Protecting Country

Protecting Country: A driver of our strategy

Progressive inclusivity

Indigenous achievement

Student-centric values

Philanthropy goals

Sustainability practice

We have a responsibility to respect and listen to Indigenous voices and standpoints and, in all that we do, improve the health and wellbeing of the planet we share. We are committed to protecting Country, and developing Indigenous-led cultural, social and climate solutions.

At every opportunity we will address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Our sustainability approach

Achieving the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 global goals is critical for protecting the future health and wellbeing of humanity and the planet that we share. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are focusing worldwide efforts to address extreme poverty, heal our degraded planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere.

The global goals are an urgent call for action. Through our collective efforts, we are making a difference.

Download our 2021 report

Research with impact

We are committed to life-changing, world-changing research. Our researchers develop solutions to the complex challenges facing our world. We work with communities, industry, and governments to benefit the health of country, cities and regions, communities and the environment.

Learning that changes lives

We are committed to being a university without borders. We provide quality education that is open to any student from any background, supported by the VU Block Model®, designed with students, for students. We produce future-ready graduates, citizens and leaders.

Working with our community

We are the University of the west of Melbourne. We are committed to working with our communities to find local solutions to challenging planetary-health problems. We are thinking globally and acting locally – and sharing what we learn with communities around the world.

University sustainability initiative

We are committed to leading by example and taking care of our own backyard. We are making all VU campuses and spaces welcoming, inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable through collaboration with our students, our staff and our communities.

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings measure the impact universities across the globe are having on society, through the lens of the SDGs.

In 2022, VU was ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide and ranked 13th for Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6); 32nd for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG16); 41st for Quality Education (SDG4); and 65th for Partnership for the Goals (SDG17).

Moondani Balluk

Moondani Balluk means ‘embrace people’ in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. Our vision for the Moondani Balluk Academic Unit is to create and foster a culturally sensitive environment that welcomes, nurtures and recreates community, based on relationship to land, culture, law and elders.

We share Aboriginal knowledge and strive to integrate Aboriginal practices into our curricula, research and work. We work towards creating a respectful community for all people through mutually engaged relationships, while pursuing political and social justice, equity, and access to education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Courses & units with an Indigenous focus

Read about our courses and units that foreground Indigenous perspectives.

Aboriginal research & researchers

We are committed to an Indigenous research agenda of pursuing social justice outcomes through research within a framework of decolonisation.

Indigenous community engagement

Moondani Balluk engages in and with community through partnerships with local community groups, community education, and engagement initiatives within non-governmental organisations.

Find out more

See also the 2020 sustainability report.

Protecting Country

Protecting Country: A driver of our strategy