Additional information

1

Strategy and Analysis

1.1

Statement from the most senior decision-maker of the organisation

 See Overview.

Organisational Profile

2.1

Name of the organisation

University of New South Wales

2.2

Primary brands, products, and/or services

Education and Research

2.3

Operational structure

See UNSW organisational chart

2.4

Location of organisation’s headquarters.

Randwick, Sydney, NSW, Australia

2.5

Number and name of countries where the organisation operates

1

2.6

Nature of ownership and legal form

Body corporate under statute

2.7

Markets served

Main markets served are Australia, India, China, United States

2.8

Scale of the reporting organisation

See About UNSW

2.9

Significant changes

There were no significant operational changes in the past year

2.10

Awards received

See Appendix 3: Prizes

Report Parameters

3.1

Reporting period

1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017

3.2

Date of most recent previous report

This is UNSW’s first sustainability report

3.3

Reporting cycle

Calendar year to be consistent with UNSW’s Financial Reporting period. It is UNSW's intention to produce an annual sustainability report.

3.4

Contact point

Arifa Sarfraz, UNSW Sustainability Manager, Estate Management

3.5

Process for defining report content

See Overview

3.6

Boundary of the report

See Overview

3.7

State any specific limitations

None

3.8

Basis for reporting on joint ventures, subsidiaries, leased facilities, outsourced operations

The reporting boundary includes controlled entitites, subsidiaries, leased facilities, outsourced operations where these fall within UNSW's operational control. This report applies the definition for "operational control" in section 11 of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.

3.9

Data measurement techniques and the bases of calculations

See Overview

3.10

Explanation of the effect of any re-statements of information provided in earlier reports, and the reasons for such re-statement

Not applicable as this is UNSW’s first report

3.11

Significant changes from previous reporting periods

Not applicable as this is UNSW’s first report

3.12

Table identifying the location of the Standard Disclosures in the report.

4

Governance

4.1

Governance structure

In accordance with the University of New South Wales Act 1989 (NSW), UNSW is governed by a Council of 15 members representing University and community interests.

4.2

Indicate whether the chair of the highest governance body is also an executive officer.

The Chancellor is the chair of the University Council, a non-executive position. The Vice-Chancellor is the Principal Executive Officer of the University and is responsible for the overall direction of corporate planning, budget activities and external relations. Under the University Council, the Vice-Chancellor manages and supervises the administrative, financial and other activities of the University.

4.3

For organisations that have a unitary board structure, state the number of members of the highest governance body

Of the 15 members of University Council, three are official members (the Vice-Chancellor, President of Academic Board and the Chancellor). Others include:

2 ministerial appointments

2 elected academic staff

2 council appointees

2 elected students (1 undergraduate, 1 post-graduate)

1 elected non-academic staff.

4.4

Mechanisms for shareholders and

employees to provide recommendations

or direction to the highest governance

body

There is a Student Representative Council with elected student leader office bearers that meet the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Team to raise issues on behalf of students on a regular basis. The Vice-Chancellor also holds regular town hall meetings where members of staff are able to ask questions. The University also recognises and meets with the trade unions including the NTEU, CPSU and United Voice, as employee representatives.

4.12

Externally developed economic, environmental, and social charters, principles to which the organisation subscribes/endorses

4.14

List of stakeholder groups engaged by the organisation

Stakeholder groups the university engages with include students, staff, alumni, donors, government, local councils, suppliers, other universities, student organisations and staff unions.

4.15

Basis for identification and selection of stakeholders with whom to engage

See Overview

4.16

Approaches to stakeholder engagement

See Overview

EC

Economic

EC1

Direct economic value generated and distributed (Core)

The economic performance of the University is reported on in the UNSW Annual Report.

EC3

Coverage of the organisation’s defined

benefit plan obligations (Core)

No defined benefit super

EC4

Significant financial assistance received

from government (Core)

See UNSW Annual Report

EN

Environmental

EN2

Materials used that are recycled (Core)

See Environment, Purchasing

EN3

Direct energy consumption (Core)

See Environment, Energy

EN4

Indirect energy consumption (Core)

See Environment, Energy

EN8

See Environment, Water

EN16

Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight (Core)

See Environment, Energy

EN18

Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reductions achieved (Additional)

See Environment, Energy

EN22

Waste by type and disposal method (Core)

See Environment, Waste

EN23

Significant spills (Core)

None

EN24

Waste deemed hazardous under the

terms of the Basel Convention 

(Additional)

None 

EN28

Significant fines and total number of

non-monetary sanctions (Core)

None

EN29

Significant environmental impacts of

transporting products (Additional)

None.

LA

Labour Practices

LA1

Total workforce (Core)

LA4

Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements (Core)

UNSW Employees are covered by two enterprise agreements. The UNSW (Academic Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2015 and the UNSW (Professional Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2010. See UNSW Human Resources Enterprise Agreements.

LA7

Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days and absenteeism, and number of work related fatalities by region (Core)

See Community, Safety and Wellbeing

LA9

Health and safety topics covered informal agreements with trade unions (Additional)

LA13

Composition of governance bodies and employees according to gender, and other diversity indicators (Additional)

HR

Human Rights

HR3

Employee training on human rights (Additional)

See UNSW Equity and Diversity statement

HR4

Incidents of discrimination (Core)

None

HR5

Operations identified in which the right to exercise freedom of association and collective bargaining may be at significant risk (Core)

None

HR6

Operations identified as having

significant risk for incidents of child 

labour (Core)

None

HR7

Operations identified as having

significant risk for incidents of forced or

compulsory labour (Core)

None

SO

Society

SO4

Actions taken in response to incidents of corruption (Core)

SO5

Public policy positions and participation in public policy development and lobbying (Core)

See UNSW Code of Conduct. See also Community, Research and UNSW Newsroom

SO8

Significant fines and total number of non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with laws and regulations (Core)

In a decision of the NSW Industrial Court issued in March 2013, UNSW was found to have breached the Work, Health and Safety Act 2000 after a student suffered leg injuries and a broken wrist after falling from a boat while undertaking a research field trip on 31 July 2009. UNSW pleaded guilty and received a fine of $100,000. See WorkCover NSW report.

PR

Product Responsibility

PR2

Incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning health and safety impacts (Additional)

None

PR5

Practices related to customer satisfaction (Additional)

UNSW undertakes a regular graduate satisfaction survey of all UNSW graduates approximately four months after they complete the requirements for their awards. For more information see UNSW's Business Reporting and Intelligence, and Data Governance.

PR7

Incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes concerning marketing communications

(Additional)

None

PR8

Substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy (Additional)

None

PR9

Significant fines for non-compliance with laws and regulations concerning the provision and use of products and services (Core).

None

Agenda 21 (see Chapter 36 'Education,
Public Awareness and Training')

UNESCO

Set in place a range of activities to implement global sustainable development. Advocates a holistic approach to environmental education.

Australian Universities Ecological Development Charter

Universities Australia

Kyoto Declaration on
Sustainable Development

United Nations

Sapporo Sustainability
Declaration

G8 University Summit

Talloires Declaration

University Leaders for
a Sustainable Future

Outlines a 10-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at 
colleges and universities.

The Greenhouse Challenge

Australian Greenhouse
Office

United Nations Decade of
Education for Sustainable
Development (DESD)
2005-2015

1. research towards sustainable futures
2. education for sustainability
3. universities as living laboratories for sustainability
4. enhancing citizenship and engagement
5. building capacity through cross-network collaboration and action.