Annual report

Vice-Chancellor’s Report

At Flinders University, we continue our fearless pursuit of our mission: to change lives and change the world.

Our University has always offered lifechanging opportunities to our students through the exceptional quality of our teaching. But now we are expanding access to a Flinders education through our new City Campus at Festival Plaza.

This world-class campus brings the Flinders Experience to the heart of the CBD, enabling even more students to easily access our courses.

At Bedford Park, we were proud to host the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, and South Australian Premier, the Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, to officially open our new Health and Medical Research Building – a $280 million investment set to deliver $1.5 billion in economic benefit for South Australia. Home to more than 600 researchers, clinicians and partners, this outstanding facility is already accelerating breakthroughs in areas of greatest need, from chronic disease and infection to health inequality.

Our research performance continues to break records, with income soaring to $133 million in research grants and contracts, demonstrating the quality and relevance of our research, and highlighting our growing capacity to deliver meaningful impacts.

Innovation remains one of our great strengths and in 2024, Flinders became the first university in Australia to launch an undergraduate nuclear engineering major – a bold, future-focussed step that equips our students with the skills to support the development and sustainment of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.

Our global reputation continues to grow. In our debut appearance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, Flinders achieved top 10 global rankings for Gender Equality (8th) and Reduced Inequalities (10th), recognising our unwavering commitments to fairness and equity of opportunity for all.

Finally, I want to thank our staff for their exemplary dedication to our students and their proven ability to deliver research that changes lives.

And to every student who chooses a Flinders education – thank you. You are the heart of our University and the very reason we do what we do.

Professor Colin J Stirling
President and Vice-Chancellor