Sustainable Development Goals at our University
In 2019, we signed the University Commitment which recognises the significant scope of work needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the important role university communities play in reaching these goals. We are committed to sustainability for ourselves, our surrounding communities, and the world.
The SDGs offer a shared framework for all levels of government, businesses, community groups and education organisations to prioritise action between 2015 to 2030, across environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability.
How we measure our impact for the SDGs
We use the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings (previously Impact Rankings) and other frameworks, such as the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS), to measure our progress towards sustainability. The THE Impact Ratings aim to evaluate university performance in relation to the SDGs.
SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Sustainable Cities and Communities aims to make cities safe, sustainable, healthy, and resilient. This will be achieved through focus areas in cities including accessible housing; sustainable and affordable transport systems; inclusive and green public spaces; protected cultural and natural heritage; and reduced environmental impacts.
The University adopts whole system thinking to promote interconnection across and within systems to create, maintain, and regenerate sustainable cities and communities. The University is contributing to sustainable cities through the creation and upgrading of its campuses, including future proofing against environmental disasters, reducing its carbon footprint, and providing public green spaces.
Support of arts and heritage
Public access to buildings and landscapes of cultural significance
The University of Tasmania welcomes our local communities and visitors to experience our campuses, including buildings, monuments, natural landscapes and places of cultural significance and connection to Country. Our campuses are safe, inclusive, and free to access.
The University has various buildings of cultural significance that are listed in the Tasmanian Heritage Register, an inventory of places identified as important to Tasmania and Tasmanians because of their connections to the State's history, culture, and society. These places are linked to the cultural fabric important to our local communities, our state’s identity, and our tourism industry. Some examples include:
- Sandy Bay campus: Christ College
- Hobart campus: Domain House; The Hedberg site; Hollydene (Medical Science Precinct); Forestry Tasmania Dome (The Forest building)
- Inveresk campus: Railway Workshops (incl Academy of the Arts)
- Newnham campus: Newnham Hall, Riverside Cottage and Grounds
These places are open to the public on a daily basis (e.g., The Hedberg; Riverside Cottage grounds; The Forest Building), or during special events such as community engagement activities, performances, guided tours (e.g., Domain House, the original home of the University).
In addition, various campuses have Aboriginal gardens that are landscapes of cultural significance, deeply aligned with the values of SDG11, and permanently open to the public. The gardens were designed in collaboration with Palawa artists embedding Aboriginal cultural values, stories, and practices into the landscape. The design process was Indigenous led, ensuring cultural protocols were respected and community aspirations were met. For example, the Riawunna Garden at Inveresk campus features native plantings, a performance space and four distinctive artworks that have been imagined by proud Tasmanian Aboriginal artists.
Visitors can also explore our state-of-the-art sustainable buildings, community sporting facilities, libraries, galleries, and green spaces. Connected spaces like the Newnham Creek and the Heritage Orchard at Newnham campus or the University Reserve at Sandy Bay campus also provide opportunities to reflect on the rich, ongoing relationship between people and the natural environment.
Public access to libraries
The University of Tasmania provides free public access to its libraries, including books and publications and other information resources, as well as various art collections. Members of the public are welcome to enter the University libraries during staffed hours to browse and consult print and electronic resources. Electronic resources can be accessed on-site via library catalogue computers freely available to the public. This open access supports lifelong learning, independent research and community engagement across Tasmania.
In addition to on-site public access, the University Library offers free membership to past graduates, members of the public, Royal Hobart Hospital staff, students and staff from other universities, and Tasmanian school students. Members from the public can request items and borrow from any University Library, request scanned copies of chapters or articles from print materials, and access electronic resources when visiting the library. These services provide a valuable opportunity for the wider community to engage with academic knowledge, research, and cultural collections.
Public access is available across the University's network of libraries, including the Morris Miller Library, Law Library, Forest Library, Albert G Baikie Clinical Library, Carington Smith Library, Newnham Library, Inveresk Library, Cradle Coast Campus Library, and Sydney Campus Library, ensuring broad access to library resources for communities in Tasmania and beyond.
Public access to museums
The University of Tasmania provides permanent free public access to a range of cultural collections, galleries, museums, exhibition spaces, artworks and artefacts located across its campuses and cultural precincts. welcome to visit these spaces throughout the year to engage with exhibitions, collections and cultural experiences. While some collections require advance booking to facilitate access, entry remains free.
Some examples include:
- The John Elliott Classics Museum in Sandy Bay campus houses a significant collection of ancient artefacts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Etruria and Rome including 300 artefacts and 500 ancient coins. The museum is open to the public and used as a research and teaching resource for the University, community, and school groups.
- The Plimsoll Gallery (Hobart City campus) showcases touring and curated exhibitions of innovative local, national, and international contemporary art and design as well as student work from the School of Creative Arts and Media.
- The Loop (Hobart City campus) is a large-scale digital screen located in the Midtown precinct of Hobart. Community members, artists, curators, and organisations are encouraged to contribute works which delight, divert, entertain and provoke thought – connecting artists with audiences and the City of Hobart.
- The Lantern Gallery is part of the Inveresk cultural precinct. The Gallery is a student-run exhibition space showcasing art, architecture, design and technology. The gallery contributes to the cultural life of the precinct and provides free opportunities for the public to engage with creative practice.
Public access to green spaces
The University of Tasmania provides permanent free public access to a range of open and recreational spaces across its campuses and properties. These areas are available year-round for use by community members, visitors, staff and students, ensuring that university grounds contribute to the social, cultural and environmental life of the regions in which they are located.
A notable example is the University Reserve at the Sandy Bay campus, which includes an extensive area of native bushland that is freely accessible to the public. Other examples include the Heritage Orchard at the Newnham campus, containing apricot, peach, plum, pear and apple trees, and the Inveresk Community Garden, the University's flagship community garden with more than 30 large raised beds available within an open and welcoming environment.
The Riawunna Indigenous Garden at the Inveresk campus also provides free public access to a gathering and performance space set within Indigenous planting. Tasmanian Aboriginal artists have embedded artworks into significant elements of the garden, creating a welcoming space that connects closely with Country and encourages community engagement with Aboriginal culture and knowledge.
The Inveresk campus multi-sport courts accommodate basketball, netball and table tennis, and include a climbing wall and exercise space. Anyone visiting Inveresk can access and enjoy these spaces and features, which are permanently open and free to use.
Together, these and other spaces create welcoming and accessible environments for the wider community, and provide opportunities for recreation, physical activity, cultural engagement, environmental learning and connection with nature.
Arts and heritage contribution
The University of Tasmania contributes significantly to the local arts and cultural life of Tasmania through more than 100 public performances each year, providing opportunities for community members to engage with music, theatre and creative arts. Activities occur across Tasmania and include recurring annual programs and ad hoc performances, including concerts, recitals, ensemble showcases, theatre productions, student assessments presented to public audiences, staff performances and special community events delivered through the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and the School of Creative Arts and Media.
Annual programs, many of which include multiple public performances each year, include:
- Chamber Music Showcase: University's Music Theatre students and chamber groups give showcase concert including classics such as Saint-Saens, Mozart and Andrew Lloyd Webber alongside new compositions by our student composers.
- Classical Student Showcase: A series of public concerts featuring some of the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music's most accomplished classical music students.
- Contemporary Music Showcase: Three evenings of original and dynamic performances presented by students from the Contemporary Music Program at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music.
- Contemporary Music Staff Showcase: A public concert featuring members of the Conservatorium's Contemporary Music staff, showcasing jazz standards alongside original compositions.
- Jazz and Popular Music Student Showcase: Three nights of performances featuring diverse student ensembles, from vocal and instrumental jazz to contemporary popular music and original works.
- Vocal Ensemble Showcase: The Conservatorium's Vocal Ensemble brings together singers from classical, contemporary and musical theatre disciplines. The annual showcase celebrates the diversity of the University's vocal community through a program focused on collaboration, community and connection.
- Tasmania’s Next Generation: A concert series celebrating emerging musical talent from across Tasmania. Performances feature students participating in the Conservatorium's University Connections Program.
- Festival of Voices: A collaborative initiative between the Tasmanian Government, Festival of Voices and the University of Tasmania. The partnership supports public performances that combine student participation, academic engagement and community involvement.
- Symphony by the Sea: A collaboration between the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the University of Tasmania that brings live-streamed orchestral performances to audiences at the Cradle Coast campus.
In addition to these recurring annual programs, students from the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and the School of Creative Arts and Media participate in numerous ad hoc public performances as part of their coursework and creative practice. Examples from 2025 include:
- Statewide Ossa Music Prize tour: An Honours student at the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music took her multi-sensory experience across Tasmania with performances in all regions of the state. The free five-concert statewide tour highlighted the works of Tasmanian composers and original paintings by a University of Tasmania art student.
- Violin Works of Fritz Hart, PhD Recital: A public doctoral recital exploring Fritz Hart's creative blend of tradition and innovation, highlighting the emotional depth and technical challenges of his works for violin.
- ENO ONE Theatre and Production: Three nights of public theatre performances presented by University theatre students.
- Evocative - our Wind Ensemble in Concert: The University's Wind Ensemble presented a public concert featuring music from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries by Australian and international composers.
Collectively, these and other recurring programs and ad hoc performances contribute more than 100 public performances annually, meaningfully contributing to Tasmania's cultural life through music, theatre and creative arts.
Upcoming events can be found on the University events page.
Record and preserve cultural heritage
The University of Tasmania delivers operational and research projects to record and preserve intangible cultural heritage such as local folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge, including the cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, who have historically experienced severe forced displacement and dispossession from their traditional lands. A key priority for the University is ensuring we honour and embed the enduring cultural legacy of First Nations people by providing welcoming and meaningful connections with our community, culture and knowledges on all of our campuses. Some key examples follow.
The Strings of Sea Country – A Story Carried in Shells cultural exhibition celebrates, preserves and shares the living tradition of Palawa/Pakana people (Aboriginal Tasmanian people) shell stringing. The exhibition is open to the public in the library in The Forest, Hobart CBD campus. Strings of Sea Country – A Story Carried in Shells honours the knowledge and stories passed down through generations of Aboriginal women and families of Lutruwita/Tasmania. The project provides opportunities for knowledge sharing between Elders, community members, and younger generations, helping to ensure that the cultural practices of kanalaritja remain strong and continue through the hands, hearts, and voices of the people who carry them today into the future. The exhibition brings together personal stories and cultural knowledge while raising awareness of the importance of protecting Sea Country and shell habitats. Another important aspect of the exhibition is to highlight the cultural protocols that protect this tradition.
The University supports the Riawunna Centre and their Aboriginal Community Engagement Program, which facilitates cultural events to encourage people to the University from Aboriginal Dance workshops, weaving workshops to traditional fire stick making. Riawunna works closely with the Communities Team to deliver cultural experiences to the University Community. host cultural activities with the University Aboriginal community for events like Orientation Week, Open Day, Harmony Day, Mental Health Day, yarning circles and many other important occasions. Riawunna celebrates NAIDOC week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) each year with the University and the Aboriginal community. It is a significant week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who celebrate their history, culture and achievements. Riawunna is also proud of its cultural collection of water carriers, shell necklaces and baskets. We also have an art collection across our three Lutruwita campuses.
The Riawunna Garden at the Inveresk campus was co-designed with Tasmanian Aboriginal artists and incorporates palawa kani language, storytelling, cultural symbols, native plants and traditional knowledge. The project preserves and publicly shares cultural knowledge connected to Country, waterways, fire, community and language. The artists were commissioned to design screens, seating, a shade shelter and fire pit cover, drawing their inspiration from Country, community and culture. The element of fire is visible in the design of the fire pit lid. The word patrula (fire) is inscribed directly below, while kanamaluka (Tamar River) laykila (North Esk River) and plipatumila (South Esk River) are etched in the surrounding pavement, acknowledging the site’s freshwater connection.The traditional practice of basket-weaving, and a style unique to lutrawita that’s passed down through families is the inspiration behind the seat and shade shelter designs. The shade structure’s canopy comprises nine sections representing Tasmania’s nine Aboriginal Nations and will come to house woven artworks by Aboriginal Community members in time. The new Riawunna Garden is one of many Aboriginal cultural markers across Inveresk precinct, which also includes guardian stones, the pulingina milaythina welcoming space, and carpets in the Library inspired by kanamaluka that were designed by a Tasmanian Aboriginal artist.
A research project, The Great Exhibitions and their Lost Indigenous Objects (2024-2027) will conduct the first systematic study of the Indigenous objects sent overseas for international exhibitions in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These rare collections constituted vital forms of cultural, political and economic diplomacy and imperial communication and projection. Using rich archival, textual and photographic sources, it will investigate the Indigenous makers, the collectors, the juxtapositions, and the representations of Aboriginal people at such exhibitions. By identifying the objects still in collections and those sent but now lost, the project will provide a vital form of knowledge repatriation and remake connections between objects and communities, and, generate new narratives and exhibition possibilities created by and for First Nations people, and bring contemporary Indigenous messages to museums and a global audience. The investigative team brings together cultural practitioners, historians, conservators, curators, archivists in museums and galleries in two/three countries, and the study uses photographic, archival visual analysis and ethnography to interpret objects.
The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is helping to preserve Tasmania’s rich apple growing history with the planting of heritage apple trees at the Heritage Orchard at the University of Tasmania’s Newnham campus. The collection of heritage apples at the site currently includes 37 varieties and is an important step towards ensuring Tasmania’s diverse apple history is safeguarded for the future. The collection dates back to the 1800s. Tasmania's apple-growing story is a significant part of our agricultural heritage, and projects like this help ensure those unique varieties are preserved for generations to come. The Heritage Orchard also helps to preserve Tasmania’s rich apple growing and apple research history by providing a living library of apple varieties. Workshops at the Orchard teach participants how to prune and shape apple trees and keep an orchard healthy and thriving.
Through community partnerships, cultural spaces, research, education and collections stewardship, the University of Tasmania actively contributes to recording, preserving and promoting the living cultural heritage of Tasmania, including Aboriginal language, traditions, stories and knowledge.
Sustainable practices
Sustainable practices targets
Promote sustainable commuting
https://www.utas.edu.au/about/sustainability/facilities-and-operations/transport
Allow remote working
Affordable housing for employees
The University of Tasmania supports access to affordable housing through university accommodation options, housing support services and financial assistance programs for staff.
The University offers affordable, short-stay campus accommodation available to staff, as well as students and visitors, for up to eight weeks in a range of accommodation styles, from self-contained apartments through to budget-priced college-style single rooms with shared facilities. Furthermore, University staff can also benefit from discounted hotel rates for short-stay off campus accommodation by leveraging the UTAS discounted contract accommodation rates for selected hotels.
The University also offers resources for new and relocating staff from overseas, interstate, or intrastate through the Relocation of New Employees Program [intranet page]. The program offers relocation support including temporary accommodation for up to six weeks, as well as travel and removalist arrangements, transit insurance and travel for the employee and dependents. Additionally, the People and Recruitment team offers assistance with temporary accommodation arrangements if needed.
Furthermore, staff benefits include access to exclusive workplace banking benefits, including tailored home lending support and exclusive benefits such as a discounted variable home loan rate and no establishment fees for home loan products, plus personalised service and ongoing support.
The University conducts research on housing dynamics, including evaluation of affordable housing. For example, the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics works on addressing economic challenges in Tasmania and beyond, with affordable housing evaluation as one of their main research themes. Research experts in housing and social issues work to understand the housing market as a crucial component of social wellbeing. This research has policy relevance in housing market issues and households’ financial wellbeing for our staff and students.
In addition, the School of Social Sciences hosts the Homelessness CoILAB (2023-2026) works on homelessness prevention and early intervention in Tasmania and beyond, with evaluation of affordable housing for all being a key aspect.
Affordable housing for students
The University of Tasmania supports access to affordable housing through university accommodation options, housing support services and financial assistance programs for students.
The University provides a range of affordable on-campus accommodation options across Tasmania, enabling students to live close to study facilities and campus services. Accommodation options are designed to support students' academic success, wellbeing and sense of community. In 2025, the University’s student accommodation earned a Gold accreditation with the prestigious Residential Experience Standard (RES). RES is a global benchmark for excellence in student accommodation. Our Gold accreditation is a reflection of the high quality of our accommodation, our commitment to student wellbeing, and the positive impact this has on student success and the university experience.
In 2025 and until mid-2026, the University participated in the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) to provide affordable living for students who meet the requirements. NRAS is an Australian Government initiative that capped rent charges at 20% below market, helping to address the shortage of affordable rental accommodation in Tasmania. The University continues to offer affordable accommodation to students beyond the NRAS program, with all campus accommodation properties capped at or below 75% of the local market rate, which is reviewed annually using an independent valuer.
The University also provides financial support to assist students experiencing housing or living-cost pressures. This gives students access to a community designed to support their academic, social, and wellbeing needs. For example, the Support to Study Scholarship Package offers accommodation support, with a portion of the rent paid by the University for on campus accommodation, and relocation support to assist with relocation expenses to commencing students from regional or remote Tasmania. The University also promotes the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) program, for eligible students moving from regional or remote Australia to start tertiary studies, can help pay for rent or bond for accommodation.
Financial support programs such as the Student Financial Hardship Scheme and Higher Degree by Research Extreme Hardship Fund are also available through the Tasmanian University Student Association. This support is not a loan and does not require repayment. For example, the HDR Fund provides a limited number of extensions/payments for living allowances to eligible HDR (Higher Degree by Research) candidates in exceptional cases where they have experienced delays in their candidature or other financial hardships.
Pedestrian priority on campus
The University of Tasmania prioritises pedestrian access across its campuses and recognises walking as a fundamental component of a healthy, accessible and sustainable university environment. The University gives priority to pedestrians through measures including vehicle-free areas, rider dismount zones, pedestrian crossings and traffic calming infrastructure, and encourages staff, students and visitors to use the extensive walking networks available across campus. All University campuses are walkable and accessible.
Governance
Through the University's Sustainable Transport Strategy 2022-2032, the University supports transport choices that improve environmental outcomes, enhance community wellbeing and encourage active travel. The strategy applies across all University campuses and facilities and guides ongoing investment in sustainable transport infrastructure and initiatives.
Various strategic actions contribute to pedestrian prioritisation on campus, including: “Integrate accessibility and safety considerations into design of parking, pedestrian access, and all building access.” (Action 4, p.33); “Continue to improve and expand on campus pedestrian (…), especially improving lighting, wayfinding, signage, and maintenance. In new builds and retrofits, ensure pedestrian (…) safety is well-designed and delivered across and between precincts in early phase of development” (Action 6, p.34).
Campus design and infrastructure
Pedestrian movement is a key consideration in campus design and operations. University campuses are designed to support convenient pedestrian access between teaching, learning, research and social spaces. All University's city and regional campuses are located and developed to encourage active transport and improve accessibility.
For example, the Inveresk campus is largely a pedestrian campus, incorporating extensive open spaces, public squares, landscaped areas and a community garden with raised garden beds that can be accessed on foot while moving between campus facilities. A dedicated pedestrian bridge (also suitable for cycling) provides safe access across the North Esk River and connects key areas of the campus. At the Sandy Bay campus, facilities are organised around a central campus heart, enabling students and staff to walk easily and safely between classes, services and amenities. At the West Park campus, a decommissioned railway corridor has been transformed into a shared pedestrian and cycling path. The pathway provides safe active transport access through the precinct and contributes to the wider Northwest Coastal Pathway, strengthening connections between the University and surrounding communities.
The University explicitly gives priority to pedestrians through measures including dedicated vehicle-free areas and rider dismount zones, as well as pedestrian crossings and traffic calming infrastructure on roads such as road humps and radar speed signs. The University maintains extensive walking paths throughout its campuses and promotes walking as a safe, convenient and accessible way to travel to and around campus.
Wayfinding and maps
The University further supports pedestrian access through the provision of interactive campus maps (UniMaps), which help students, staff and visitors navigate campuses and locate facilities. Campus maps identify walking routes, water refill stations and end-of-trip amenities to encourage active travel. Maps are updated regularly as our campuses transform to ensure pedestrians on campus receive current information.
Pedestrian security escort
The University also offers a security escort service through the University Security Service to help ensure the safety of students and staff travelling on campus. The service is provided free of charge and supports safe pedestrian movement between buildings, car parks, accommodation and public transport connections, particularly outside normal business hours.
Walking trails
The University offers self-guided sustainability tours in its main campuses. Anyone can engage with the tours through a walk (or as virtual tour) to learn about the different locations around campus. The self-guided walk follows the best route of access. The tour explores how aspects of sustainability have been incorporated within the University of Tasmania. Features on the tour include the University’s sustainable building designs, transport services, waste management, biodiversity on campus, options for health and wellbeing activities and social sustainability as well as student sustainability projects on the campus.
Featured in the Sandy Bay sustainability tour is the Thomas Crawford trail. This trail provides students, staff and visitors with an opportunity to experience the natural environment within the campus. The trail passes through areas that provide habitat for native flora and fauna and encourages recreational walking, connection with nature and wellbeing. The trail is named after alumnus Thomas Crawford, whose bequest enables students from around the world to experience and enjoy Tasmania's unique environment.
Integration of pedestrian prioritisation
Pedestrian prioritisation is integrated with the University's broader sustainable transport initiatives. The University supports public transport connections, shuttle services, cycling infrastructure and active transport programs, enabling walking to form part of a wider low-carbon transport network. These initiatives contribute to reduced vehicle dependence, healthier lifestyles and more vibrant campus environments. By prioritising pedestrian movement, providing walkable campuses and investing in active transport infrastructure, the University of Tasmania supports safe, inclusive and sustainable access for students, staff and visitors across all campus locations.
Local authority collaboration regarding planning and development
The University of Tasmania works with local and state government authorities to address planning, community development and housing challenges across Tasmania. Through policy advisory services, commissioned research, regional development partnerships and housing-focused research collaborations, the University provides evidence and expertise that support planning and decision-making processes aimed at creating sustainable communities and improving access to affordable housing.
Tasmanian Policy Exchange – ‘Sustainable development for communities’ work
The University’s Tasmanian Policy Exchange (TPE) provides independent, expert evidence-based policy advice to local and state government bodies across a range of strategic policy areas. TPE works directly with government partners to deliver policy analysis, commissioned research, reviews, submissions and expert advice that support informed public decision-making.
One of TPE’s focus areas is ‘Sustainable development for communities.’ Acknowledging that Tasmanian communities face a diverse range of complex challenges, including affordable housing, and in line with the University’s commitment to a sustainable, equitable and inclusive Tasmania, TPE does research and projects aimed at understanding the strengths and challenges that characterise different regions and cohorts across the state. Their goal is to support place-based approaches to sustainable community and economic development, with work in this area including analysis of housing needs and ‘drive-in drive-out’ employment on the West Coast.
For example, in 2025 the TPE, in collaboration with the Meander Valley Council, held an Economic Development Forum to share ideas about the region’s future with the aim to identify Meander Valley’s most pressing economic development challenges and opportunities, as well as policy priorities to address them. The Forum covered issues ranging from demographic change and economic growth to productivity and agricultural innovation and included discussions about affordable housing availability and how it impacted on connection and community. The TPE then developed a discussion paper, (‘Regional development priorities for the Meander Valley community’) to assist the Meander Valley Council with planning and development of the region.
Furthermore, the Collaborative Population Planning and Regional Development (CPPRD) project (2025-2026), led by the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) in partnership with the Department of State Growth and the TPE aims to strengthen evidence-based population planning and support sustainable regional development across Tasmania. The project is focused on building capacity within local government in the first instance to understand population dynamics and apply demographic analysis in planning and decision‑making. Through workshops, supporting resources and collaborative networks, the project supports local authorities to develop regional population plans that will help inform future housing, infrastructure, workforce and community development planning across Tasmania.
In 2026, TPE published the article ‘Starting in our backyard: Planning Tasmania's just transition’ discussing how Tasmania's transition away from fossil fuels will reshape communities, industries, and landscapes and how to plan for them to assist all levels of government in this important transition. The article covered multiple domains with a whole-of-systems approach in mind, including energy, health and wellbeing, housing and infrastructure, employment and industry, the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, education, and the natural environment. The article proposes three models with various levels of resourcing, governance, and coordination required.
Tasmanian Housing Strategy Action Plan 2023-2027
The State government has developed an initial action plan to achieve the vision outlined in the Tasmanian Housing Strategy 2023-2043 to end homelessness in Tasmania by delivering a well-functioning housing system that provides safe, appropriate and affordable housing for all Tasmanians. For the Tasmanian Housing Strategy Action Plan 2023-2027, the University of Tasmania is working in partnership with the Tasmanian Government and Homes Tasmania to develop a population outcomes framework that will contribute to the plan’s implementation.
Homelessness CoILAB
In addition, the School of Social Sciences hosted the Homelessness CoILAB (2023-2026), a cross-disciplinary research and impact hub at the University of Tasmania focused on addressing and reducing homelessness, with evaluation of affordable housing for all being a key aspect. Homelessness ColLAB actively collaborated with local authorities, particularly the City of Hobart. Through its research findings, the ColLAB provided local and state authorities with critical data to push for broader cross-agency collaboration, advocating for integrated responses from bodies like the Tasmanian Department of Health.
The 2024/2025 report ‘Handing out tents: The unmet needs of Tasmanians sleeping rough’ explored rough sleep in Tasmania and includes priorities for action to ensure that local residents can access affordable housing, including keeping people housed and prevent housing loss in the first place, acknowledging this will require coordinated effort. One of the main priorities is to keep people housed to prevent rough sleeping.
Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics works alongside community, business and government partners to help decision-makers identify the risks and opportunities for regional organisations and markets, improve productivity and wellbeing in work and workplaces, and drive regional development that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.
Their research focuses on how to build resilience and sustainability in industries that are core to Tasmania’s economy – resources and renewable energy, food and agribusiness, and health and social care – looking at cross-cutting issues of global and regional supply chains, consumer behaviour and corporate social responsibility, finance and taxation, housing and affordable housing, labour and retail markets.
Planning development - new build standards
The University of Tasmania applies Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) principles across all new building projects and major refurbishments. Sustainable design standards are embedded through the University's Sustainability Policy; Facilities, Infrastructure and Assets Policy; Green Bond Framework and related design requirements and strategies/action plans.
The University requires new developments and major refurbishments to:
- apply ESD principles throughout planning, design, construction and operation, following Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star guidelines;
- minimise embodied carbon emissions;
- optimise water and energy efficiency;
- reduce operational energy intensity;
- deliver high indoor environmental quality and accessibility;
This is reflected in the University’s Stewardship for Sustainability Framework explicitly names “green building standards, whole-of-life costing and circular economy principles applied in the design, procurement, refurbishment, operation and disposal of all buildings” (p. 21). The Sustainability Policy, which dictates that the University will “develop, maintain, and operate sustainable campuses, both built and natural environments, through applying outcomes driven sustainable design principles, assurance frameworks and operational tools” (Principle 1.9). Likewise, the Facilities, Infrastructure and Assets Policy states that “the University’s infrastructure will be designed and developed with an emphasis on meeting the University’s sustainability objectives, including reducing the carbon footprint and mitigating climate change impacts” (Principle 1.2).
The University's Strategic Assess Management Plan (SAMP) provides an organisation-wide framework for managing all University assets, including buildings and infrastructure, throughout their lifecycle. The Plan embeds sustainability into the planning, design, construction, operation, renewal and disposal of assets, and emphasises the importance and impact of early-stage decisions, such as design (p.24). The Plan includes sustainability as a key objective, and requires assets to support carbon emissions reduction, circular economy practices and climate resilience. It states that assets "must be resilient to climate change and local environmental shifts without being contributors to their causes" and that "embracing green technologies and sustainability-aligned practices ensures alignment with broader environmental goals and enhances long-term asset viability". The Plan further notes that "a core focus in all asset management is carbon emissions reduction and the University's participation in and contribution to the circular economy" (p.17).
The University’s Design Requirements document, which supports project-specific design and documentation briefing information, incorporates sustainable design measures including responsible sourcing of construction materials, energy-efficient building envelope design, water-efficient fixtures, low-emission materials, reuse and adaptability principles, and resource efficiency requirements. A few examples of specific requirements are:
- “All wood products, including pulp, are to be sourced from plantations or certified sustainably managed forests. Timber species from rainforests or rainforest buffer zones will not be used." "Any native (indigenous) timber will come from plantations or forests managed sustainably in accordance with the Australian Forestry Standard, AS4708 Forest Management – Economic, social, environmental and cultural criteria and requirements for wood production” (p.21)
- “Particular attention should be given to construction, location and sizing of windows to minimise heat energy transfer to and from the building in conjunction with efficient use of day lighting” (p.32)
- Water fixtures of “high WELS rating” (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme) (p.42).
Furthermore, the University’s Green Bond Framework mandates a minimum target reduction of 20% in the upfront carbon emissions embedded in construction of new campus buildings, with all buildings built since the implementation of the Framework exceeding the target. The Framework was developed in line with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles 2021. Green bonds are issued to finance eligible programmes that deliver positive environmental outcomes through a partnership with like-minded investors.
The Emissions Reduction Strategic Plan 2022-2030 and Energy Action Plan 2024-2030 also include actions to ensure new builds and major refurbishments achieve a 10% or better reduction in energy intensity. This includes plans to upgrade existing buildings to higher energy efficiency (e.g., by upgrading existing building electric elements to maximise efficiency).
Featured buildings
In the last five years, all new buildings have been designed and built in accordance with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star program, a published multi-attribute green building rating system, as reported through our 2026 Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) report.
Some examples of major projects that have achieved recognised third-party sustainability certification and/or sustainability outcomes, include:
- The NRAS Inveresk Apartments (PDF 2.6 MB) - 6 Green Star rated by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). The project adhered to ESD principles across all disciplines from design inception through to construction, including: passive solar design, extensive use of phase change material as a replacement for thermal mass, 40kW photovoltaic array, plantation timber, smart building systems, capture and re-use of rainwater and more.
- IMAS Salamanca (PDF 6.3 MB) - 5 Green Star rated by the GBCA. Among the many sustainability features of the building (e.g., sourcing of appropriately managed timber supplies, natural ventilation to effect cooling and air change), the building incorporates a highly sustainable heating and cooling system that utilises raw seawater directly from the Derwent Estuary to regulate indoor temperatures.
- The River’s Edge Building achieved a 32 per cent reduction in embodied carbon. Among other sustainability approached, the project incorporated a range of innovative materials and techniques. Standout features include the use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) for the stairs in place of concrete, Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) for the roof structure, and even the experimental use of solid Tasmanian Blue Gum over a hydronic heated concrete slab. These choices not only offer sustainable alternatives but also infuse the building with character and a connection to its local context. The project successfully repurposed steel gas pipeline tubes into a custom, driven pile design. The recycling of this material not only provided a successful pile design, but added a strong contribution to reducing the environmental impact of the project.
- The Forest Building adopted a comprehensively circular strategy to building materials, targeting 40 percent less embodied carbon than comparable buildings. This meant material recovery where possible, the elimination of carbon-intensive materials, and the introduction of only sustainable materials. A circular economy strategy put the emphasis on building for long term value, designing for durability and longevity, versatility and adaption, and easy disassembly. Innovative use of non-traditional building materials contributed to exceeding the project’s sustainability targets, with priority given to low-carbon, natural and safe material alternatives including Durapanel, low-carbon concrete, plywood, and hempcrete – a locally sourced carbon-negative construction material – which have been used to reduce upfront carbon and contribute to carbon sequestration. Energy efficient initiatives have also been adopted, with the use of skylights and high-placed windows to maximise natural daylight and lower the use of lighting. Rainwater is collected and reused for irrigation and toilet facilities. Sustainable and active transport is supported and encouraged by the building’s design, with space for over 50 secure bike and scooter parks, showers, lockers, and electric vehicle charging stations.
Building on brownfield sites
The University of Tasmania prioritises the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of existing urban and previously developed land wherever feasible. Through the University Transformation Project, new teaching, research and student facilities have been delivered on brownfield sites across Tasmania, reducing the need for greenfield development while supporting urban renewal, heritage preservation and sustainable land use. By redeveloping existing urban sites and underutilised land, the University minimises development pressures on undeveloped greenfield areas and surrounding natural landscapes.
The University of Tasmania has embarked on a state-wide transformation of our campuses to make university more accessible for everyone across Tasmania. A key outcome of this Transformation Project is the development of the next generation of facilities across our regions, ensuring our campuses are distinctive and environmentally sustainable, while offering opportunities to protect and enhance green spaces in our urban areas.
Examples across the University's campuses where facilities have been developed on brownfield sites (sites containing previous buildings or previously developed land that is underutilised, vacant or no longer used for its original purpose) include:
- The University’s latest build, the Forest Building in Hobart CBD, used the existing Forestry building, which had been vacant for many years, to develop a new learning centre that hosts 300 staff and 3000 students. The building was reimagined to offer a superb classroom and interactive study experience, but conserves iconic element of the original building such as the landmark entry dome, which has been landscaped with Tasmanian forest plants and is open to the public
- The Inveresk campus was expanded in recent years to move the Launceston campus closer to the city. The campus is built on the site of the former Launceston Railway Workshops, which operated from the 1870s until the mid-20th century. Because it was an active industrial yard for nearly a century, the site presented extreme brownfield challenges such as severe land contamination from heavy industrial toxicity, with widespread soil pollution from heavy metals, hydrocarbons, coal residue, and asbestos. Rather than clearing the site, the project combined the adaptive reuse of heritage structures with sustainable, low-carbon new builds. This involved adaptive reuse of existing buildings, as well as new core buildings in unutilised space between existing structures. The project also includes a flagship community garden. With more than 30 large raised beds, the garden acts as a vibrant ecological hotspot within the city of Launceston.
- The new Cradle Coast campus at West Park (Burnie) was built in an area that was historically a prominent recreational, sporting, and educational precinct. Before the University Northern Transformation Program stepped in, the precise pockets of land chosen for the university buildings were not being utilised to their full potential. For example, an asphalt car park, which was considered an underutilised, visually unappealing block of prime coastal land and now is occupied by student accommodation. Additionally, the main campus building – the Field Building – features a green roof created with more than 10,000 plants, shrubs and grasses from 26 local species, becoming a magnet for native wildlife and therefore enhancing biodiversity in the area. Plants are also water-conscious and tolerant of the site’s conditions so they will require low maintenance.
Collectively, these projects reflect the University's approach to sustainable land use by prioritising the renewal of existing sites before expanding into undeveloped areas. Through the adaptive reuse of vacant buildings, rehabilitation of contaminated industrial land and revitalisation of underutilised urban spaces, the University has created contemporary education precincts while helping protect greenfield land and natural landscapes.