PLENARY | Start – 10:00am AEDT, 12:00pm NZDT | Finish 11:20am AEDT, 1.20pm NZDT
ACTS WELCOME | Rhiannon Boyd & Andrew Wilks (10am AEDT – 10.20am AEDT)
PANEL | Beyond Facilities – Embedding Sustainability across the Institution (11.20am – 12.20pm AEDT)
Panel | Wednesday 5 November (10:20am AEDT | 12:20pm NZDT)
Panelists:
- Andrew Wilks – Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
- Prof Jennifer Boddy – Griffith University
- Corey Peterson – University of Tasmania
- Maria Baldoni – Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland
From the ACTS sector survey, we know that many of the ACTS community have roles located in Facilities Management or Property Services, but there is acknowledgement that our institutions can make the biggest contribution to a sustainable future through our teaching, research and engagement functions. As institutions become more mature in their sustainability work, it is common to see sustainability being elevated from a focus on buildings and infrastructure to a strategic priority that reaches into all areas of the institution.
This panel discussion will bring together leaders from four different institutions who are treating sustainability as a strategic priority. The panelists all have different organisation positions and structures to drive this strategic focus on sustainability. They will discuss how each of their institutions is making sustainability a strategic priority, if/how it evolved from a facilities focus, how their position and organisational structure helps (and hinders) delivering their sustainability goals, and the benefits and challenges of embedding sustainability across the institution.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
TRANSFORMING PRACTICE
LEARNING FOR CHANGE
BUILDING A JUST TRANSITION
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZDT
Raising the bar:
Events that walk the talk
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Rhiannon Boyd – ACTS
From conferences to graduations, campus events are powerful opportunities to demonstrate sustainability in action but they can also carry a large footprint. To address this, ACTS has launched the Sustainable Event Certification, a practical framework that helps organisers reduce impacts across areas such as catering, waste, travel, and accessibility. The star-rating system supports continuous improvement, whether for small workshops or major ceremonies.
In this session, Rhiannon, will introduce the certification, explain how it works, and share examples of how institutions can embed sustainability into their events. Attendees will learn why events are critical for showing leadership, what actions are assessed, and how the program supports meaningful change.
By raising expectations for campus gatherings, this certification helps institutions not just talk about sustainability, but live it through every event they host.
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZST
Experiencing Sustainability: Real World Learning
Through Coursework at Griffith University
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Dr Wade Hadwen, Dr Gunaro Setiawan & Olivia Butler – Griffith University
How can universities prepare students to tackle real-world sustainability challenges? At Griffith University, experiential learning is at the heart of sustainability education. This session showcases how coursework is designed to immerse students in authentic, hands-on experiences that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation.
Through a series of dynamic case studies, attendees will gain insight into how Griffith integrates sustainability into the student learning journey, including:
• Co-Design for Sustainable Development
• Living Labs on Campus
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Placements
Hear from both staff and students as they share their perspectives on the transformative impact of experiential learning. This session will inspire educators, sustainability professionals, and institutional leaders to reimagine how coursework can be a powerful vehicle for sustainability education.
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZST
Ngā Mokopuna
A Living Building Challenge Exemplar
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Andrew Wilks – Victoria University of Wellington
In December 2024, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington opened the doors of the award-winning Ngā Mokopuna, a re-development of the marae precinct. The project has weaved together Māori values and knowledge with sustainability principles using the Living Building Challenge as the framework to make the building a global exemplar and a flagship for sustainability at the University. Ngā Mokopuna is more than just a building, it is the heart of the campus and has generated great buy-in from the University community. We explore how the building has contributed to embedding sustainability and mātauranga Māori across the University.
This session will provide an introduction to the Living Building Challenge, share the benefits and headaches it provided for this project and explore the synergies with Māori values that made LBC integral to the success of this project.
12.00pm AEDT | 2.00pm NZDT
Nature on the Balance Sheet:
Practical Insights from TNFD Adoption
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (12:00am AEDT | 2:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Sarah Horn – University of Sydney
Nature is foundational to university operations, research and community identity; yet until recently, it was often absent from institutional reporting and governance frameworks. As expectations evolve, sustainability practitioners and decision-makers are now being called to consider nature-related risks and dependencies alongside climate and financial reporting.
This session introduces attendees to the emerging field of nature-related financial disclosures, drawing on global and national risk and reporting developments including the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Designed for an audience with limited prior exposure, the presentation will provide a practical entry point to understanding why nature risk matters, how nature intersects with governance and strategy, and what early adopters have learned so far.
Sarah will share the University of Sydney’s experience as one of Australia’s first TNFD adopters, including how the University identified nature-related risks and opportunities across diverse landholdings and operational activities using the TNFD’s framework. The session will also explore how nature risk assessment is being used internally to strengthen collaboration and strategic alignment, integrate environmental considerations into risk processes, and enhance institutional resilience.
Finally, the session will feature a short case study on education and engagement: how the Sustainability team partnered with academics to embed TNFD into a student-led applied research project with Dalyell Scholars.
12.00pm AEDT | 2.00pm NZDT
UTAS’ Diploma of
Sustainable Living
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (12:00am AEDT | 2:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Tristan Derham, Claire Konkes & Christopher Mabin – University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania’s Diploma of Sustainable Living is an innovative, fully online course attracting hundreds of students each year—from sustainability beginners to passionate changemakers. The Diploma began with a popular standalone unit, The Science of Gardening. Around it, a comprehensive and transformative course has evolved, now offering over 20 units on topics ranging from communication, design, politics, and ethics to climate change, biodiversity, and Indigenous lifeworlds.
Students are drawn to the Diploma for its practical, applied approach. Units like Living with Fire and Backyard Biodiversity teach tangible skills that students can use in their homes, communities, or workplaces. This practical learning is paired with critical theoretical frameworks that span local and global sustainability issues. Other key attractions include HECS-free access, flexible study options, the University’s sustainability credentials, and the passion and knowledge of teaching staff.
Graduates emerge with a rich understanding of sustainability as an interconnected social, ecological, and economic system—and with the confidence to drive change in their own lives and communities.
This session will take participants on a journey through the course’s development, the experiences of its diverse student cohort, and the philosophy that underpins its design. We will also invite discussion on some pressing pedagogical challenges that face many sustainability educators: fostering a sense of community in an online-only space; supporting students with limited educational backgrounds; and balancing the flexibility of elective choice with a strong and cohesive course identity.
12.00pm AEDT | 2.00pm NZDT
Enhancing Biodiversity and Green
Solutions using Native Plants
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (12:00am AEDT | 2:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Catherine Pickering – Griffith University
The 63ha Gold Coast campus of Griffith University is a biodiversity hotspot within the sixth largest city in Australia. It contains 29ha of native forest with over 360 native plants, and 319 animals, including 12 threatened animal species. The gardens also function as living laboratories for teaching with thousands of students using them across a diversity of courses. Using their experience, Griffith has also produced and distributed over 10,000 copies of two biodiversity books promoting local plants indoors, in pots and in school gardens in conjunction with local not-for-profit organisations.
The Griffith campus is now in the top 10% of university campuses globally for biodiversity, and is 3rd in the world out of more than 2,500 for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, 15: Life on Land.
This session will outline how our strategies can be applied broadly including garden design, and virtuous cycles of collaboration with staff, students, industry, and community groups.
BREAK | 12:30PM AEDT | 2:30PM NZDT
CONCURRENT LIGHTNING ROUNDS
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Advancing Integrated Water Management: Griffith’s
Holistic Approach to Sustainable Water Stewardship
Presented by Mark Grant – Griffith University
Griffith University is progressing a comprehensive Integrated Water Management (IWM) Plan that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and supports local catchment health and resilience in Southeast Queensland. The plan explores the production of the IWM Plan, including the collaborative consultation process involving Griffith academics, students, and Traditional Owner representatives. These diverse perspectives have shaped a water management strategy that is culturally informed, scientifically grounded, and operationally practical.
On campus, Griffith continues to embed water-sensitive urban design principles to reduce potable water use, increase reuse, and improve stormwater quality. These measures support climate resilience, enhance biodiversity, and create valuable learning landscapes. Off campus, community engagement and collaboration with Traditional Owners further advance freshwater ecosystem protection through shared knowledge and stewardship. Implementation of the plan is underway, and this presentation will share early progress, focusing on three key areas:
(1) water quality monitoring partnerships with industry stakeholders,
(2) development of erosion and waterway monitoring procedural documents; and
(3) verification via a reputable water stewardship organisation in an effort to become the first university in the world to be a certified water steward.
Griffith’s approach offers a replicable model for institutions seeking to implement integrated, inclusive, and adaptive water management strategies that deliver both environmental and educational outcomes.
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Designing Experiences for Community
Engagement through Curriculum
Lightning Round | Wednesday 5 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Mehal Krayem – University of Technology Sydney
UTS Shopfront, the University of Technology Sydney’s flagship community engaged learning program, is in its 29th year of operation. In this time thousands of UTS students have partnered with community organisations across the country to help them achieve their organisational missions.
This session will explore recent partnerships between UTS students and sustainability organisations and unpack how community engaged learning programs can support students to apply their disciplinary knowledge to contribute to the sustainability mission of organisations in the sector. It will explain the structure UTS adopts and the skills built to support our students as they work with and for communities.
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Reimagining Spaces through Simple Acts of Reuse:
Student Accommodation Op Shop Initiative
Lightning Round | Wednesday 5 November (1:00am AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Jessica Fahey – University of Tasmania
At Sandy Bay, university accommodation faces a recurring challenge: high levels of waste resulting from single-semester student turnover. Each year, students dispose of household items such as clothing, bedding, kitchenware, and small appliances, many of which are in perfectly reusable condition. Recognising the environmental and financial impact of this pattern, the Campus Accommodation team launched a sustainability initiative: a free on-site Op Shop, designed to reduce waste, ease financial strain, and foster community. Supported by residents and integrated into the rhythm of student life, the Op Shop turned an unused space into a vibrant hub of resourcefulness, connection, and cultural change.
This session will spotlight how a simple, low-cost concept evolved into a cornerstone of campus life. Drawing from practical experience, the UTAS team will share insights on:
- Diverting over 30 x 104L boxes of reusable items from landfill
- Alleviating financial pressure by providing free essentials
- Leveraging existing spaces and resources to drive meaningful impact
- Elevating a sustainability effort into a popular, social destination
- Cultivating a long-term shift in student attitudes toward waste and consumption
- Navigating operational challenges, such as sorting donations and managing unusable items
This initiative reframes campus waste not as a problem, but as an opportunity. It demonstrates how sustainability, affordability, and social engagement can intersect when systems are reimagined with intention. It shows that small, intentional changes can create ripple effects across an entire student community.
1.10pm AEDT | 3.10pm NZDT
Integrating Risk Management
for Sustainable Change
Lightning Round | Wednesday 5 November (1:10pm AEDT | 3:10pm NZDT)
Presented by Arifa Sarfraz – University of Sydney
This presentation shares a real-life university case study on how environmental risk thinking can help support sustainability and drive behaviour change, moving from fragmented responses to a strong, shared culture of environmental care. At Australia’s oldest university, environmental risk management was historically patchy, shaped by old infrastructure, decentralised governance, and siloed responsibilities. Facing increased scrutiny and audit findings, the University needed to move beyond basic compliance to something more lasting and meaningful.
Through a multi-year, collaborative approach, the project aimed to embed environmental risk thinking in everyday decision-making and planning. Key steps included:
• Setting up a cross-university working group to coordinate actions and share responsibility,
• Engaging stakeholders and building skills across diverse teams to support behaviour change and local leadership, and
• Creating a fit-for-purpose, ISO 14001-aligned Environmental Management System (EMS).
Aligned with the conference theme “The Future of Sustainability,” this presentation shows how collaboration, systems-thinking, and shared leadership can move institutions beyond simply reducing harm. It will highlight practical lessons for building universities that are resilient, fair, and truly committed to a thriving, sustainable future.
1.10pm AEDT | 3.10pm NZDT
Our Backyard in the City: How Students
are Reclaiming Growing Space for Food Security
Lightning Round | Wednesday 5 November (1:10pm AEDT | 3:10pm NZDT)
Presented by Alex McArthur – University of Tasmania
Many universities subcontract grounds management to outside organisations. This often excludes students from how these spaces are designed and operate. This talk will demonstrate that it is possible for students to reclaim a sense of their ‘backyard’ on campus through empowering them with staff support to productively engage with their outdoor spaces.
In response to growing food insecurity, students and supporting staff are transitioning from ornamental planting (often with non-native and/or invasive species) to productive and diverse food production at UTAS accommodation in Hobart’s CBD.
UTAS Sustainability Team Gardener Alex McArthur will talk through what made this transition possible: the successes, obstacles and learnings along the way. Key themes will be discussed such as student engagement, stakeholder collaboration and positive outcomes for students, staff and University culture.
1.10pm AEDT | 3.10pm NZDT
Researchers partnering with Aboriginal communities
to realise rights and interests in energy transition
Lightning Round | Wednesday 5 November (1:10pm AEDT | 3:10pm NZDT)
Presented by Heidi Norman – University of NSW
Professor Heidi Norman is a researcher at UNSW where she is director of the Indigenous Land and Justice esearch group. Her work has focused on Aboriginal histories of working life, movements for change including land rights and climate justice. She is a descendant of the Gomeroi people from northwestern NSW.
She recently contributed to the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy and is a member of the NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board. Her most recent book, titled ‘Land Back’ published with NSWPress came out earlier this year and coauthored report, titled ‘Local Aboriginal Land Council Powershift: sharing the benefits of the energy transition’ was released in July. This session will discuss the findings of that report.
+ 10mins combined Q&A
+ 10mins combined Q&A
+ 10mins combined Q&A
BREAK | 1:30PM AEDT | 3:30PM NZDT
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
1.45pm AEDT | 3.45pm NZDT
Beyond the Paper: Using Strategy Development
to Build a Culture of Sustainability
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (1:45pm AEDT | 3:45pm NZDT)
Presented by Siobhan McCarthy – Murdoch University
This presentation explores how the development of a sustainability strategy can be a powerful tool for stakeholder engagement and alignment. Rather than treating strategy creation as a top-down exercise, it can be leveraged as a participatory process that builds sustainability literacy, fosters a shared vision, and generates genuine buy-in across diverse stakeholder groups.
Drawing on practical experience, the session will outline how to use strategy development to:
• Support stakeholders in deepening their understanding of sustainability principles and priorities;
• Co-create a compelling and inclusive vision for sustainability;
• Align goals and actions across faculties, teams, and leadership levels;
• Elicit critical insights from subject matter experts to inform strategic direction.
This session will also highlight the importance of engaging both executive and grassroots support, not only during strategy development but throughout implementation. Strong endorsement and buy-in from senior leadership is essential, but equally vital is cultivating collaboration and connection across the university community. Harnessing the energy and expertise of staff and students ensures the strategy is lived, not just documented.
Participants will leave with practical insights into how strategy development can be used not only to set direction, but to build capacity, trust, and momentum for meaningful sustainability outcomes.
2.15pm AEDT | 4.15pm NZDT
Two Surveys to Unite Them All:
Crafting Sustainability Surveys for Sector Benchmarking
Deep Dive | Wednesday 5 November (2:15pm AEDT | 4:15pm NZDT)
Presented by Brittany Vermeulen – Western Sydney, Juliet Meyer – Australian National University & Carmen Primo Perez – University of Tasmania
A session on sustainability surveys, presented at the 2024 ACTS Conference, proposed the creation of an ACTS Working Group to develop ‘in-house’ sustainability surveys that could be used by our universities, allowing for benchmarking in our region. Although some institutions are already using various sustainability culture and literacy surveys, these tools are sometimes costly and therefore not accessible to all in the current financial climate. Furthermore, questionnaires and data analysis approaches can differ, making benchmarking difficult, if not impossible.
In early 2025, not only one, but two working groups were created with this purpose: one to develop a Sustainability Literacy Survey, and the other to create a Sustainability Culture Survey. These groups have brought together individuals from twenty Australasian universities, including both sustainability professional and academics.
The aim of this session is to present the collaborative approach of these working groups, the progress on surveys development so far, and future plans.
1.45pm AEDT | 3.45pm NZDT
AI Literacy and the SDGs:
Equipping Graduates for an AI-Driven Future
Interactive Exchange | Wednesday 5 November (1:45pm AEDT | 3:45pm NZDT)
Presented by Geoff Scott – Western Sydney University
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every field of study and practice, raising urgent questions about ethics, equity, and sustainability. But how do we ensure graduates are equipped to navigate these changes responsibly and in ways that advance, rather than undermine, the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
In this interactive exchange, Emeritus Professor Geoff Scott (Western Sydney University) will introduce key insights from his recent work on AI and the SDGs, making the case for a cross-disciplinary AI literacy module that prepares students to engage critically with emerging technologies. Drawing on global examples and case studies of early-career graduates, Geoff will highlight the opportunities and risks of embedding AI literacy across tertiary education.
Participants will then work in small breakout groups to reflect on practical applications for their own institutional contexts. Together, we will explore:
- How an AI & SDGs literacy module might be adapted to different disciplines and settings
- The opportunities and challenges in embedding such a module across institutions
- The single most important next step for ensuring graduates are prepared for an AI-driven future
The session will close with a plenary discussion and Geoff’s reflection on the most urgent actions tertiary institutions should take now.
1.45pm AEDT | 3.45pm NZDT
From Superheroes to Playgrounds:
Reflections and Tips on Practicing Active Sustainability
Panel Discussion | Wednesday 5 November (1:45pm AEDT | 3:45pm NZDT)
Presented by Dr Catherine Elliott, Cathy Walker, & Jade Irvine – University of Tasmania
Taking engagement from single to multi-directional engagement, this session will show how the University of Tasmania actively walk the sustainability journey through their practices. This panel discussion will highlight recent engagement events, which centre around participation, fun, and meaningful connections to sustainability. This includes:
- an innovative activity as part of the Children’s University School Holiday Program in 2023 for a children’s waste workshop
- the introduction of Climate Action Superheroes, each representing a key area of environmental responsibility
- and the recent walking tour at the 2024 ACTS Conference.
As three sustainability practitioners, we will discuss how the UTAS team design engagement activities and the potential for events to have greater impact depending on your hopes for them.
PLENARY | 2:50pm AEDT | 4:50pm NZDT
DAILY WRAP | Join us for the last session of the day to reconnect and reflect
DAY 1 CONCLUDES | 3:00pm AEDT | 5:00pm NZDT
Day 2
Thursday 6 November 2025
PLENARY | Start – 10:00am AEDT, 12:00pm NZDT | Finish 11:00am AEDT, 1.00pm NZDT
ACTS WELCOME | Rhiannon Boyd & Andrew Wilks (Start – 10am AEDT)
ACTS VISION | Our Future, Our Purpose: The ACTS Vision for Sustainable Change (Start: 10.10am AEDT)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER | Professor Emma Lee OAM (Start: 10.30am AEDT)
Sustainability is our lives: Indigenous perspectives on decolonising climate adaptation
ACTS Welcome & Vision | Thursday 6 November (10:00am AEDT | 12:00pm NZDT)
Join ACTS CEO Rhiannon Boyd for a warm welcome to Day 2 and an inspiring look at the road ahead. This session will explore ACTS’ vision and mission, and introduce our new Position Statement and commitment to shaping The Future of Sustainability across tertiary education. Discover how ACTS is strengthening collaboration, driving impact, and empowering our community to lead meaningful change.
Keynote | Thursday 6 November (10:30am AEDT | 12:30pm NZDT)
Professor Emma Lee OAM | Federation University | National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice
In her keynote address ‘Sustainability is our lives: Indigenous perspectives on decolonising climate adaptation’ Professor Lee invites us to look beyond the technical dimensions of sustainability to the deeper cultural and social implications of climate adaptation. As universities lead the transition towards renewable and resource-conscious futures, Emma challenges us to consider how this work can unintentionally marginalise Indigenous rights and voices. By viewing sustainability through a decolonising lens, she shows how institutions can move beyond symbolic inclusion to build pathways that honour justice, equity and genuine collaboration with Indigenous Peoples.
Learn more about Professor Lee here.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
TRANSFORMING PRACTICE
LEARNING FOR CHANGE
BUILDING A JUST TRANSITION
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZDT
The Future for Sustainable
Research Mobilities in Australasia
Interactive Exchange | Thursday 6 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Dr Sal Lampkin – Massey University
As our planet deteriorates, the tertiary sector practice of travelling overseas to extend our research networks, credibility and collaborations, may be at risk. The factors influencing our capability to travel include pandemics, financial planning, aviation fuel sources, geopolitics and increasing climatic events and natural disasters. Scenario development in Aotearoa reveals that in the coming decades, flying becomes even more expensive, exclusive and increasingly disapproved of by society. As the global tertiary sector meanders back to previous patterns of practice post-COVID, albeit tweaked, in Australasia we have a unique appreciation of the urgency of the issue embedded in ongoing overseas travel practices, particularly long haul. And… an opportunity to carve a nuanced path for sustainable research mobilities.
This interactive session explores the future for sustainable research mobilities & provides plenty to take away & discuss further afield. Please read this document prior to the session for further details.
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZST
How to Engage with Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
Lessons from the Griffith Planetary Health Club
Presented by Zahra Hassane & Rizal Bahri – Griffith University
Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for tackling complex planetary health issues that span environmental, social, economic, and health domains. Yet universities and organisations often operate in silos, and efforts to bridge disciplines face real challenges. This interactive exchange session will explore strategies to engage diverse stakeholders in interdisciplinary work, using the Griffith Planetary Health Club as a candid case study—highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges.
This session will:
- Showcase how the Griffith Planetary Health Club fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among students and early-career professionals from public health, environmental science, social sciences, and other fields.
- Share key initiatives, such as hackathons, documentary screenings, and community education, that build community and encourage cross-disciplinary engagement.
- Discuss real challenges the club faces, including sustaining student-led initiatives over time and deepening interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties.
- Facilitate participant dialogue to identify common barriers and enablers, and brainstorm practical approaches to strengthen and sustain interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Encourage participants to reflect on how lessons from the club’s experience apply to their own contexts and how to cultivate inclusive, resilient collaborative spaces.
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZST
Create, Connect, Conserve: Environmental
Student-Led Action in Lutruwita/Tasmania
Panel Discussion | Thursday 6 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Katherine Bourne, Zoe Reinmuth-Lewis & Lilly Henley – University of Tasmania
The Tasmanian University Environment Society will share insights on their experiences as a highly active and award-winning student society at the University of Tasmania. Their collaborative student-run events reflect the changing interests of students studying not only environmental degrees, but for students from a diverse range of other disciplines across Lutruwita/Tasmania. The society aims to provide students with the opportunity to connect through a shared passion for the environment, and to shape the future of sustainability through their many events and activities for students and the wider community. The Environmental Careers Expo is just one of the exciting events on the society’s annual calendar which is designed to showcase the opportunities available to students.
As a completely student-run initiative, the Expo seeks to:
- Create an opportunity for students with an interest and/or a care for the environment to investigate and understand the different career opportunities on offer, especially those that they may have never realised existed
- Connect students with environmentally focused businesses and organisations, providing a space for meaningful and yet informal conversations
- Conserve and protect our natural world by encouraging growth in social and professional networks that open doors for employment and meaningful, cross-disciplinary action for environmental conservation.
The Environment Society will share their reflections and tips on organising large-scale events and the importance of collaboration and connection with the environment and with each other.
BREAK | 12:30PM AEDT | 2:30PM NZDT
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Supporting Tertiary Education
Adaptation via Climate Scenarios
Deep Dive | Thursday 6 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Clare de Castella – Australian National University, Carmen Primo Perez – University of Tasmania & Aston Howindt – Deakin University
Many Australian universities have not yet holistically identified and actively managed, or disclosed climate-related risks and opportunities. While not all universities are currently required to produce climate-related disclosures, some are looking at doing this voluntarily, acknowledging that there are various benefits in undertaking climate adaptation planning now.
Noting the success of a New Zealand universities project to establish sector-based scenarios that universities could utilise for their own planning and disclosure purposes, ACTS established an Australian specific Climate Scenarios Working Group. The Group, which included twelve universities, worked throughout 2024 and 2025 to develop and explore four scenarios. More than 150 stakeholders from a wide range of expertise areas participated through a series of workshops, which were designed to help Australia’s tertiary education sector prepare for the impacts of climate change in the short, medium and long term. Additionally, seven academic experts in climate change, economics and sociology reviewed earlier drafts and provided feedback on the plausibility of the futures outlined. This feedback was invaluable in developing the final version of the scenarios.
The scenarios outlined in the resulting report are not predictions about the future, instead they are dynamic tools designed to support ongoing planning and navigation at a variety of scales, by a diversity of entities. It is the capacity for this strategic navigation and planning within each of the tertiary education institutions that will drive collective adaptation responses.
The final report was launched in June 2025, with key aspects of development and outcomes presented at an ACTS webinar. This session will provide a summary of the report “Navigating Climate Change: Scenarios for Australia’s Tertiary Education Sector” and how the findings can be applied by institutions.
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Unlocking Sustainability Solutions with
Behavioural Science: Lessons from Practice
Deep Dive | Thursday 6 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Ysobel Canfield – University of Sydney
How can we move beyond awareness campaigns to encourage meaningful, lasting changes in behaviour? In this session, we’ll share how we applied behavioural science frameworks and methods to tackle sustainability challenges on campus and what we learned along the way. Rather than jumping straight to solutions, we worked to understand the behaviours we wanted to change, diagnose the underlying drivers and barriers, and design interventions that responded to what was really happening on the ground.
We’ll walk through examples from the University of Sydney’s waste and circularity initiatives, where we addressed food waste contamination through a mix of redesigned bin signage, peer-led education, social norming, and feedback mechanisms. A key part of our approach has been engaging students throughout the process, both as researchers and as peer educators, to connect behaviour change and sustainability with learning and curriculum. By partnering with students, we have been able to leverage their expertise to unpack problems, gather insights, and conduct peer-to-peer methods such as qualitative interviews, observations, and focus groups. These insights have directly shaped our interventions, ensuring they are grounded in the lived experiences and perspectives of our student body. This two-way partnership has also allowed us to support students’ learning and professional development by treating operational projects as real-world ‘industry’ contexts where students can apply and grow their skills.
This session is designed for anyone interested in embedding behavioural insights into their work. Participants will gain a practical understanding of how behavioural science can help unpack complex problems, design more impactful interventions, and avoid common pitfalls. By sharing our experiences, including what worked and what we’d do differently, we hope to inspire others to experiment with this approach in their own context.
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Sustainable Cities:
Community-Driven Pathways for Change
Deep Dive | Thursday 6 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Nick Grinpukel & Yimmy Seifert – University of Technology Sydney
How can institutions meaningfully partner with communities to ignite real-world change? The Social Impact Lab at the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion facilitates collaborative action-research partnerships between the university and local communities. These initiatives leverage combined assets to create lasting social and environmental impact in our precinct.
In 2024, the Lab launched a new project exploring place-based sustainability transitions that are rooted in local priorities and powered by community-led action. Using participatory methods including Appreciative Inquiry and the Three Horizons framework, the project built a local roadmap toward a sustainable future. Narrative and arts-based approaches were used, including a powerful collaboration with a graphic artist who helped visualise this journey.
The project also gave rise to three community-led initiatives that built on the roadmap and promoted widespread engagement in driving the transition. These initiatives include the revitalisation of a social housing community garden, a textile repair workshop and clothing swap engaging migrant communities, and a community climate action forum. All three projects continue to thrive, supporting local leadership, fostering connection, and laying important foundations for long-term engagement in sustainability.
In this session, project leads will share practical insights from the workshops and reflect on how creative co-design methodologies can support locally grounded sustainability efforts. You will also hear from community leaders about the power of local expertise and the importance of inclusive approaches to building a transition that creates outcomes for all members of the community.
1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT
Putting an Internal Price
on Carbon – an Update
Deep Dive | Thursday 6 November (1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT)
Presented by Corey Peterson & Carmen Primo Perez – University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania has been carbon neutral certified by the Australian Government Climate Active Standard since 2016. As part of this certification, and driven by the University’s commitment to sustainability and specifically climate action, an Emissions Reduction Strategic Plan (ERSP) was developed in 2022 with a target of a minimum 50% reduction in gross greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, from our 2015 baseline. One of the key ERSP initiatives is an Internal Carbon Budget (ICB) to complement financial budgets with the aim to influence behaviour to reduce air travel and other emissions.
The ICB is being trialed in 2025 across the whole University, with accountability applied from 2026 onwards (financial costs incurred for excess in the previous year, or credit applied). For the financial costs incurred, we are using the social cost of carbon (rather than average carbon credit cost) to reflect the marginal cost of the impacts caused by greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., agricultural productivity, damages caused by sea level rise, and decline in human health and labour productivity). For credit applied, we are using the value of an Australian Carbon Credit Unit as that is what the university saves in purchasing offsets.
Emission sources with traceable data and over which staff have some control are included (electricity, waste, land and air travel, paper). Carbon budget targets are set based on previous year’s emissions and ERSP targets for each emission source. Actuals vs budget progress is reported quarterly through a dashboard and meetings with relevant staff from cost centres.
Other universities are currently planning or implementing their own internal carbon price. This is an opportunity to share experiences, plans, lessons learnt and/or questions on our journeys.
1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT
University Living Labs: Relational Infrastructure
to Unlock the Potential of Universities
Deep Dive | Thursday 6 November (1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT)
Presented by Sam Rye – Monash University
This session will provide a deep dive into University Living Labs as a relational infrastructure to integrate across university pillars – education, research, campus operations and societal engagement, and provide insights into the findings from the recent Advancing University Living Labs Report – including challenges and recommendations for universities seeking to foster place-based innovation ecosystems. These insights will be brought to life by some of Monash University’s own case studies of active living labs, including international and campus versions. This session will be useful for professionals and academics interested in creating enduring platforms to support a range of innovation activity across a range of topics and disciplines.
1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT
Beyond the Environment:
The Holistic Outcomes of Green Impact
Deep Dive | Thursday 6 November (1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT)
Presented by Jess Taylor – ACTS
Sustainability is more than reducing waste or cutting emissions, it’s about building cultures of change that ripple across institutions. Green Impact, ACTS’ flagship engagement program, empowers staff and students to take practical steps towards sustainability while embedding long-term commitments into everyday practice.
This session will showcase stories from Green Impact teams, highlighting how the program has been used to engage communities, inspire behaviour change, and deliver measurable impact. From innovative initiatives in teaching and research to everyday operational improvements, these examples demonstrate the breadth of outcomes possible when small actions are multiplied across a whole institution.
A key focus will be on how Green Impact supports the embedding of Sustainability Plans, turning strategy into action through a collaborative framework. Attendees will gain insights into what has worked on the ground, how challenges have been overcome, and the wider benefits beyond environmental outcomes, including staff development, student empowerment, and stronger campus culture.
BREAK | 2:00PM AEDT | 4:00PM NZDT
CONCURRENT LIGHTNING ROUNDS
2.15pm AEDT | 4.15pm NZDT
The Impact of Common Medical Equipment & Medicines:
The Carbon Footprint of Intravenous Fluids
Lightning Round | Thursday 6 November (2:15pm AEDT | 4:15pm NZDT)
Presented by Ethan Yap – University of Melbourne
Immediate and sustained efforts across all sectors to reduce carbon emissions are needed to limit damage to human and ecosystem health associated with climate change. Within the health sector, macro-economic studies indicate that the intensive upstream supply chain and manufacturing processes of the pharmaceuticals used in patient care contribute the most to the healthcare environmental footprint. However, detailed, and region-specific footprint studies of common medicines are rare.
Units of intravenous fluid have wide use in patient care used in resuscitation, delivering medication to the vascular compartment and for surgical irrigation. Albeit inexpensive, the high use of fluid units (in Australia 60-80 million fluid units are manufactured annually) likely has a large environmental impact. Our study aimed to quantify the carbon footprint of ordering three common intravenous fluids: 0.9% normal saline, sodium lactate and dextrose 5% in water to a metropolitan hospital in Australia using a life cycle inventory analysis methodology.
This study highlights the large environmental impact associated with routinely used intravenous fluids. Optimizing fluid use will reduce carbon emissions and may illicit downstream benefits such as reduced catheter line and insertion tool use associated with administering intravenous fluid.
2.15pm AEDT | 4.15pm NZDT
Worms Against Waste:
Circular Economy in Practice
Lightning Round | Thursday 6 November (2:15pm AEDT | 4:15pm NZDT)
Presented by Arian McVeigh – Australian National University
In this session, I will share the experiences, lessons learned, and data collected through the delivery of the “Worms Against Waste” project. This project is the result of a successful Community Zero Emissions grant from ACT Government, run as part of the wider Kitchen Garden program, through Student Life at the Australia National University. The Kitchen Garden program connects students with nature, with the ANU community and with seasonal growing practices through community gardening. The program teaches students skills through experiential learning and practical mentoring to support students to build their confidence and capacity to grow and prepare nutritious food. Our community garden is a hub for student engagement where we work to inspire and educate students about sustainability and in the ethos of protecting biodiversity and nature through circular, regenerative practices.
Worms Against Waste is a currently small but scalable demonstration of practical, simple and economical food waste regeneration on campus without mess or smell. The output from the worm farms (castings) is a valuable garden fertiliser and is the principal soil additive in our community garden, helping to keep our plants healthy. Our team work closely with the Campus Environment team to ensure we close the waste loop on campus without needing transportation or external facilities. Worms Against Waste was developed by the KG team and delivered in partnership with our Landscaping and Conservation team and support from local community sustainability organisations and local businesses.
2.15pm AEDT | 4.15pm NZDT
Sustainability Impact Days to Directly
Engage Staff in Sustainability Commitments
Lightning Round | Thursday 6 November (2:15pm AEDT | 4:15pm NZDT)
Presented by Catherine Elliott & Melanie Perry – University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania has initiated a staged approach to implementing a Sustainability Impact Days program to provide a formal framework to encourage and facilitate staff undertaking additional community service activities that support staff wellbeing, community impacts and our commitment to sustainability.
As part of the proposal, our ongoing and fixed-term staff (pro-rata for part-time) would be entitled to locally funded leave (when eligible) on full pay for up to two working days in each calendar year (leave will not accumulate) for the purpose of contributing to activities that support our SDG goals and our community impact.
This session shares the experience of the University of Tasmania’s in supporting staff to engage in sustainability-focused volunteer activities in the community.
2.25pm AEDT | 4.25pm NZDT
Certify This:
Comparing Sustainable Lab Accreditations
Lightning Round | Thursday 6 November (2:25pm AEDT | 4:25pm NZDT)
Presented by Rhiannon Boyd – ACTS
Research laboratories can have high environmental, safety, and social impacts—but they also offer major opportunities for improvement. As funders, collaborators, institutions, and society increasingly expect labs to operate responsibly, choosing the right accreditation can help labs lead in sustainability, safety, and ethics.
In this session, we’ll compare different lab accreditation programs, such as ACTS’s own Green Impact Labs Accreditation Australasia (GILA-ANZ) and other recognised schemes like My Green Lab and LEAF, and explore how they stack up in criteria, structure, benefits, and implementation.
Key takeaways will include:
- How the standards differ
- What value each accreditation offers
- Practical advice on how to choose an accreditation that fits your lab’s resources, goals, and context
- How certification can help labs embed sustainability into everyday operations and align with institutional strategies
Whether you’re just exploring lab certifications or looking to upgrade your lab’s credentials, this session will give you a clear comparison and actionable steps toward stronger, more sustainable lab operations.
2.25pm AEDT | 4.25pm NZDT
UTAS
is going Organic!
Lightning Round | Thursday 6 November (2:25pm AEDT | 4:25pm NZDT)
Presented by Lars Roberts – University of Tasmania
Most, if not all, universities have grounds that they maintain, from lawns, gardens, rooftops, potted plants, hard surfaces and bushlands. These areas are often maintained by contractors who do not operate under the direct guidance of the Universities. While our contract referred to strategies and action plans, we identified grey areas within the contract that went against UTAS strategies and has hindering our progress in many aspects of sustainability.
Recently University of Tasmania’s Southern Grounds Contract was reviewed by our Sustainability team before being going out for tender, and this was used as a chance to critically analyse how we want our contractors to operate within our grounds. We laid out terms that will allow the contractors to be contributing to our commitments, share knowledge around our grounds, collaborate to enhance biodiversity on campus, shift to organic management, and shift public perceptions away from aesthetics over biodiversity.
2.25pm AEDT | 4.25pm NZDT
The QUT
Digital Impact Wall
Lightning Round | Thursday 6 November (2:25pm AEDT | 4:25pm NZDT)
Presented by Leigh Burgess & Amy Sutton – QUT
The QUT Impact Wall is a collaboration between QUT Wellbeing, Health, Safety and Environment, and Sustainability. Together, we recognised that there is a lot of overlap in what we do and that we each celebrate the success of staff across the institution in similar but different ways. This project brings together the projects that have positive outcomes in any of these three areas and celebrates them and the people who implement them in a public space. Instead of celebrating them at one event, once, with a defined audience, we have created an inspirational and interactive digital wall of stories that we hope will encourage deep thinking and inspire others to take action to improve wellness, environmental, health and safety outcomes at QUT and across the greater community. The stories can be updated on a regular basis to keep the content fresh and new and encourage staff, students and visitors to engage with the wall on a more regular basis.
The stories represented are small individual actions, that together create enormous impact, alongside more complex projects that on their own or in collaboration with others, create a large positive environmental, health or safety impact at QUT and beyond. This project is an interactive story telling platform that represents the success that community engagement and collaboration can bring. In this Lightening talk, we will take you on a journey through our digital impact wall and share with you, stories that will inspire you and encourage you to consider “What more can I do?”
+ 10mins combined Q&A
+ 10mins combined Q&A
+ 10mins combined Q&A
PLENARY | 2:50pm AEDT | 4:50pm NZDT
DAILY WRAP | Join us for the last session of the day to reconnect and reflect
DAY 2 CONCLUDES | 3:00pm AEDT | 5:00pm NZDT
Day 3
Friday 7 November 2025
PLENARY | 10:00am AEDT | 12:00pm NZDT
ACTS WELCOME | Rhiannon Boyd & Andrew Wilks (Start – 10am AEDT)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER | Professor Toby Walsh – Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence, UNSW Sydney (Start – 10.10am AEDT)
AI and the Future of Sustainability
Keynote | Friday 7 November (10:10am AEDT | 12:10pm NZDT)
Professor Toby Walsh | ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of AI – UNSW
Toby Walsh is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of AI at UNSW and CSIRO Data61, and adjunct professor at QUT. He is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI is used to improve our lives, having spoken at the UN, and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards and many other bodies on this topic. He is a Fellow of the Australia Academy of Science and the winner of the prestigious Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. He was named on the international “Who’s Who in AI” list of influencers. He appears regularly on TV and radio, has been profiled by the New York Times and has authored five books on AI for a general audience, the most recent ones entitled “The Shortest History of AI” and “Faking It: Artificial Intelligence in a Human World”.
With generative AI tools like Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT in the spotlight, AI is having (one of its many) moments. Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg. What is underneath? What bigger developments are coming? What do we need to do to approach AI responsibly and sustainably and to design pathways to more sustainable digital futures? It is time to question some major assumptions. In this engaging talk, Toby Walsh paints a picture of what the future of AI will likely look like and address the environmental and societal implications of the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.
Learn more about Professor Walsh here.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
TRANSFORMING PRACTICE
LEARNING FOR CHANGE
BUILDING A JUST TRANSITION
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZDT
Challenges and Opportunities in
Engaging Carbon and Biodiversity Markets
Roundtable | Friday 7 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Roger Attwater & Lyn Anderson – Western Sydney University & Prof. Samantha Capon – Griffith University
This round table discussion will focus on the challenges and opportunities of engaging carbon and biodiversity markets. Following a brief overview of WSU’s experiences to date, discussion will be open to follow emergent themes of interest, including: participant’s experiences with carbon and biodiversity markets; strategies developed to address ethical dilemmas arising; and potential implications for the ACTS network. WSU experiences to date include: the establishment and trading in ecosystem credits from biodiversity stewardship sites; carbon offsetting as a necessary component of Climate Active certification; developing opportunities for reinvestment in carbon insetting; and potential nutrient offset funding for riparian restoration.
Challenges for engaging with carbon markets include: pitfalls of greenwashing and organisational reputation; the integrity of credits, types and international sociopolitical context; pricing for volunteers in regulated markets e.g. ACCU’s; and International brokerage and visibility of fees. For biodiversity offset markets, challenges include: lead time and expense of establishment of biodiversity stewardship agreements; processes and administration of State based biodiversity offset markets; sales history data for less traded credits; limited mature remnants of ‘like for like ‘ecosystem types; and integration with the developing federal nature repair market.
Opportunities associated with carbon markets include: management of credit portfolios; carbon farming living labs; and ethical engagement opportunities – regional, international and indigenous. Opportunities associated with biodiversity offset markets include: ongoing management funding; methodological living labs; and structured trading relationships with government advocates. Integrated carbon and biodiversity opportunities include: nature-based projects and social co-benefits as key strategies towards climate and nature positive targets, and potentially generating a sustainability funding model for reinvestment in transition arrangements. Other emerging opportunities are developing at WSU, including a collaboration relating to a developing NSW nutrient offset scheme and potential riparian improvements / rewilding of stormwater channels.
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZST
Engaging with Engagement: Ideas, Inspiration
& Interaction for your team’s engagement strategy
Roundtable | Friday 7 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Patrick Coelho, Andrea Marsden & Melissa Lieser – Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington
This roundtable session explores the engagement challenges faced by sustainability teams of tertiary institutions vis-à-vis internal (i.e., staff and students) and external stakeholders (e.g., the wider community, high schools, local/state/national governments, businesses). Participants will have a chance to share their experiences in breakout rooms. The session will conclude with a summary of some of the common engagement challenges for sustainability teams, and good practices in dealing with the same.
11.30am AEDT | 1.30pm NZST
Co-creating Ecological and Ethic Literacy
Interactive Exchange | Friday 7 November (11:30am AEDT | 1:30pm NZDT)
Presented by Fien Van den Steen – University of the Sunshine Coast
Shifting from despair to hope, and from hope to action is the challenge of our time, not only to make our campuses more sustainable but especially to ensure our students leave tertiary education empowered and capable of contributing to the world we need, translating their hope into action.
In various initiatives and capacities, Fien has worked with students and youth to develop ecological and ethical literacy as written in the UN Earth Charter. Developing a mindset and skill set together, guided by the ethical and ecological principles of the Earth Charter, empowers students with a moral compass and a set of guidelines to;
(1) create a new vision,
(2) envision their part of the world they can make a difference in, and
(3) enact that vision.
During this interactive session Fien will explore the different initiatives she cocreated at the University of the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane through volunteer work for the United Nations Association of Australia, and how institutions can create similar forms to develop students’ and youth’ environmental and ecological literacy to unlock their potential and the future they want.
BREAK | 12:30PM AEDT | 2:30PM NZDT
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Shooting for the STARS:
What’s New in STARS 3.0?
Deep Dive | Friday 7 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Carmen Primo Perez – University of Tasmania & Jikke Adema – Flinders University
Various Australasian tertiary education institutions have signed up for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a transparent, self-reporting framework for higher and further education institutes to measure their sustainability performance. The University of Tasmania became the first Australasian STARS rated institution, achieving a Silver rating in 2020, and Gold in 2022 under STARS v2.2. In June 2024 STARS v3.0 was released, with Flinders University being the first University globally to receive a Gold rating with this new version.
The new version is the product of almost five years of development and was shaped by the insights of program participants, AASHE Advisory Council members, STARS Steering Committee members, and countless other individuals and institutions that provided resources, suggestions, encouragement, and ideas. Features to look for in the new version include redesigned credits with accessibility in mind, and simplified measurement where feasible. This has resulted in an expansion of the scope of STARS while achieving a 40% reduction in the number of documentation fields.
In this session, Carmen will present STARS and the main changes and improvements in STARS v3.0, while Jikke will share insights into how the Flinders University approached STARS as a tool for continuous improvement, and how data-driven strategies can support cultural and operational transformation in higher education.
1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT
Is Property
Sustainable?
Deep Dive | Friday 7 November (1.30pm AEDT | 3.30pm NZDT)
Presented by Sue Hopkins & Gerard Healey – University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is working to embed sustainability across its property portfolio, holistically from conception to operations. Hear what changes we are making, as well as challenges and roadblocks on our journey to improving sustainable outcomes for our buildings, landscape and supply chain. This includes assessing and reducing embodied carbon, improving circularity, landscape health and considering sustainable procurement, to align with the targets in the Universities extensive Sustainability Plan 2030, with some award winning initiatives. This includes looking at life cycle analysis, quality assurance and control and operational outcomes for an enhanced staff and student experience and to future proof our campuses for years to come.
This session will explore the tricky question: are our properties, landscapes and public realms really sustainable and how is the tertiary education sector using its campuses as living labs to tackle sustainable construction? Come along to find out more….
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
Accessible Climate Education
for a Changing World
Roundtable | Friday 7 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Troy Heffernan, Marianne Peso & Lia Sherwood – University of Wollongong, Ed Doddridge & Rachel Perkin – University of Tasmania & Rhiannon Boyd – ACTS
How can universities ensure that climate literacy is not just an optional extra, but a core competency for students, staff, and the wider community? This roundtable brings together three innovative approaches to accessible climate education, showcasing practical models that equip people with the knowledge, skills, and agency to act on climate change.
University of Wollongong (UOW)
- The Climate Challenge: a free, open-access online course now embedded across multiple faculties.
- Over 1,000 learners from 60+ countries since its launch in December 2024.
- Complemented by in-person Carbon Literacy workshops, adaptable for diverse contexts from classrooms to hospitals.
- Focus on critical thinking, systems awareness, and turning knowledge into collective action.
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
- The Climate Shift MOOC: a 20-hour, self-paced course launched in 2025, free to all.
- Developed by 45+ academics across disciplines, integrating text, podcasts, and interactive challenges.
- Builds on UTAS’s sector leadership (#1 globally in THE Impact Rankings for Climate Action, 2022–2025).
- Encourages reflection, community engagement, and practical actions at multiple scales.
ACTS Carbon Literacy Training
- Recognised certification accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project.
- Provides structured training to embed climate knowledge in both professional and educational contexts.
- Requires participants to make individual and group pledges, linking learning directly to measurable emission reductions.
- Supports behaviour change and institutional climate commitments across Australasia.
Together, these initiatives highlight diverse yet complementary pathways to embed climate literacy. Attendees will explore lessons learned, opportunities for collaboration, and strategies for scaling climate education across the sector.
1.00pm AEDT | 3.00pm NZDT
If we don’t change our approach, we won’t change what we deliver: Placing organisational culture & vocational education at the heart of a Just Transition.
Panel | Friday 7 November (1:00pm AEDT | 3:00pm NZDT)
Presented by Emma Bombonato, Steve Lyons, Cedelia Duke & Kate Low – TAFE NSW
Centered in inclusion and guided by Indigenous knowledge and our Diversity & Belonging foundations, this panel explores how we can better connect our social and environmental sustainability goals to achieve more impactful and just outcomes. Bringing together TAFE NSW teams from Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Environmental Sustainability, and Learning & Teaching, the discussion will highlight how recognising the interconnected nature of our goals strengthens vocational education’s role in enabling a Just Transition.
The panel will demonstrate the importance of embedding Indigenous knowledge, Country-centered decision-making, and cultural protocols into planning and decision making —ensuring inclusion is not an add-on, but the method. Through real-world examples in both strategic plan and education delivery, we’ll show how vocational education equips both staff and the next generation of learners with the tools, knowledge, and training to embed this thinking into practice.
BREAK | 2:00PM AEDT | 4:00PM NZDT
PLENARY | 2:15pm AEDT | 4:15pm NZDT
CONFERENCE WRAP | Join us for the last session of the conference for closing remarks
DAY 3 CONCLUDES | 3:00pm AEDT | 5:00pm NZDT