership between CQUniversity and the Queensland Government. These micro-credential programs seamlessly integrate into classrooms and equip students with industry-relevant skills and tools for the future workforce.
• CQUniversity partnered with Japan's J-Power in an Australian-first low carbon nature-based solutions Research and Development collaboration. 
• Renewable energy research Dr Umme Mumtahina was awarded a $240 000 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship for a Queensland grid project that could provide sustainable, renewable energy to rural communities in the state and beyond. 
• CQUniversity helped host the inaugural Australian Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) in Gladstone. 

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

Our Staff

• CQUniversity continued to work closely with unions and the University’s Office of Indigenous Engagement (OIE) on engaging with Indigenous staff to enhance support networks for current staff as well as providing more employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to join the University. Read more about this on page 31 of the 2023 Annual Report.
• CQUniversity employees are encouraged to pursue VET or higher education qualifications. More than 77% of staff are now studying for, or hold at least one academic qualification, exceeding the target of 75%. 
• In 2023, staff service recognition awards were presented to more than 140 staff members for their long‑term service ranging from ten to 40 years. These significant service achievements are a testament to the connection employees build with the University and the meaningful career progression and pathways offered to staff.
• CQUniversity staff receive an Engaged Service Leave entitlement (equivalent of one working day) to volunteer within their community, at an organisation of their choice. In 2023, staff took 583.3 total hours of engaged service leave which is equivalent to 80.7 days spent volunteering for different causes and initiatives within the University’s many regions. 

Our Students

• The CQUniversity Graduate Guarantee, now in its second year, also offers domestic and international graduates, free access to the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship if they have not found related employment within six months of completing their undergraduate degree. The course has been specifically designed to give students an opportunity to complete a qualification that will provide them with additional knowledge and leadership skills that will be valued by prospective employers. There was only one student undertaking the program in 2023, which is a testament to the employability of CQUniversity graduates. Read more about this on page 25 of the 2023 Annual Report.
• CQUniversity graduates were recognised as the most employable in Queensland and were ranked in the top four in Australia for employability, according to the independent Australian‑government‑funded annual Employer Satisfaction Survey (ESS).
• The University’s commitment to industry engagement and graduate career outcomes is also evident in its ongoing focus on Work Integrated Learning (WIL), with 42 bachelor‑level courses now including an embedded WIL component. In the past year, there were 7769 higher education WIL placements recorded.
• CQUniversity’s Social Innovation team delivered multiple workshops across regional Queensland aimed at supporting social enterprise start‑ups and female-owned enterprises. 

Our Research

• The Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC) undertakes research focused on the development and enhancement of economic systems, the tourism industry and supply and value chains- all of which are vital to regional and rural communities.

Investment in infrastructure is important to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities. This work is key for aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal 09: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

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

Innovative companies have been created, either university-controlled entities or non-controlled entities, these entities include:

Mask-Ed International Pty Ltd

MASK-ED™ (KRS simulation) is a high-fidelity simulation technique which is informed by a teach process and involves realistic body silicone props work by an educator to create a new identity for simulation teaching. Domestic and international licensing agreements for the delivery of MASK-ED were enter into in 2023. 

Mango Auto-Harvester 

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

DataMuster Pty Ltd

Our Precision Livestock Management system, DataMuster is a fast, simple and accurate tool for automatically monitoring and managing the performance of your herd, right down to the individual animal.

Other industry, innovation and infrastructure program examples outlined in the 2023 Annual Report:

• CQUniversity progressed the strategic relationship with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance and TAFE Queensland with the Queensland Future Skills Partnership. The QFS Partnership is fast-tracking the development and delivery of automated technology pathways, skill sets and qualifications for the mining equipment, technology and services sector. 
• Researchers from CQUniversity's Institute of Future Farming Systems are working extensively with industry partners throughout the Wide Bay region as part of the Hinkler AgTech Initiative to implement, monitor and report on technological innovations that are designed to improve on-farm productivity and efficiencies. 
• The Digital Innovation Skills Hive (DISH) is located at the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay and showcases and promotes initiatives that support the collective efforts of industry players and education providers in addressing the challenges of existing and emerging digital technologies and their impacts on work, workforces and communities. 
• Construction was completed and the doors were opened to the new School of Mining and Manufacturing in North Rockhampton and Gladstone.
• Construction of Stage 1 of the Rockhampton North TAFE Centre of Excellence commenced with funding of $8.4million in Government funding received for the project.
• Construction also commenced on the Mackay Heavy Automotive Facility with Government funding of $7.5million received for the project. 

Professor Maksym Spiryagin is the:

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

Dr Qing Wu is the:

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

Professor Jamshid Aghaei is the:

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

Sr Shah Neyamat Ullah is the:

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

We believe that education is for all, and we actively promote opportunity and inclusiveness for students through our courses, support services and innovations.

Aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 10: Reduced Inequalities, our innovative Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2022-2024 was developed to influence the way the University performs its business to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic, health and social opportunities. 

Our commitment to reducing inequalities for students and communities can be shown through the following partnerships and initiatives which are reported on in the 2023 Annual Report.

• In 2023, CQUniversity received $6 720 531 in funding as part of HEPPP. This funding was used to deliver 12 programs aimed at reducing barriers to higher education for people from low‑SES and traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. Programs focused on activities including the provision of scholarships, financial assistance, peer mentoring, mental health and wellbeing, and academic learning skills and support.
• The University’s longstanding widening participation and school outreach program, CQUni Connect, continued to deliver educational aspiration programs throughout the Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Burnett, and Far North Queensland regions. Through the program, CQUniversity worked closely with school, community and industry partners to deliver regionally relevant and targeted subject area experiences. The program also delivered Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) vouchers to students who faced financial barriers to applying for university.
• During 2023, CQUniversity continued to support the Indigenous Girls Academy program across two Central Queensland high schools, helping to build confidence, attendance, and an understanding of future study pathways for girls in Years 7‑12. Delivered over the past few years, the program culminates at the end of each year with a much‑anticipated camp hosted on the Rockhampton North campus.
• CQUniversity’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences (SNMSS) partnered with Mackay Rotary to deliver a workshop program to a group of midwives and nurses from Timor‑Leste that was specifically designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to deliver better maternal and infant health outcomes. 
• Course delivery teams also continued to embed community outreach activity into some course units, this was particularly evident in allied health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Oral Health where classes worked with community organisations to design and deliver programs for community service users.
• Our oral health and physiotherapy staff and students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the 2023 Homeless Connect event in Rockhampton in May.
• U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disability in the region. In 2023, this project was named Best Community Program at the 2023 Australian Disability Service Awards. 
• The 'How to Change a Life' podcast launched in 2021 and continued to bring relevant and insightful content to listeners throughout 2023.
• CQUniversity united with six other universities to launch the Manna Institute, an innovative virtual research and training institute that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rural, regional, and remote communities. Read more about this on page 6 of the Annual Report.

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, our focus on social innovation continued throughout 2023.  Our university embodies a purposeful commitment to the sustainability of its communities socially, environmentally and economically by producing new knowledge and global leaders who deliver innovative, solutions-focused outcomes and drive change to address real-world challenges.

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

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

• CQUniversity was re‑selected as a service provider for Queensland’s Regional Arts Services Network (RASN), with the role of hosting the CQ region’s share of the initiative.
• Regional Medical Pathway – The Regional Medical Pathway was launched with The University of Queensland, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS). The RMP will help to address the critical issue of ensuring regional health workforces are equipped to meet future needs.
• Gooreng Gooreng artist Dylan Sarra led a group of high school students in creating a mural at Bundaberg campus. 
• Bundaberg Campus hosted a film and television industry seminar. 
• CQUniversity's Central Queensland Consortium of Music held many performances including The World Goes Round.
• The Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC) continued to undertake research focused on the development and enhancement of economic systems, the tourism industry and supply and value chains- all of which are vital to regional and rural communities.
•  CQUniversity signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) to join forces to build regional capacity through education, training and research. 
• CQUniversity continues to support local businesses within its regional footprint with more than $25.6 million spent with local suppliers across regional Queensland in 2023.

Change Champs and Social innovation commitment

Through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs”, the University’s Office of Social Innovation has shown a commitment to engaging with communities to address entrenched social issues.

The University partnered with a wide range of organisations, businesses and individuals across the University footprint to deliver socially innovative activities, programs and partnerships including:

• The Festival of Change (FoC)
• The Big Issue’s social enterprise competition
• Seven Women  partnership and global study experience project collaboration
• India’s Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) charity and sponsorship of the city walk
• iActivate short course developed in collaboration with Impact Boom that aims to highlight sustainable solutions for community issues.

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

• We reduced the amount of waste generated and sent to landfill.  In 2023, about 548 tonnes of rubbish were diverted from landfill, with 165 tonnes redirected to recycling.
• We reduced energy usage across the University by 35%.
• Two new buildings were delivered and met the requirements of 5-star rating.
• Stage 1 recycling rollout was completed across the University. On-site providers have adopted plastic free delivery and recycling practices
• Various business units across the University have adopted the 'containers for change' program which helps by recycling containers and giving the funds to charity organisations. 
• High energy lights have been replaced with LED lights across our campuses.
• The University started a campaign to reduce the amount of printed paper generated across the entire business. One example of savings of printed paper is from our School of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, from CG91 Medical Sonography. Introduction of a laptop system for each ultrasound machine in the sonography labs is used for mock and real assessment marking, as well as provision of weekly student feedback and tutor resources across nine units within the course. This saves approximately 225,000 pages from being printed (approx. 12,000 kg!) per year.
• The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences have adopted practices to reduce the consumption and production of waste including purchasing refurbished equipment and furniture instead of brand new items; minimising use of a manikins and utilising more sustainable task trainers; cleaning and repackaging consumables such as catheters and IV lines to mimic industry recourses for simulation exercises; and moving to electronic medical records platform for storage of simulated patient data. Read more about this on page 22 of the Sustainability Report. 
• Our student residential kitchen has diverted approximately 7000 chicken carcasses from landfill to the Koorana Crocodile farm for crocodile food. Read more about this on page 12 of the Sustainability Report. 
• We have implemented changes to our graduation ceremonies to adopt more sustainable practices including offering cold water bubblers and recyclable paper cups instead of plastic water bottles to guests and online graduation booklets instead of printed copies. 
• We continued the whole-of-university sustainability awareness campaign, Ditch the Disposables, across our national footprint. The Ditch the Disposables campaign aims to reduce the number of single-use plastics used by staff and students.
• We maintained our commitment to a cleaner, healthier tomorrow through our Platinum Business Supporter membership with Clean Up Australia. In 2023, over 800 tonnes of rubbish were collected and disposed of responsibly. 
• Rockhampton Regional Council adopted a new waste strategy 2020‐2030, to become a “zero‐waste” community by 2050, diverting 90% of waste from landfill. CQUniversity's DFM Sustainability team worked closely with the Rockhampton Regional Waste and Recycling team to bring new waste management and commercial composting technologies to the region, aligned with their long-term plan to achieve zero waste by 2050.

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

• Bringing Nature Back to Frenchman's Creek- This project allows participants to study local flora and fauna, control exotic weeds and support bush regeneration by planting native plants.
• CQUniversity has supported tree planting days across multiple campus regions and encourages staff to participate in these community-based activities. 
• Climate scientist Professor Steve Turton published Surviving the Climate Crisis: Australian Perspectives and Solutions' the first textbook to offer local and practical approaches to the global challenge. 
• Installation of 200kW Solar Farm at the Emerald Campus. Read more about this on page 11 of the Sustainability Report. 
• Electric Vehicle charging stations has been installed at the Rockhampton campus and is available for use by staff, students and community members. 
• Energy Reduction – We have continued to replace high-energy lights with LED lights across our campuses and adopt other practices and opportunities to reduce our energy consumption (GJ/m2). Our overall energy results for 2023 were an overall reduction of 35.3% which exceeds the target of 20% that was set for the year.
• We have committed to a Solar Energy Deal that will see 50% of energy for the Queensland campuses sourced from renewable solar, committing to a pathway for a reduction of about 9,000 tonnes of CO2-e offset annually.
• The Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energies provides world-class research, training and support to the emerging hydrogen and renewable energy industries in Central Queensland. In 2023, CHRE received government funding of $69.2million to further develop the hub. 
• Queensland secondary students can enrol into free online learning programs, Fuelling a Hydrogen Future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning, under a new partnership between CQUniversity and the Queensland Government. These micro-credential programs seamlessly integrate into classrooms and equip students with industry-relevant skills and tools for the future workforce.
• We partnered with Japan's J-Power in an Australian-first low carbon nature-based solutions Research and Development collaboration. 
• Renewable energy research Dr Umme Mumtahina was awarded a $240 000 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship for a Queensland grid project that could provide sustainable, renewable energy to rural communities in the state and beyond. 

Our commitment to SDG 14: Life Below Water is demonstrated through the number of projects and initiatives developed to encourage protecting and enhancing aquatic ecosystems. Examples of these initiatives are provided below:

• Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (CMERC) – our Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has been established to work with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for our unique coast and marine environments. The CMERC is working closely with Gladstone Ports Corporations, Indigenous and school groups to undertake cutting-edge research.
• CQUniversity launched a new seagrass research and education facility in partnership with the Konomie (North Keppel) Island Environmental Education Centre (KIEEC), and Woppaburra TUMRA. The facility will see school students and Traditional Owners assist in the delivery of important marine research being conducted on Konomie Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
• The Drain Buddies project led by Dr. Angela Capper at  CMERC, shared in $1 million worth of Queensland Government grants to deliver a project that will modify and install microplastic traps across Rockhampton and Livingstone shires, with monitoring to determine where the littering is occurring.  Environmental Science and Horticulture students will gain invaluable experience in an 'island classroom' environment at the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, thanks to a unique partnership between the University and Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
• CMERC also works closely with the Gidarjil Development Corporation as part of the Land and Sea Rangers program. The partnership with Gidarjil provides benefit to the overall project as it allows researchers to learn about and apply traditional ecological knowledge and practices and how they can combine them with western science.
• Researchers from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Queensland, our University and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) NSW Fisheries are collaborating on a Fisheries Research and Development (FRDC) co-funded research project on mud crab populations in Queensland.
• CMERC are working with nature Investigations for Sea Wall Designs in the Port of Gladstone.  This project investigates designs for seawalls to create hard and soft substrate intertidal habitats within the Port of Gladstone, with a particular focus on working with nature, where habitat creation is incorporated into part of the final design.
• CMERC are working on a project that is prioritising seagrass restoration in the Whitsunday Islands. The aim of this project was to collate baseline mapping, connectivity, present distribution, and habitat suitability of the seagrass communities of the Whitsunday Islands, to support resilience-based management and guide restoration activities.
• Researchers from the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre attended community events throughout the year to promote sustainable water practices, and stewardship of our marine environments. 

Our Sustainability Report outlines a number of targets relating to the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land. In particular, our Biodiversity targets relate to increasing green land area with the expansion of native plant species and reporting against a land development plan, and our Estate and Building Environment targets relating to best industry practices to achieve 5 green star building standards and increase renewable energy sources across our estate.

Examples of programs and initiatives relating to the Life on Land SDG are below:

• Wildlife Law and Protection in Vietnam- The tour partners with Education for Nature Vietnam and Vietnam National University School of Law and allows CQUniversity law students to understand first-hand the legal, cultural and environmental context of wildlife protection and illegal trafficking.
• Belmont Field Day- This annual event brings together livestock producers and land managers from across Central Queensland to embrace the latest innovations in land and cattle management. It includes new tools and techniques to monitor and maintain land condition, optimize pasture cover and productivity, measure carbon footprint and mitigate methane emissions, and connect these new performance drivers to genetic selection.
• Emerald Field Day- Farmers, agronomists and industry participants attended the event which included a series of researcher presentations, and a field walk to inspect new varietal lines and crop performance.
• Bundaberg School to Industry Partnership Program- CQUniversity has joined with AgForce Queensland to increase awareness about where food and fibre come from and the importance of farming for all Australians.
• Farm Safety Events CQ- CQUniversity delivered a series of free in-school workshops across Central Queensland to educate students on the cause of accidents and injuries on farms and what can be done to minimise risks.
• Bringing Nature Back to Frenchman's Creek- This project allows participants to study local flora and fauna, control exotic weeds and support bush regeneration by planting native plants.
• CQUniversity has supported tree planting days across multiple campus regions and encourages staff to participate in these community based activities.

Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, the 2023 Annual Report (Page 14) outlines the university’s governance including our Council and its membership. The council consists of 16 participatory bodies from different areas in the university including elected student members, elected non-faculty staff, and elected faculty staff, as well as external community representation from schools, businesses, government, and community representatives. 

Council members are duty-bound to act honestly and with integrity; exercise due care, skill, and diligence in their duties; make appropriately informed decisions; and to act always in the University’s interests. The Council Charter governs Council operations and requires members to comply with our employee Code of Conduct. 

Our committee structure includes twelve committees that sit under the Council, these are listed on page 14 of the 2023 Annual Report along with the key achievements of these committees for 2023.  

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

• A ground‑breaking initiative led by CQUniversity researchers was launched to help support and safeguard Queensland women as they navigate the world of online dating apps. The project named Inform, Prevent, Support: Helping Queensland Women to Safely Navigate Online Dating Apps, is a collaboration between the North Queensland Women’s Legal Service, CQUniversity lecturers in criminology, law and digital media, and the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney‑General.
• CQUniversity formally endorsed a 'Yes' position in the Voice to Parliament Referendum. 
• Wildlife Law and Protection in Vietnam- The tour partners with Education for Nature Vietnam and Vietnam National University School of Law and allows CQUniversity law students to understand first-hand the legal, cultural and environmental context of wildlife protection and illegal trafficking.

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

Outlined in the 2023 Annual Report and the 2023 Sustainability Report are the different collaborations and programs that are actively facilitating or participating in to support tackling the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. CQUniversity has continued to strengthen existing partnerships within the community and industry and was proud to partner with and support more than 150 organisations in 2023. The organisations share similar values to CQUniversity when it comes to education access, community engagement, regional development, and philanthropy. 

Examples of the partnerships and linkages in place to address the Sustainable Development Goals are listed below, further information on more partnerships can be found in the 2023 Annual Report or the most recent Sustainability Report.

Ashoka U

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

Great Keppel Island Hideaway

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

Columboola Solar Farm

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

Digital Innovation Skills Hive (DISH)

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

Woorabinda Regional Council and Yoonthalla Services

We signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with Woorabinda Regional Council and Yoonthalla Services to partner on a range of initiatives to create more sustainable communities through partnership through 2023.

Australian College of Kuwait

Researchers from our University and the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) collaborated on six research projects in the engineering discipline, and three research grants funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

Further examples of partnering for goals with both local, national, and international stakeholders can be found in the 2023 Annual Report.