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 and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), with support from 39 research partners including local and regional farming and agri-business communities, have developed South Australian Climate Resilience Discovery Farms and Innovator Sites – a $11.7 million program pioneering climate-resilient solutions for sustainable agriculture.
The Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University worked with Wellbeing SA and the Department of Human Services to develop an evidence-informed response to addressing food insecurity in South Australia. This initiative produced a discussion paper with recommendations to inform policy and action. Together with three food relief service providers and two state government agencies, the Centre collaborated in a research project to Translate Food Relief Service Principles into Practice.
The Goyder Institute for Water Research develops and adopts sustainable, innovative and integrated solutions for complex water management challenges. This collaboration between government, industry and leading researchers drives policy through such projects as the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre’s Approach to Tackle Climate Challenges. This project is developed and delivered in an inclusive, collaborative manner, providing opportunity for increased involvement of local and regional First Nations and community in the design, delivery and dissemination of knowledge to inform decision making in the region. It includes local education activities on conservation, and climate action.
The Torrens Resilience Initiative assist governments with disaster management plans, especially to include people living with disability, older people, CALD communities, and communities in remote and rural areas. It addresses local co-operative planning for climate change disasters through a balanced Community Disaster Resilience Scorecard, which helps communities work together to prepare for disaster threats, and a Drought Resilience Mapping Toolkit that provides a holistic approach to help regional communities and farmers ahead of crises.
Future Energy Week, presented by Flinders University, stimulates crucial cross-sectoral dialogue with speakers and participants including representatives of government, industry, academics and students. Flinders University was the main partner and played a leading role in the governance, development and delivery of the event.
The College of Medicine and Public Health examined increasing difficulties facing people from refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds to enter local housing markets making resettlement increasingly difficult, and provide recommendations. In an additional project they developed a co-produced framework to better support the mental health of young refugees.
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 is an active member of ACTS (Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability). Staff from the Flinders sustainability team participate in SDSN/ACTS collaborations, e.g. in the working group on Mainstreaming education for SDGs 2024, an initiative across Australia and New Zealand. Flinders is also part of the Innovative Research Universities Sustainability Group which provides an opportunity for IRU universities to share and provide lessons learned on various sustainability initiatives, programs and projects.
Professor Corey Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology, led international research published in PLOS ONE that shows high infant mortality rates are contributing to an incessant rise of the global human population, supporting arguments for greater access to contraception and family planning in low- and middle-income nations.
Flinders University experts worked with Chinese and other Australian researchers on three major international studies to assess the effects of droughts on heatwaves, vegetation health and soil salinity.
Flinders University’s Jeff Bleich Centre and the University of Virginia’s School of Data Sciences commenced research and knowledge exchange in the areas of artificial intelligence, data security and democracy, in the wake of the AUKUS security pact and international technology acquisition program.
Through The Australian Water Partnership, Flinders University’s Dr Eddie Banks has worked on of humanitarian outreach projects with Geoscientists without Borders in Arnhem Land Australia and Laos PDR, providing access to sustainable water supplies for those in need.
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:
Kangaroo Island Passport to Recovery, a large multi-year citizen science and educational program, led by Flinders University in collaboration with the Australian Government, SeaLink, the Kangaroo Island Council, the Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance and the Kangaroo Island Koala and Wildlife Rescue Centre. As part of this educational program, island residents and visitors have been encouraged to join a comprehensive series of citizen science projects around conservation, ecology, climate change risks, and climate adaptation.
The Aspire program, a diverse collaborative partnership between the Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University with multiple South Australian Government agencies, Hutt St Centre, Social Ventures Australia and private investors, connects people experiencing homelessness to housing through South Australia’s first social impact bond to target homelessness.
A Community Optometry Clinic led by Flinders University optometry students, located at Baptist Care SA’s WestCare Centre, provides essential optometry services to disadvantaged people, with access bulk-billed examinations and prescription glasses through Flinders University Optometry.
The Flinders Legal Centre, a legal clinic featuring experienced solicitors supervising Flinders University Law student interns and recent graduates, provides free, independent and confidential legal advice for the community, working in collaboration with local neighbourhood centres.
The Flinders STEM Outreach program for high school teachers and students provides free workshops on campus and in schools, as well as teacher training. Their workshops include sustainability-focused programs (e.g. around renewable energy and environmental health) and access to industry events and participation at expos, conference, open days and science-related events, including Science Alive!
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