UNSW's Societal Impact framework

The UNSW Societal Impact Framework is our shared, anchoring purpose, and commitment to improve life on Earth. It connects us to the most pressing challenges of our times and the areas in which UNSW can have unique and significant impact. By concentrating our efforts in four Impact Focus Areas that reflect public issues, we will strengthen our leadership as a local and global driver of positive societal change. Our Impact Focus Areas are:  

• Accelerate the transition to a sustainable society  
• Advance economic and social prosperity  
• Enable healthy lives  
• Foster societal resilience, security and cohesion

At its core, the Societal Impact Framework embeds Indigenous peoples’ ways of knowing, being and doing to improve society across all our Impact Focus Areas. Through this we demonstrate a significant commitment to Incorporate Indigenous Knowledges, and to leadership and advocacy for Indigenous rights, aspirations, self-governance, education, and community-led outcomes. Indigenous knowledges provide a unique and holistic insight into land management and environmental resilience, health, community wellbeing, and more. Indigenous peoples have an immense understanding and knowledge that has the potential to change our approaches, enhance innovation, and drive advancements that benefit society.   

The Framework also includes cross-cutting themes that guides us, and like Indigenous Knowledges, are embedded across all our Impact Focus Areas: 

• Equity and Inclusion: We embrace equity and foster inclusion in all aspects of society, and we will progress the ongoing work needed to resolve structural and systemic inequalities. 
• Social Justice: We will ensure the human rights and dignity of all peoples are respected, protected, and promoted. 
• Trustworthiness: In an age of misinformation, we aim to help build people's capacity to make informed decisions about information sources. 

The full Societal Impact Framework will be released in early 2025.