SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities

Through these integrated efforts in teaching, research, outreach and operations, The University of Queensland (UQ) has made substantial contributions to Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities.

In teaching, UQ offers specialised programs such as the Bachelor of Music, Master of Writing, Editing and Publishing, and Master of Urban Development and Design. The University fosters lifelong learning through multiple short language courses available to the public through the Institute of Modern Languages.

UQ’s research initiatives span urban biodiversity, sustainable transport, housing equity, and climate resilience, with interdisciplinary projects like the Urban Design Challenge and the ARC Research Hub for Timber Innovation. Initiatives like the Infrastructure CoLab foster innovation across government and industry, while the City Impact Lab co-designs solutions for urban equity and resilience. Partnerships amplify the impact and reach of our research and collaborations with Brisbane City Council, UNICEF, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and other international institutions supporting projects ranging from smart city planning in Manila to climate-resilient infrastructure in Papua New Guinea.

Outreach and community engagement are central to UQ’s mission. The University provides free public access to its heritage buildings, libraries, museums and green spaces, and hosts diverse cultural events including music festivals and exhibitions for public audiences. We also seek to create meaningful impact for local communities by supporting sustainable and inclusive planning and development through collaborations with local authorities via research, student projects and community initiatives.

For staff and students, UQ promotes sustainable commuting and pedestrian-friendly campuses, accommodates flexible work arrangements, and provides advice on affordable housing. UQ's design standards mandate sustainability in all new builds.

Read our SDG 11 2024 report (PDF, 360.61 KB)

See how we make a difference across key areas:

• Support of arts and heritage
• Sustainable practices on campuses

Support of arts and heritage

UQ actively supports and strengthens local arts and heritage by contributing to local artistic culture, delivering projects and initiatives that strengthen our local heritage, and providing access – often free of charge – to our extensive facilities, grounds, resources, cultural events and performances.

Public access

We aim to nourish intellectual vitality through inclusive access to cultural and arts events, UQ’s museums and libraries, and significant buildings, grounds and green spaces.

How we are achieving this

Free public access to buildings

Free public access is available to all of UQ’s significant buildings and campus spaces, including heritage-listed buildings such as:

• the St Lucia Great Court complex
• Customs House
• Herston campus
• Gatton campus
• 308 Queen St Brisbane.

Libraries

Our libraries welcome visitors from the community and secondary schools to use library spaces and our onsite collections during staffed hours. Visitors can use library computers and create, print, copy and scan documents

Visitors can also view exhibitions of items from our special collections. Most Library subscribed online resources are licensed for use by UQ students and staff only, however visitors can also access some online resources when visiting our libraries including selected databases and ebooks on Library computers. Open access resources, including digitised items from Fryer Library (cultural heritage collections) can be accessed by anyone online on UQ eSpace, UQ’s institutional repository.

The Library also provides guidance on accessing other open educational resources. Community membership costs $25 per year, which also provides the ability to borrow books.

Museums and collections

UQ welcomes members of the public to visit 4 unique cultural spaces on the St Lucia campus free of charge.​

• Anthropology Museum – the largest university collection of ethnographic material in Australia cares for cultural heritage of Australian Aboriginal and Pacific peoples and individuals from the late 19th century to the present. Other smaller collections from South East Asia and east Africa are also featured.​
• RD Milns Antiquities Museum – the premier collection of classical Mediterranean relics and artefacts in Queensland, representing the profound impact that the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean have had upon the literature, art, politics and society of our modern world.​
• UQ Art Museum – The University of Queensland Art Collection is one of Queensland’s most significant public art collections. The collection comprises works by Australian artists from the colonial era to the present, and the Nat Yuen Collection of Chinese antiquities.​
• Fryer Library collections (by appointment only) – a rich store of rare books, manuscripts, theses, pictorial collections and architectural drawings, including an extensive Australian studies collection of published and unpublished material.

Green spaces

Permanent free public access is available to UQ's campuses, including general grounds, green spaces and feature locations such as:

• St Lucia Lakes, eco-walk and Amphitheatre
• St Lucia campus Great Court, barbecue and picnic areas
• Bush Tucker Garden, community gardens and children’s all-abilities playground
• UQ Sustainability Walk
• Gatton Environmental Park
• The Boyce Gardens at Gatton Campus – where an open day was held in 2024 as part of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, a public flower festival

Public performances

UQ contributes to local arts and culture by delivering annual public performances in the form of concert series and theatrical productions by a number of ensembles, societies and groups, including:

• UQ’s School of Music, encompassing the UQ Symphony Orchestra, UQ Wind Symphony, UQ Chorale, Pulse Ensemble, UQ Singers, Sketch Ensemble, Signwaves Flute Ensemble, the Saxophone Ensemble, the UQ Brass Ensemble and the Brisbane Chamber Choir (by affiliation)
• Queensland University Musical Society, a non-auditioned choir based at UQ and open to both students of the university and members of the general public
• The Underground Theatre Company, UQ’s resident student theatre company.

In 2024, UQ hosted more than 1,235 events, celebrations, exhibitions and performances at locations across Queensland. Some of these are included below.

Case study – UQ Art Museum

In 2024, the UQ Art Museum showcased contemporary art that critically engaged with pressing global issues, focusing on 2 key themes:

• Indigenous art and equity
• climate change and sustainability.

Welcoming 47,000 visitors, the museum extended its reach through exhibitions, campus displays and national loans. The Art on Campus program featured over 450 artworks across UQ’s public and academic spaces, enhancing everyday engagement with art.

A highlight was the exhibition How we remember tomorrow, part of the Blue Assembly research arc. It featured national and international artists exploring storytelling through oceans and waterways, viewing these as ancestral archives rich with cultural knowledge. This interdisciplinary project aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 13 (Climate action) and SDG 14 (Life below water), fostering dialogue through art and humanities.

During National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week, the museum hosted an Art Walking Tour spotlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Bougainville Elder Sana Balai continued her residency as the Mittelheuser Great Ocean Scholar, and a new curatorial internship for Indigenous students was launched in partnership with Blaklash, a First Nations creative agency.

Additional 2024 initiatives included:

• exhibitions
• touring programs
• collaborations with art organisations
• student internships
• restoration of the museum’s unique pipe organ.

The museum emphasised sustainability across its operations, aiming to support the long-term vitality of the arts sector and contribute to a healthier shared future. Through these efforts, UQ Art Museum reinforced its role as a dynamic cultural hub committed to equity, environmental awareness and community engagement.

Cultural heritage

UQ played an important role throughout 2024 in recording and preserving intangible cultural heritage, including the storytelling traditions, performing arts, rituals, customs and traditional knowledge of our diverse communities, through research, education, and outreach.

How we are achieving this

Kirrenderri, Heart of the Channel Country touring exhibition

As part of its tour to regional and remote Queensland centres, the Kirrenderri, Heart of the Channel Country touring exhibition was displayed at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach and Cairns Museum in 2024. Curated by UQ's Anthropology Museum and Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation, the exhibition presented a visually striking and narrative rich resource of knowledge, chronicling the stories and perspectives from the past of Indigenous Peoples living on Channel Country through the use of rarely seen artefacts, historic and contemporary photographs, letters and maps. The exhibition was highly commended at the 2024 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards.

Voices of Our Elders, Aboriginal Story Tellers exhibition

The free public exhibition Voices of Our Elders, Aboriginal Story Tellers, was held at the UQ Anthropology Museum from 26 February to 6 December, 2024. The exhibition celebrated Aboriginal cultures and story tellers who lived through times of change, such as forced displacement on missions, and documented key Aboriginal Elders and their stories which have contributed to recording and maintaining Aboriginal history and culture.

Queensland Atlas of Religion

Launched in 2024, the Queensland Atlas of Religion shares stories of Queensland’s faith communities, past and present, to explore aspects of religious practice in Australia. This is the first time that a place-based approach has been employed for the scholarly study of the state of Queensland’s religious pluralism and diversity, emphasising the patterns of historical accommodation and inclusion needed to inform religious toleration and cross-community understanding. Funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant, the project was undertaken by researchers from the UQ School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry in partnership with the State Library of Queensland.

Language Data Commons of Australia

The Language Data Commons of Australia (LDaCA) continued its work in 2024. LDaCA receives investment from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), which is funded by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). Led by UQ in collaboration with partner institutions and in conjunction with the ARDC, the project makes nationally significant language data available for academic and non-academic use and provides a model for ensuring continued access with appropriate community control. With Australia being one of the world’s most linguistically diverse regions, this project is preserving intangible cultural heritage by securing at-risk collections whilst improving access to under-utilised collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, Australian Englishes, and regional languages of the Pacific.

Preservation of storytelling and the literary ecosystem

In 2024, UQ contributed to the preservation of storytelling and Australia's literary ecosystem through:

• the publication of 40 literary works by University of Queensland Press (UQP) (see past UQP catalogues)
• hosting the annual Fryer Lecture through UQ Press, which was a tribute to internationally acclaimed novelist, poet, writer and librettist David Malouf AO
• maintaining lively partnerships with local cultural organisations and initiatives such as the Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Writers Festival, World Science Festival and Opera Queensland’s Festival of Outback Opera
• maintaining Austlit, a national information resource and authoritative database of Australian literature and storytelling led by UQ. In 2024, AustLit continued to expand its comprehensive collection and provide resources for researchers, teachers and students with new projects such as:
  • the AustLit Environments for Cross-Curriculum Priorities (AECCP)
  • Audiobooks and Digital Book Cultures and Writing Disability projects
  • relaunch of the BlackWords Calendar; and Australian AI in the Archive, which explores more than 100 years’ worth of Australian literature about AI and robotics.

Institute of Modern Languages

UQ’s Institute of Modern Languages (IML) celebrated 90 years in 2024 and continued to facilitate the study of languages and cross-cultural communication in the community. The Institute was established in 1934 by the UQ Senate to give more adults not studying at The University the chance to deepen their lives through language learning. IML also provides the opportunity for past UQ alumni to remain connected with their university in a meaningful way over the many years in which they are no longer engaged in formal study. The Institute runs courses in 30 languages taught by qualified language tutors who are either native speakers or have native proficiency. 17 courses were offered in 2024, including the Arabic Beginner Short Course, the Chinese Mandarin Beginner Short Course , the French Beginner Short Course, and the Japanese Beginner Short Course, all run from 1 October to 19 November.

Sustainable practices on campus

UQ promotes principles of the SDGs through our campus operations, and is committed to becoming a beyond carbon neutral university by 2032. Some of the ways we are working towards this include by implementing sustainable transportation and building practices on campus.

Sustainable transportation

UQ strives to provide the University community with sustainable transport options to travel to, from and within its campuses, and transport is recognised as one of 17 key focus areas within the UQ Sustainability Strategy. We aim to align wherever possible with local, state, national and international transport planning objectives and strategies, such as those published by the Brisbane City Council, the Queensland Government and the Australian Transport Assessment and Planning Guidelines.

How we are achieving this

Public transport

Connecting to public transport services at each of the UQ's St Lucia, Herston and Gatton locations. For example, the new Brisbane Metro stop which had major infrastructure works completed at the UQ Lakes Bus Station in 2024.

Micromobility transport

Offering micromobility transport resources and options, which are key to supporting people travelling to, from and within our campuses. These include:

• dedicated bicycle paths and a range of cycling facilities, including end-of-trip shower, change room and locker spaces, secure and open-air bicycle parking, bike maintenance and repair stations
• electronic micromobility devices (e-bikes and e-scooters) at the St Lucia campus.

Electric vehicles

UQ has a number of electric vehicles available within its fleet for staff to hire. UQ also facilitates private electric vehicle charging for both staff and the general public.

Through its UQ Recharge program, UQ has staff-only electric vehicle charging stations, with dedicated parking zones.

Intercampus bus

An intercampus bus service that runs between the St Lucia and Gatton, and St Lucia and Long Pocket campuses.

Pedestrian options

Pedestrian priority options include:

• safe walking paths and pedestrian crossings
• wayfinding services such as through the UQ Maps app and the UQ St Lucia self-guided tour
• specially designed and constructed infrastructure to curate enjoyable walking experiences, including the John Oxley River Walk at St Lucia, the Gatton Environmental Park and the UQ Sustainability Walk.

Sustainable building standards

UQ seeks to improve the sustainability performance of our buildings and infrastructure.

As stated in the UQ Design Standards (PDF, 1.05MB), sustainability must be a consideration for every aspect of a project. Sustainability principles must be applied in ways which allow the benefits to be measured prior to project commencement.

UQ's Design Standards detail mandatory minimum sustainable building standards across a range of measures, including but not limited to, architectural, landscape, civil, hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, fired, acoustics, IT, wayfinding and labs. These are made available to all parties involved in the design and construction process and are available on the UQ staff website.

Sustainable practices for staff and students

UQ aims to promote a positive balance between healthy work and a healthy life. UQ engages in sustainable practices for staff and students, including flexible working arrangements and providing information on affordable housing.

How we are achieving this

Flexible work arrangements

UQ accommodates flexible work for staff, inclusive of allowing remote working, upon request from the employee and by mutual agreement. Flexible work is any approved variation to the standard daily or weekly work pattern within a workplace. UQ provides a number of flexible work options for staff subject to the provisions of UQ’s Enterprise Agreement (PDF, 1.52MB) and the Fair Work Act:

• working from home (remote working)
• flexible working hours
• 9-day fortnight
• 19-day month
• voluntary banked time
• flexi-time
• purchased leave
• part-time work
• job sharing.

Accommodation

As part of The Queensland Commitment, UQ is dedicated to improving accommodation for students by implementing strategies that ensure availability and affordability and that cater to the diverse needs of those requiring housing support. In 2024, The University commenced construction on a new 1,000 bed accommodation complex at St Lucia to help address the shortage of student rental accommodation. We also offered the following competitively priced accommodation to students, and information and services for staff and students about accessing affordable housing:

• UQ Res – a student living community that offers competitively-priced long and short stay accommodation of various types at both St Lucia and Gatton campuses. It includes:
  • Kev Carmody House where there are 610 state-of-the-art student accommodation rooms for rent
  • apartments at 48 Walcott Street
  • the Halls of Residence at Gatton
  • UQ Res Homes which are prioritised for students from regional Queensland, interstate or overseas, or those facing difficulty
  • the Gatton Motel which offers 14 rooms
  • the Gatton Cottage for visiting academics and international students completing an internship.
• UQ Rentals – an online resource available to UQ students and staff to assist them in finding accommodation during their time at UQ, including through UQ Residential Colleges, purpose-built student living and private rentals. The platform connects these prospective tenants to a wide variety of providers – including private landlords, real estate agencies and commercial accommodation – with vacant properties and rooms close to campuses at St Lucia, Herston and Gatton.
• Online information and resources – on the cost of living in Brisbane, including a comparison of affordability of student housing options.
• UQ Residential Scholarships Scheme – which offers financial support to help cover accommodation costs at a UQ approved provider for students who have experienced financial hardship.
• Support for staff – staff who are experiencing financial distress, which may have impacts such as (but not limited to) food security and housing, can request support through Human Resources. This is addressed on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances of the individual and UQ works with the employee to provide appropriate assistance. In an event such as a natural disaster, UQ proactively communicates to employees regarding support and assistance available through Human Resources.
• Appointment relocation – UQ has an Appointment Relocation Assistance Procedure in place to provide eligible appointees with financial assistance to meet some expenses incurred where they are required to relocate to work at UQ.

Local authority collaboration on planning and development

UQ is committed to collaborating with local authorities on planning and development through research, student projects and community initiatives, including addressing local residents' access to affordable housing.

How we are achieving this

Brisbane Metro at UQ Lakes

UQ collaborated with the Brisbane City Council (BCC) on major infrastructure works which were completed in April 2024 to facilitate the new metro M2 route. Fully funded by the BCC, these works included upgrading the existing station platforms, shelters and seating to increase station capacity, and providing end-of-route charging for the electric metro fleet.

Gununa Futures: Housing Adequacy on Mornington Island

In 2024, researchers from UQ’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning collaborated with Mornington Shire Council to tackle housing inadequacy in Gununa, Mornington Island. Led by a team from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, the project conducted extensive community engagement, surveys and workshops to assess housing needs. The result was a 96-page report that provided culturally responsive design recommendations and highlighted accessibility and overcrowding issues. By working directly with local authorities and residents, the researchers helped shape future development plans and advocated for housing that respects cultural identity and meets international adequacy standards. Their work is now guiding Council efforts to improve access to appropriate housing.

The Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024

Professor Cameron Parsell from the School of Social Science was a collaborator on the project, The Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024, which was led by the City Futures Research Centre at The University of New South Wales in partnership with Homelessness Australia, and supported by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Council of Capital City Lord Mayors. The purpose of the project was to assess changes in homelessness, analyse contributing factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of policy and service responses.

Notably, a focus of the project was the role of local government in the prevention and relief of homelessness, including local councils. The final Australian Homelessness Monitor report (PDF, 4.59MB), released in 2024, provides several recommendations that are relevant to local planning authorities, including around improved data collection and monitoring, and better policies that address homelessness reduction targets and increase homelessness service capacity.

Tenant Engagement with Common Ground Queensland

A team of researchers from the School of Social Science led the project Tenant Engagement with Common Ground Queensland during 2024, which was funded and commissioned by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, a statutory body of the Queensland Government. The project explored how tenants living in permanent supportive housing at Brisbane Common Ground (BCG) experience and understand engagement with the social housing provider Common Ground Queensland.

Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning – Student projects

UQ’s Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning program (now Bachelor of Urban Planning) provides students with hands-on experience through real-world planning projects in collaboration with local councils and planning bodies across Queensland. In addition to enhancing students’ skills in sustainable development and community engagement, this program contributes valuable academic input to local planning initiatives, fostering stronger ties between UQ, planning authorities and regional communities. 2024 initiatives included:

• an overnight field trip where students engaged with stakeholders, such as Traditional Owners and Scenic Rim Regional Council, about the real ‘planning challenges’ that are being experienced in Southeast Queensland. Working in teams, students canvassed the role of planning in disaster recovery and community resilience, and identified and assessed a suitable site for a community resilience hub
• a 2-day development intensive at the UQ City campus, where students engaged with leaders in the planning and development sectors through workshops, guided walks and site visits to a selection of Brisbane’s signature infrastructure and commercial projects
• Working as consultant teams, students prepared a Resilience Strategy for the City of Brisbane. Through this project, they developed an applied understanding of how to draft, communicate and defend a citywide strategy, in addition to investigating opportunities for government and private sector funding and engagement.