Sustainability Reporting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Course delivery teams also continued to embed community outreach activity into some course units in allied health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Oral Health.
• CQUniversity and six other universities run the Manna Institute, an innovative virtual research and training institute that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rural, regional, and remote communities. Read more about this on page 6 of the Annual Report.
• CQUniversity's 10,00 Steps program - led by Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland have joined forces encouraging Queenslanders to take on the '10000 Steps Challenge' to boost physical activity.
• U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disability in the region. In 2024, this project was named Universities Australia’s (UA) ‘Shaping Australia Awards’ Community Champion Award.
• CQU introduced of Mindwaves 2.0, an updated mental health and wellbeing strategy designed to support students and staff, building on the achievements of earlier initiatives.
• CQU renewed the Regional Medical Pathway (RMP) partnership, ensuring continued medical training in regional Queensland and providing a local pathway for students to become doctors.
• A new Public Health Research Centre was approved in 2024 and launched in 2025. The Centre will focus on improving health equity and wellbeing in regional, rural, and remote communities.
• Sitting under the Appleton Institute, a new group, HealthWise – specialising in combating health misinformation and the promotion of health literacy – was established.
• The CQU initiative ‘Early Recognition of and Response to Deterioration in the Older Adult’ project began delivery to aged care workers in the Bundaberg region.
• CQU’s Nursing course entered the QS World University Subject Rankings for the first time, ranking in the top 200.
• CQU began offering a preparation program exclusively online to assist internationally qualified registered nurses to undertake the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA’s) Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).
• The Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) Gambling and Racing Commission awarded the 2024 Survey on Gambling in the ACT to CQU’s Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory (EGRL) team. 

As a leader in higher education, our approach to teaching and education aligns with the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. 

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

• The CQUniversity Graduate Guarantee offers domestic and international graduates, free access to the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship if they have not found related employment within six months of completing their undergraduate degree. The course has been specifically designed to give students an opportunity to complete a qualification that will provide them with additional knowledge and leadership skills that will be valued by prospective employers.
• CQUniversity's alternative pathway and admission option, the Principal's Recommendation Scheme entered its sixth year of delivery in 2024.
• The Retention Equity Program was implemented and consolidates past efforts into a cohesive, evidence-based approach. The program focuses on key areas such as student support, onboarding processes, academic design, cultural inclusion, vocational education and data-driven systems.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL), a cornerstone of the university’s educational framework, played a pivotal role in supporting graduate employability with 9652 WIL placements successfully completed in 2024.
• Through the regional management model, Associate Vice-Presidents led efforts to ensure courses and training programs remain aligned with emerging industry demands. This approach drove the development of initiatives that responded to local needs and contributed to broader long-term regional development.
• Many school outreach programs were run throughout 2024 across Queensland. Over 393 engagement events, the outreach team aimed to inspire educational aspirations, particularly for prospective students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• CQU continued to support regional and remote communities through Regional University Study Hubs (RUSHs), reinforcing its leadership in delivering higher education access for students in geographically isolated places.
• The ‘First Nations Education and Student Success Strategy 2024-2028’ was launched, which outlines strategic measures to enhance outcomes for First Nations students.
• The ‘Future Digital Delivery Framework’ was launched in 2024, which outlines a multi-year strategy for enhancing physical and digital environments to support an immersive and flexible on-campus experience that adapts to evolving staff and student needs. 

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

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

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

• Advancing young and mature women in STEM+C education
  WinTech (Women in Technology) STEM club is committed to improving gender disparity in Science Technology, Engineering and Maths + Computing (STEM+C) education, and in doing so STEM+C workshops are hosted every year for young and mature women across the community. These workshops are conducted in response to bringing change in STEM education, making female students more interested and more confident in taking up STEM+C subjects as their career.
• The Future Female Conference is an annual event to connect and empower international students in Victoria
• Women in Agri-tech project – a project that aimed to create and foster a strong network of female teachers who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM, and entrepreneurship in regional, rural, and remote areas.
• Women in STEM –  with only one-quarter of students studying STEM in Australia being women, we aim to inspire young women to pursue careers in science through programs and events through STEM Central. Events such as these work to change society's gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of women in STEM.
• Women Who Weld- The program aims to build gender diversity in the workplace and address Australia's trade skill shortage by exposing young women to welding.

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

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

Highlights in 2024 include:

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

Aligned 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.

Highlights from 2024 include: 

• 2% total electricity reduction from 2023.
• 202 EV charging sessions at Rockhampton North campus by staff, students and community members.
• 4% reduction in fuel usage from 2023.
• Implemented the Decarbonisation Plan to reduce electrical load and increase renewable energy sources to meet our target reduction of 40% by 2030
• New education offering of a dedicated hydrogen and renewables course
• 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 Queensland Decarbonisation Hub was officially launched, bringing together seven universities, including CQUniversity.
• CQUniversity joined forces with Sunshine Hydro to develop a Mini Superhybrid^TM. The project aims to support Central Queensland's efforts to find further solutions for decarbonisation and serve as a globally significant testbed for long-duration storage and renewable energy.
• Our Emerald campus features a 209kW Solar Farm to produce renewable energy. This facility is also used by the Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy for research, development, testing, and education, supporting industry and shaping the future adoption of sustainable and renewable energy sources.
• 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 backup and for support in high-temperature days. We have also installed a new chiller with 0% ozone depletion.

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

Our Staff

• CQUniversity employees are encouraged to pursue VET or higher education qualifications. More than 77% of staff are now studying for, or hold at least one academic qualification, exceeding the target of 75%.
• CQUniversity staff receive an Engaged Service Leave entitlement (equivalent of one working day) to volunteer within their community, at an organisation of their choice. In 2024, staff took 483.3 total hours of engaged service leave which is equivalent to 66.5 days spent volunteering for different causes and initiatives within the University’s many regions.
• CQUniversity conducted a series of voluntary, confidential focus groups that focused on workloads and flexible working arrangements. The findings of these groups is informing the development of a workload management guideline, as well as the Workplace Flexibility framework. 

Our Students

• The CQUniversity Graduate Guarantee, now in its second year, also offers domestic and international graduates, free access to the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Entrepreneurship if they have not found related employment within six months of completing their undergraduate degree. The course has been specifically designed to give students an opportunity to complete a qualification that will provide them with additional knowledge and leadership skills that will be valued by prospective employers.
• CQUniversity placed second in Australia for median full-time salary in the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS).
• The University’s commitment to industry engagement and graduate career outcomes is also evident in its ongoing focus on Work Integrated Learning (WIL), with 42 bachelor‑level courses now including an embedded WIL component. In the past year, there were 9652 higher education WIL placements recorded.
• CQUniversity’s Social Impact team delivered multiple workshops across regional Queensland aimed at supporting social enterprise start‑ups and female-owned enterprises. 

Our Research

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

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

Highlights and achievements in 2024 include:

• Transfer of the former Gladstone TAFE campus to Trinity College
• Construction nearing completion on Stage 1 of the Rockhampton North RAFE Centre of Excellence, valued at $10.2million
• Secured $61.1million funding commitment for Stage 2 of the Rockhampton North RAFE Centre of Excellence
• Official opening of the $7.5million Mackay Ooralea Heavy Automotive training facility
• Infrastructure projects initiated at the CQUniversity Gladstone campus for CMERC and the community hydrogen information hub
• Establishment of the Campuses of the Future initiative
• Development and launch of a multi-year Future Digital Delivery Framework

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. 

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.

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

Highlights from 2024 include: 

• More than $3million worth of scholarships were available to students
• The University drafted its Disability-Informed Action Plan through a consultative co-design approach with staff and students. The plan underscores CQU’s commitment to eliminate discriminatory practices against people with disability.  
• Many school outreach programs were run throughout 2024 across Queensland. Over 393 engagement events, the outreach team aimed to inspire educational aspirations, particularly for prospective students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• 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.
• A new Public Health Research Centre was approved in 2024 and launched in 2025. The centre will focus on improving health equity and wellbeing in regional, rural and remote communities.
• Our oral health and physiotherapy staff and students volunteered their time to offer advice and free treatment to attendees of the Homeless Connect event in Rockhampton.
• U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disability in the region. In 2024, this project was named Universities Australia’s (UA) ‘Shaping Australia Awards’ Community Champion Award.
• CQU continued to support regional and remote communities through Regional University Study Hubs (RUSHs), reinforcing its leadership in delivering higher education access for students in geographically isolated places.
• The ‘First Nations Education and Student Success Strategy 2024-2028’ was launched, which outlines strategic measures to enhance outcomes for First Nations students.
• CQU invested in creating culturally safe spaces across campuses to enhance inclusion and support for First Nations communities  
• CQUniversity’s Jawun Research Centre secures $5million in Federal Government funding to conduct research that aims to advance work on Closing the Gap (CtG) targets. 

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, our focus on social innovation continued throughout 2024.  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.

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

• CQUniversity continues 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.
• CQUniversity’s sponsorship strategy supports regional communities by partnering with local cultural and sports events, including The Village Festival, the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball (QISSN) and Rugby League (QISSRL) carnivals, as well as the Cairns Taipans and Rockhampton Cyclones basketball teams.
• CQUniversity's Central Queensland Consortium of Music held many performances.
• The Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains (CRESC) continued to undertake research focused on developing and enhancing economic systems, the tourism industry, and supply and value chains- all of which are vital to regional and rural communities.
• CQUniversity and Bundaberg Regional Council signed a five-year agreement to partner and collaborate on new initiatives that will help bring about improved community sustainability outcomes.
• As part of its social innovation agenda, CQUniversity delivered community engagement programs funded by industry and government to improve economic and social outcomes in the regions it serves. One example is the Growing Workforce Participation Project, funded by the Queensland Social Enterprise Council. Another example is the Q-SEED project in Townsville, funded by Advance Queensland and The John Villiers Trust aims to increase local procurement and youth employment opportunities. These programs not only engage industry and community in learning but also drive positive social and economic change in regional areas. 

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

• 17% reduction in water consumption from 2023
• 2% total electricity reduction from 2023
• 4% reduction in fuel usage from 2023
• 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 continues its 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 the 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.
• Our student residential kitchen has diverted approximately 300kg of chicken carcasses from landfill to the Koorana Crocodile farm for crocodile food.
• 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 2024, 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.
• The University continued its work in the Solving Plastic Waste CRC, which works with the plastic sector to accelerate Australia's progress towards eliminating plastic pollution, establishing a circular and climate-neutral plastic economy, while growing its advanced manufacturing sector. 

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. Over 100 native trees were planted throughout 2024.  
• Installation of 200kW Solar Farm at the Emerald Campus.  
• Electric Vehicle charging stations has been installed at the Rockhampton campus and is available for use by staff, students and community members. 202 charging sessions occurred through 2024.
• 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).
• 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 Energy provides world-class research, training and support to the emerging hydrogen and renewable energy industries 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 maintained research affiliation with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre 

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.
• A new expanded seagrass nursery forming part of the CMERC was unveiled in Airlie Beach in 2024.
• CMERC Gladstone launched the world’s largest purpose-built seagrass restoration nursery.
• 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's project- 'Working with Nature: Investigations for Sea Wall Designs in the Port of Gladstone' 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.
• 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:

• 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.
• CQUniversity’s Dr Sally Hawkins was one of the core experts who consulted with over 100 scientists, conservationists and environmentalists to develop the new landmark Rewilding Guidelines. The guidelines provide a framework for the complex and often misunderstood conservation method and were released at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress.
• CQUniversity research to protect endangered Queensland turtles has earned national recognition, with Rockhampton wildlife advocate Kymberly Robinson receiving a prestigious conservation award for her work.
• Koala Research-CQ continues to collaborate with communities and industries to enhance koala conservation through research.
• CQUniversity horticulture and conservation students embarked on an island expedition to Konomie Island, undertaking vital revegetation work to restore native bushland. Working alongside the Capricorn Conservation Council, Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council Rangers, and the Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre P&C (KIEEC), the students were able to further their knowledge and understanding of protecting and conserving biodiversity, and how to collaboratively partake in caring for Country.

Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, the 2024 Annual Report (Page 19) 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 20 of the 2024 Annual Report along with the key achievements of these committees for 2024.  

Activities undertaken throughout 2024 which align with our commitment to peace, justice and strong institutions are:

• Dr Karena Menzie-Ballantyne, a Bundaberg-based Senior Lecturer and researcher in Education at CQUniversity, in consultation with colleagues from UNESCO Paris, Bangkok and New Delhi, Sophia University, Japan, the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCIEU) and the Centre for Asia Pacific Excellence at University of Waikato in New Zealand - is steering the development of a road map to support the implementation of UNESCO’s new Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development.
• Aspiring forensic psychologists across Australia can now take their first step into the fascinating field, with CQUniversity officially launching a new online short course: Introduction to Forensic Psychology.
• A CQUniversity research project is showcasing diverse workforces in Queensland’s social enterprises and setting a new standard for inclusive employment in business and industry. The groundbreaking work with Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) informs Diverse Workforces, a new online resource launched at CQUniversity.
• CQUniversity has officially launched the First Nations Jawun Research Institute during National Reconciliation Week in Cairns. It's the first research institute in North Queensland dedicated to realising First Nations prosperity, social and economic inclusion and cultural continuity.
• CQUniversity is proud to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to reconciliation, embracing this year's National Reconciliation Week (NRW) theme, 'Now More Than Ever'. Throughout NRW, CQUniversity hosted a variety of events across its national campus footprint to encourage participation and reflection among students, staff and the broader community.
• In a longstanding partnership, CQUniversity’s School of Business and Law joins forces with the Central Queensland Law Association to host an annual high school debating competition at the Supreme Court of Queensland. Emerging legal topics were hotly contested when legal studies students from across Rockhampton took part in the event. 

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 2024 Annual Report and the 2024 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. 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 2024 Annual Report or the most recent Sustainability Report.

International research collaborations with industry, government and institutional partners grew in 2024, with several new partnerships created and funding agreements awarded. Key examples included:

• Professor David McGill, Dr Jenny Hanks, Associate Professor Karen Harper and Dr Thomas Williams from the Institute for Future Farming Systems (IFFS) secured significant funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The project, titled ‘Evaluating Service Provision Approaches and Value-Chain Interventions to Support Milk Cooperatives to Grow the Smallholder Dairy Sector of Indonesia’, received a total of $3,799,033. This funding will support research aimed at enhancing the smallholder dairy sector in Indonesia through improved service provision and value-chain interventions.
• Professor Colin Cole (Centre for Railway Engineering), Paul Hodgson (Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy) and Leslie Walker (Research Office) participated in a RUN delegation to Brazil, Colombia and Chile, focusing on sustainability and the transition to clean energy. The delegation, partially funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), involved showcasing CQUniversity’s expertise through presentations and exploring potential research collaboration opportunities with local universities, industries and government stakeholders.
• CQUniversity signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with universities in Indonesia, including IPB University (Bogor, West Java) and the University of Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara), to continue fostering research partnerships in areas such as precision livestock and supply chain management.
• CQUniversity renewed an MoU with Southwest Jiaotong University to continue research collaboration and cotutelle arrangements, focusing on railway engineering. The relationship was further enhanced through the University’s sponsorship of the ICRT 2024 Conference in Shanghai in August 2024, where Professor Colin Cole delivered a keynote address and CQUniversity researchers presented five papers, one of which received a ‘best paper’ award.
• Associate Professor Surya Bhattarai and Professor Simon Quigley led an IFFS team that secured a $340,000 grant from ACIAR to scope opportunities and research gaps for developing the groundnut industry in Vanuatu. CQUniversity’s sponsorship of the Fulbright US to Australia Senior Scholar Award resulted in the University hosting two fellows during 2024: Dr Lori Spruance from the Department of Public Health at Brigham Young University (Utah), who focused her research on healthy eating behaviours in children and adolescents through schools, and Professor Lynn Cazabon from the University of Maryland, who focused her research on the artistic expression of climate change.

CQUniversity maintained research affiliations with the following research organisations in 2024: 

• Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) – R&D Participant
• Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHRC) – Participating Organisation
• Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA)
• Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre
• Fitzroy Partnership for River Health
• Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership
• Lowitja Institute
• Manna Institute
• Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA)
• Queensland Disaster Research Alliance (QDRA)
• Rural Economies Centre of Excellence
• Solving Plastic Waste Cooperative Research Centre.