Education for SDGs in the Wider Community

The University of Newcastle has a strong commitment to outreach educational activities that engage the wider community—including alumni, local residents, displaced people, and other diverse groups. These initiatives are designed to promote inclusive, accessible, and lifelong learning opportunities, with a particular focus on sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Key outreach programs include:

• Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids:
  A pioneering lifestyle program that supports fathers in improving their health and that of their families. Originating in the Hunter region and now expanding internationally, it offers free, collaborative education on health and wellbeing.
• CIFAL Newcastle:
  As a United Nations training centre hosted by the University, CIFAL Newcastle delivers community-accessible courses such as Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development, Responsibility and Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Development Goals and Global Agenda. These programs equip individuals and organisations with the knowledge and tools to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
• Financial Literacy Programs with Greater Bank:
  In partnership with Greater Bank, the University provides financial literacy and community engagement programs that enhance financial resilience and support broader social sustainability.
• No Money No Time:
  A free, evidence-based nutrition education platform aimed at young adults. It offers accessible resources in multiple languages to support culturally diverse and displaced communities in making informed, sustainable food choices.
• Children’s University Newcastle:
  Facilitated by the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, this program encourages children aged 7–14 to engage in extracurricular learning across their communities and on campus. It recognises that learning happens everywhere and promotes equity by redistributing educational resources.
• Women’s Research Engineers Network (WREN):
  WREN hosts an annual international symposium that fosters collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and students. The event supports global efforts toward achieving the SDGs and is freely accessible online.
• Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETPNG):
  In collaboration with One Health Frontline, the University supported a pilot program in Papua New Guinea, graduating participants from diverse sectors who addressed critical health challenges through applied field projects.

These initiatives reflect the University’s institutional commitment to community empowerment and lifelong learning, ensuring that education is inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with global development goals.

SDG short courses

Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development Responsibility

The course introduces participants to the concept of international and transformative leadership. It provides theoretical and practical knowledge to strengthen your skills and capabilities.

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Sustainable Development Goals and Global Agenda: Vision and Key Opportunities

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the Agenda 2030. It gives a historical overview of how Agenda 2030 came into being. SDGs and their structure will be reviewed in detail. The course will look into particular examples of SDGs implementation and real-world case studies.

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Business and Agenda 2030: Value and Engagement

This course will provide you with an understanding of why the United Nations and the business community are vital to each other to obtain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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