UNSW's Societal Impact framework

The UNSW Societal Impact Framework 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. We will focus on:

• Accelerating the transition to a sustainable society and planet
• Advancing economic and social prosperity
• Enabling healthy lives
• Strengthening 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.

• Inclusion
• Social Justice
• Integrity

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