Role in our local area

Flinders has been actively involved in several major developments in the Southern Adelaide region.

On this page we provide a brief overview of some of our recent activities in the southern region, as well as a detailed list of all recent activities.

Highlighted activities in the southern Adelaide region

Below is an overview of some of our recent activities in the southern region:

• Southern Program for Improved Participation in Education (SPIPE)
• INSPIRE Peer Mentor Program
• Southern Adelaide Health Service
• South Australian Centre for Innovation Inc
• Environment and sustainability.

Southern Program for Improved Participation in Education (SPIPE)

The Southern Program for Improved Participation in Education (SPIPE) enhances our relationship with Adelaide's southern region by:

• encouraging and supporting participation in education at secondary school, TAFE and university levels
• working with regional educational providers to encourage students from under-represented groups to consider university study
• assisting students from the region to gain access to courses at Flinders and to complete their studies successfully
• helping these students make the transition to employment when they graduate
• increasing interaction between the university and local industry, including research collaboration and consultancy.

INSPIRE Peer Mentor Program

Flinders runs the INSPIRE Peer Mentor Program in partnership with the Commonwealth Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), schools and community agencies. Flinders students mentor school students to assist them to complete their studies and make the transition to employment.

Southern Adelaide Health Service

Flinders University, through its close association with the Flinders Medical Centre, is building a strong collaboration with the Southern Adelaide Health Service. Since 2004 this Service has had responsibility for all health services in the southern Adelaide region.

South Australian Centre for Innovation Inc

Flinders is a founding member of the South Australian Centre for Innovation Inc. The centre assists high growth South Australian companies to innovate through the development of new products and services, improved processes and business practices and the application of advanced technology.

Environment and sustainability alliance

Flinders is developing an initiative to engage students and staff with enterprises wanting to create and implement Environmental Management Systems.

Summary of our activities in the southern region

Below is a summary of our current activities in the southern region:

• education and training
• enterprise, business and industry development
• new technologies and technology transfer
• planning, monitoring, research and evaluation
• community services, community development, community support
• governance and coordination.

Education and training

• TAFE Pathways Group
• Southern Program for Improving Participation in Eduction (SPIPE)
  INSPIRE Peer Mentoring Project
• Flinders Study Centre (presently being developed in the City of Onkaparinga).

Enterprise, business and industry development

• South Australian Centre for Innovation Inc
• Tourism
• Discussions with the Wine Federation of Australia
• Inner Southern Business Enterprise Centre
• Southern Success Business Enterprise Centre
• Consulting services to government and business
• Member of the Exporters Club.

New technologies and technology transfer

• Technology diffusion services
• Expertise in new and smart technologies
• Development of e-business initiatives (eg online education, health and aged care networks, local procurement initiatives, regional broadband and internet connectivity, tourism)
• Environmental planning and research, bioremediation, coastal environments and water quality.

Planning, monitoring, research and evaluation

• Working with regional partners to obtain funding for business development managers.
• Monitoring the social services, industry structure, housing and health impacts of economic restructuring in the southern region (including the Flinders University Mitsubishi Project).
• Evaluation and analysis of the regional Export Extension Service.

Community services, community development and community support

• Primary and community health activities with Flinders Medical Centre
  
• Noarlunga Healthy Cities Project
• Development of Mentor Networks
• Flinders Noarlunga Study Hub
  
• Onkaparinga Library Link with Flinders
• Arts, culture and tourism initiatives
• Discussions with regional partners (particularly the City of Marion, City of Onkaparinga and the Office of the South) on Flinders role in the southern suburbs.

Governance and coordination

• Membership of Southern Adelaide Economic Development Board
  
• Membership of City of Onkaparinga's Economic Development Forum
• Key participant in the Southern Economic Forum