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FIRST VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AN ALL ROUND SUCCESS!
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The 20th Annual ACTS Conference - The Future of Sustainability - wrapped up last month as our first foray into a fully virtual conference event. With only a few minor technical glitches (which were quickly resolved) and significantly more cases of "you're on mute" (also resolved quickly), the feedback from attendees on the conference platform, content and format has been overwhelmingly positive.
Acknowledging that virtual conferencing is far from perfect, especially when trying to replicate the unique networking and social connections that are so highly valued at in-person events, ACTS' is keen to continue to champion virtual events in a world were travel options are becoming available once more.
The environmental benefits notwithstanding, virtual events are the ultimate equaliser. The number and diversity of staff, students and community leaders that attended this year (and accessed on-demand content) was been far beyond the scope of any ACTS Conference across its 20 year history.
With collaboration and input from our members, we look forward to further exploring, and developing new opportunities, in the virtual event space.
We are excited to announce that the 21st ACTS Conference will return in Q4 2023 again as a fully virtual offering, with an expanded range of linked regional networking events!
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THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: The virtual ACTS Conference was followed by a number of linked in-person regional networking events, taking place in Melbourne (feature image above), Sydney (featured right), Brisbane and across Tasmania.
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All the recorded sessions from The Future of Sustainability are now available! ACTS members can access the recordings from our online member portal.
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THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: MAKING AN IMPERFECT FRAMEWORK WORK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
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Wednesday 22 June 2022, 1:00-2.30PM AEST | 3:00 - 4.30PM NZST
(other time zones)
The SDGs framework - including its 17 goals, 169 targets and 231 indicators - is a globally agreed and widely adopted blueprint to help guide all sectors of society towards tackling the world’s most pressing challenges by 2030.
The Higher Education sector has strongly recognised its unique and critical role in helping achieve the SDGs, and many HEIs have been embracing the SDGs as a framework to mobilise their education, research and engagement towards addressing these social challenges.
However, there are aspects in the design of the SDG framework that can make it tricky to apply in the HE context, and thus limit its usefulness.
The aim of this session is to help HEIs engage better with the SDGs framework as a tool for action by identifying the specific challenges they encounter in trying to use the framework, and crowdsourcing and brainstorming ways of addressing these challenges.
The session will also aim to capture the unique opportunities the SDGs framework can provide to HEIs. In the session we will present an initial mapping of the issues, solutions and opportunities, and invite participants to build on it.
Anyone interested in the SDGs and higher education is welcome to join. This is a workshop session and will not be recorded.
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The Accelerating SDG Practice Initiative is a joint SDSN AusNZPac & ACTS Initiative, aiming to support our member organisations to strengthen their internal engagement with the SDGs. Through member discussion forums, webinars, and workshops, we aim to share practices and learnings across our institutions, and discuss and brainstorm how to address challenges and expand action. We also look for opportunities to share learnings with the broader community. |
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GREEN IMPACT TEAM SHOWCASE
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Tuesday 28 June 2022, 12:00-1.00PM AEST | 2:00 - 3.00PM NZST
Join this showcase webinar to hear first hand how Green Impact teams are helping make their organisations more sustainable! You'll hear from a range of teams at different stages of their Green Impact journey.
Come along an be inspired and motivated by their efforts, and get helpful hints on how you can make small yet meaningful changes on campus and at home that contribute to creating a better future for all.
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Green Impact is an award-winning behaviour change and engagement program delivered regionally in Australasia by ACTS. The program is implemented by organisations that want to provide a supporting framework for internal engagement on sustainability. It covers all areas of sustainability and supports awareness of, and action towards, the Sustainable Development Goals.
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UPCOMING ACTS MEMBER ROUNDTABLES
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STARS: July 12, 2022
Net-zero strategies: August 17, 2022
11.00AM - 12.30PM AEST | 1.00 - 2.30PM NSZT
Roundtables are an opportunity for members to connect in an informal virtual setting to share ideas, challenges and practical solutions with colleagues from across the ACTS network.
Each roundtable meeting is limited to a small number of active participants, each allocated time to provide an update of their institutions' activities, initiatives and plans relating to the roundtable topic.
Members can either apply to be active participants, or register as listen-only attendees, where they can hear what our active participants have to share, whilst still having the opportunity to submit questions and contribute to general discussions.
Members can apply to become active participants of upcoming meetings, or register to attend as a listen-only attendee using the links below.
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IN THE NEWS: MEMBER HEADLINES
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PLANETARY HEALTH: A STEP INTO THE FUTURE
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Thursday June 16, 2022 1:00 - 2:00pm AEST | 2:00 - 3:00pm NZST
Planetary health recognises that human health and the health of our planet are inextricably linked. Climate change is the single biggest global challenge humanity is facing, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the health inequities in our world. Urgent action and attention is required to create societies focused on wellbeing and sustainability without breaching ecological limits.
Join Monash University's Chief Medical Officer A/Prof Vicki Ashton, Sustainable Development Planner Dr Kendra Wasiluk and Sustainability Coordinator Shane French to take a closer look at what Monash is doing to respond to climate change and foster thriving communities for a healthier future. Read more about the speakers.
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GREEN GOWN AWARDS AUSTRALASIA SPOTLIGHT
2021 BENEFITTING SOCIETY
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JOINT WINNER: EASTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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JOINT WINNER: DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
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ACTS Members are invited to attend the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Youth and Education Alliance – YEA! Global Summit.
Taking place on July 5, 2022 this virtual Global Summit will bring together YEA! partners and the wider higher education community to provide an opportunity for universities and colleges around the world to learn more about YEA!, to get involved in a variety of initiatives to support climate action on campus, and to hear from higher education practitioners, youth and government representatives.
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WHO WILL WIN INTERNATIONAL HONOURS IN 2022?
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SOLVING STUDENT CHALLENGES
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Video + Finding Solutions Training*: Tuesday July 12, 2022
Want to learn how to find the impactful solutions for partnerships with students? Gen Thrive, a youth led student group across AUNZ want to help by sharing learnings they have had over their time running a Finding Solutions Training. The program includes a short video, following by training for students that helps address common issues such as:
- Decrease in activity in clubs/on campus or extra curricular activities
- Housing struggles/cost of living challenges/financial assistance package creation, 'how to adult'
- Promoting services / engagement with students
- Fluidity to change
- Connecting on solutions with other universities
If you know any group of students who need this training get in touch! Email Britt Little or call NZ: 020 410 95284 AU: +6420 410 95284.
*scholarships available
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Congratulations to the winner our #actsofconnection World Bee Day Photo Competition
"Bumblebees can carry up to 90% of their body weight in food and can reach ground speeds of up to 54 kms per hour!"
A copy of Bees of Australia: A Photographic Exploration by James Dorey, is now winging its way to Angie.
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ACTS members are invited to share news and events in upcoming editions of enACT. To be featured please email a brief description, landscape image and link to info@acts.asn.au.
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