Flinders' innovations and collaborations with local organisations
A selection of Flinders’ exciting recent innovations and collaborations with local organisations include:
As a Platinum member of the Committee for Adelaide, Flinders University is heavily involved in the SA Zero initiative. This initiative is Adelaide’s’ first net zero cluster for public-private-academia collaboration with the mission to accelerate South Australia’s zero carbon and zero waste pathways.
Flinders University leads the SA Discovery Farms collaboration with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and 40 partners, supported through an $8 million Australian Government Future Drought Fund grant (2024-2029). Four long-term trial sites have been established at Minnipa, Loxton, Struan and Turretfield, alongside 35 commercial Innovator Sites across South Australia. These trials focus on climate-resilient farming practices including tailored grain and feed systems, soil health enhancement, precision livestock strategies, virtual fencing, moisture-sensing seeding and plant genetics for drought adaptation.
The initiative brings together researchers, government agencies, farmers, advisers and industry partners to identify, trial and evaluate practical responses to drought and climate variability. A co-design approach ensures that farmers contribute directly to the development, testing and refinement of climate-resilient practices, creating locally relevant solutions for different farming systems and rainfall zones. Through this collaboration, the project provides a platform for ongoing knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based decision-making on climate adaptation in South Australia.
By connecting government, industry, researchers and farming communities, SA Discovery Farms supports regional climate resilience, informs future agricultural adaptation strategies and creates opportunities for cross-sector dialogue on sustainable land management and climate action.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) and Wellbeing SA collaborates with Flinders University's Centre for Social Impact (CSI) on the Secure Food Systems Project, which aims to develop a whole-of-government response to food insecurity in South Australia. Key activities include consultations with people with lived experience of food insecurity and engagement with the food relief sector to inform the creation of a discussion paper proposing evidence-based policy and actions, leading to initiatives like the Social Supermarket Program. The collaboration includes research on the role of social systems in supporting communities experiencing food insecurity.
The Goyder Institute for Water Research develops sustainable, innovative and integrated solutions to address complex water management challenges. Through collaboration between government, industry and leading researchers, the Institute supports evidence-based policy and climate adaptation initiatives, including through the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre. The Centre's research program is shaped by the priorities of regional communities, First Nations peoples and environmental managers creating a platform for collaborative decision-making and evidence-based environmental management on climate adaptation, conservation and sustainable water management. More than 1,000 people have contributed to identifying research priorities, with projects delivered through partnerships involving researchers, community organisations, First Nations groups and government agencies.
The CLLMM region, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, is home to nationally threatened species and holds deep cultural significance for the Ngarrindjeri and South-East First Nations communities. Flinders University researchers contribute to a range of projects addressing climate change impacts and environmental resilience, including research on blue and teal carbon, iconic species, climate adaptation, ecosystem services, climate extremes, community adaptation, landscape revegetation and sustainable water management.
Community education and engagement are central to the partnership. The Centre delivers school programs aligned with the South Australian curriculum and hosts public events designed to improve community understanding of environmental challenges and climate risks. During 2025, the Centre delivered a Summer Series of Science, including a community panel on local water and sustainable practices and a Community Science Showcase that encouraged residents to participate in environmental monitoring and citizen science activities. The Centre also convened the community forum Stronger Together – Navigating Environmental Challenges Ahead, bringing together researchers, government representatives, First Nations voices and local residents to discuss climate change, environmental resilience and community responses to emerging environmental risks.
In 2026, the Centre expanded this outreach through initiatives such as Growing Resilient Landscapes as part of Nature Festival 2026, bringing together community members, researchers, practitioners and Traditional Custodians to share practical approaches to landscape restoration, climate adaptation and environmental stewardship. These activities create opportunities for cross-sector dialogue, public education and shared decision-making on climate resilience and sustainable water management.
Through its ongoing partnerships with government agencies, researchers, First Nations organisations and regional communities, the Goyder Institute supports the development and translation of knowledge needed for climate adaptation, environmental stewardship and evidence-based environmental management, while creating opportunities for public education, cross-sector dialogue and community participation in sustainability initiatives.
As one of Australia's longest-standing initiatives in disaster preparedness and resilience, the Torrens Resilience Initiative (TRI) provides evidence-based research, tools, and training to organisations, communities, and governments across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Their work includes the Community Disaster Resilience Scorecard (implemented in councils such as Melton and Wyndham), enhancing preparedness for natural hazards, as well as providing guidance on resilient infrastructure, including for example generator selection for aged-care facilities to maintain critical services during emergencies. TRI is currently working on a co-designed Sustainability & Resilience Toolkit for Events, to support safer and adaptive event planning, and runs targeted training programs (e.g., Climate Risk and Disaster Resilience for Local Government), offering face-to-face, tailored workshops for councils to inform and support regional disaster risk management and early warning efforts.
The College of Medicine and Public Health examined how difficulties to enter the housing market, impacts people from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds. They found that, with the current pressure on the housing market, resettlement becomes increasingly difficult. “The stresses of settling into a new country can be exacerbated by overcrowded, poor quality, costly or unstable housing”, says Flinders University Professor Anna Ziersch. The study provided recommendations for strategies to support refugees and asylum seekers.
In a separate project, the team reported on additional obstacles for migrant and refugee children with disabilities and their carers.
Within this SA Drought Hub initiative, Flinders University partnered with SARDI, grower groups, and landscape boards to explore how farmers engage with drought-resilience innovations. From October 2023 to March 2024, researchers conducted a survey and 26 in-depth interviews, revealing key thematic barriers and enablers. Findings highlight strategies that can improve the adoption of climate-resilient practices and technologies, such as enhancing communication channels, co-designing with communities, and tailoring resources to local contexts. These results are actively informing outreach, extension services, and educational materials aimed at supporting climate adaptation in regional farming communities. The final report is publicly available.
Flinders' collaborations with international researchers
Flinders University participates in international research collaborations and reviews comparative approaches to develop international best practice. Key recent examples include:
Flinders University has strengthened its global sustainability impact through a formal partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), a leading international research organisation focused on forestry, agroforestry and sustainable land management. This collaboration supports joint research and data initiatives aimed at transforming food systems to be more sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient.
Professor Thuy Pham, Professor in Public Policy at Flinders University and an affiliate of CIFOR in Indonesia, has played a key role in establishing this partnership. The collaboration focuses on nature-based solutions, regenerative agriculture, climate policy and low-emission food systems, bringing together researchers from Australia and South-East Asia to generate and analyse evidence that supports sustainable food production and climate adaptation.
By contributing to international research, data collection and knowledge exchange on food system transformation, the partnership supports global efforts to measure and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Flinders University researchers contributed to a large international study examining how climate change may affect the risk of diarrhoeal disease among children in South and South-East Asia. The research analysed observations from more than three million children across eight countries and investigated how climate conditions, socio-economic factors and maternal and child health characteristics interact to influence disease risk.
The study found that rising temperatures and increasingly dry rainy seasons are projected to increase the risk of diarrhoeal disease, one of the leading causes of preventable childhood mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Researchers highlighted the importance of education and targeted health policies as effective climate adaptation measures that can help reduce vulnerability in affected communities.
This international collaboration demonstrates how large-scale data collection and analysis can inform evidence-based responses to climate-related health risks and support progress towards SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Flinders University researchers collaborated with national and international partners on a major study investigating how climate change is affecting southern right whale populations. Drawing on more than three decades of photo-identification data collected in the Great Australian Bight, the research examined long-term changes in whale reproductive success and their relationship with environmental conditions in the Southern Ocean.
The study found that declines in reproductive output coincided with reductions in Antarctic sea ice and changing oceanic conditions, highlighting the sensitivity of marine ecosystems to climate variability. Researchers noted that similar trends have been observed in southern right whale populations in South America and South Africa, demonstrating the global significance of the findings.
Through international collaboration and long-term environmental monitoring, the project contributes valuable data to improve understanding of climate impacts on marine biodiversity and supports evidence-based conservation and climate adaptation strategies. The work contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Flinders' collaborations with NGOs
Flinders University collaborates with Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to foster student volunteering programs and research programs, and drives innovative educational activities for the wider community, including alumni, local community, displaced people and refugees. Recent examples include:
Flinders University’s Passport to Recovery initiative continues to support bushfire-affected communities on Kangaroo Island through education, citizen science, and collaborative outreach. In 2024, the program expanded with Reef Rewind, Australia’s first citizen science oyster reef restoration project, engaging locals and visitors in marine monitoring to restore biodiversity and improve water quality. The initiative also provides education on resilience, including bushfire fuel load monitoring and carbon footprint awareness, tailored to local needs.
In recognition of its impact, Passport to Recovery was awarded the 2025 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science, celebrating its engagement of over 5,000 participants from 47 countries.
Flinders students and alumni have contributed through volunteer programs, app development, and community engagement, while partnerships with NGOs and local organisations ensure the initiative supports SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 13 (Climate Action), and 14 (Life Below Water). By combining environmental restoration with educational outreach, Passport to Recovery empowers displaced and affected communities to build a more sustainable future as part of their bushfire recovery.
Flinders University's STEM Outreach program delivers free educational activities for school students and teachers across South Australia, helping to build knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while addressing sustainability challenges. The program includes workshops on campus and in schools, teacher professional learning opportunities, curriculum-linked resources, participation in community events such as Science Alive!, and on-campus experiences through the University's Campus Tour Activities program.
Many activities explore topics directly relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals, including renewable energy, environmental science, water management, environmental health and sustainable technologies. Through hands-on learning experiences and engagement with researchers, students gain a deeper understanding of environmental challenges, climate risks and the role of innovation in supporting a more sustainable future.
The program engages both students and teachers, providing opportunities to explore contemporary scientific and environmental issues, connect classroom learning with real-world sustainability challenges, and learn about pathways into careers that contribute to climate adaptation, environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
By providing free educational programs and resources for students, teachers and school communities, Flinders University supports STEM participation, promotes sustainability literacy and contributes to community education on climate change, environmental management and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) at Flinders University works with government agencies, non-government organisations, social enterprises and community groups to address complex social challenges through applied research, evaluation, education and practical resources. CSI's work focuses on strengthening community wellbeing and social inclusion, with projects spanning homelessness, food security, social services and community development.
Recent collaborations include the development of the Ending Homelessness: A Toolkit for Local Government, produced in partnership with the Local Government Association of South Australia, councils and stakeholders working to end homelessness. The toolkit provides evidence-based guidance to help local governments respond to homelessness, build partnerships and develop locally tailored responses to housing insecurity.
CSI researchers also collaborate with community organisations and social enterprises to improve food security outcomes. Working with organisations such as The Food Centre, researchers have examined innovative social supermarket models that combine affordable food access with social supports, community connections and opportunities for participation. This work has informed practical tools and resources that can be used by community organisations to strengthen food relief services and improve long-term community outcomes.
In 2024, CSI Flinders developed the Food Relief Good Practice Guide in collaboration with project partners to support food relief providers, community organisations and funders. The guide provides practical recommendations to help organisations improve service delivery, enhance dignity and choice for clients, strengthen community connections and increase social impact.
More recently, CSI research has examined progressive food relief models and partnerships that integrate affordable food access with volunteering opportunities, education, social support and community engagement. A 2026 study highlighted the important role that community-based organisations can play in addressing food insecurity through collaborative and place-based approaches that support both immediate needs and longer-term resilience.
Through these partnerships, the Centre for Social Impact contributes research, educational resources and practical tools that support community organisations and decision-makers working towards SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Flinders’ support for sustainable cities and communities
Flinders University is dedicated to make our cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. As part of a vibrant society, sustainability at Flinders University encompasses cultural heritage, arts and its wider communities. These are some of our initiatives:
Flinders University is an active contributor to creative arts in many different ways and is actively involved in preserving cultural heritage.
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