Dear colleagues
With the ministry now sworn in following the federal election, I write at an opportune and optimistic time for UNSW to be pursuing our mission of collective progress.
One of the government’s stated priorities is improving national productivity, an objective with immense potential to boost the economic and social prosperity of all Australians. It is at the heart of the cost of living challenge facing Australia and it’s a goal UNSW is well placed to help advance. By educating and skilling the future workforce, by undertaking research that drives innovation, and by collaborating with and connecting people on a global scale, we have fundamental levers to help reignite national productivity.
Crucially, we have to use this moment to ensure that productivity improvements are broad based and that all segments of society benefit. Too often, productivity agendas are captured in certain segments or industries or only benefit the fortunate few. This imperative reflects our Progress for All strategy. I look forward to continuing to work with the government to achieve important shared goals.
At the end of last year, the government set out a five-pillar productivity agenda. The synergies with several Strategic Pillars of our Progress for All strategy are very apparent.
The government’s productivity pillars are:
- Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy
- Building a skilled and adaptable workforce
- Harnessing data and digital technology
- Delivering quality care more efficiently
- Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation.
These align with UNSW Strategic Pillars including:
- Through accessible education, empower current and future generations
- Through research, lead knowledge creation, innovation and translation
- Accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and planet
- Advance economic and social prosperity
- Enable healthy lives
- Strengthen societal resilience, security and cohesion
UNSW is well placed to continue to partner with the government in helping and guiding it to achieve broad-based productivity goals. We will continue to offer our assistance as momentum builds towards tackling the productivity agenda, and by working in parallel to progress our own Strategic Pillars. I spoke about this at Business Sydney recently.
Productivity is only one area in which we can demonstrate the value of UNSW in addressing major issues facing society. Indeed, one of the most rewarding parts of working at our University is seeing colleagues have direct, life-changing impact through their research excellence in their areas of expertise. A remarkable example is Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar’s work in taxation policy to combat financial abuse.
UNSW research drives tax reform to protect survivors of financial abuse
The pioneering work of Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar, founding director of the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic, has been instrumental in highlighting how Australia's tax system can be exploited by perpetrators of domestic and financial abuse.
Through the Clinic, which offers free tax advice to people experiencing financial hardship, Ann and her team have collected grassroots data that reveals a critical gap in Australia’s tax system. The data demonstrates how perpetrators of domestic and financial abuse manipulate the system to impose debilitating financial burdens on their victims, leading to long-term ramifications including reduced assets, insecure housing and prolonged economic instability, even after leaving abusive relationships. The team’s advocacy has influenced public policy discussions and law reforms aimed at shifting tax liability from victim-survivors to perpetrators.
The research recommendations have received widespread support from accounting and tax industry bodies, community organisations and government (with advocacy mentorship and support from Professor Rosalind Dixon, Adjunct Professor Kevin O'Rourke OAM and Professor of Practice Jennie Granger). Most recently, the Labor Party’s election campaign included Ann and her team’s law reform proposal as part of the government’s response to gendered violence.
Ann has partnered with Professor Jan Breckenridge, head of UNSW’s School of Social Sciences and the Co-Convener of the UNSW Gendered Violence Research Network, and Professor Michael Walpole to advance research and impact in this space. In November, they received ARC funding to address the weaponisation of the tax and transfer system in Australia by perpetrators of intimate partner financial abuse. The project will collaborate with researchers in the US, where ‘innocent spouse relief’ provisions offer taxation relief on grounds of financial abuse. The research highlights the powerful UNSW ecosystem with genuinely multidisciplinary collaborations having a significant, life-changing impact.
It’s a compelling example of research with tangible societal impact, aligned with Strategic Pillar 7 of our Strategy: ‘Advance economic and social prosperity’. Ann’s work continues to drive meaningful change towards ensuring the Australian tax system can protect the most vulnerable members of society.
HDR candidates’ impact and engagement
Our Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates are an important part of the UNSW research ecosystem, contributing to at least 30% of our research publications, and driving change that benefits local and global communities in collaboration with a broad range of external partners.
Our commitment to research impact and engagement is demonstrated by the number of HDR candidates undertaking some form of industry engagement – 405 candidates (9.1% of the 2025 HDR population) to date – and our success in a range of HDR impact and engagement schemes such as the National Industry PhD program, CSIRO’s iPhD and Next Generation programs.
These schemes fund a wide range of research projects that aim to drive real-world change across local and global communities. An example of their impact are two UNSW Medicine & Health candidates’ recent National Industry PhD Program projects with Sydney Swans to improve the health and performance of athletes.
Tea Maros is working with the Swans’ men’s team to improve monitoring for optimal health and performance, while Harry Harcourt will be examining the impact of match and training demands of women’s Australian Rules Football.
While UNSW has a strong track record of industry engagement across all disciplines, there can be unique challenges when establishing industry partnerships in the arts and humanities. For this reason, our Graduate Research School is holding a panel discussion on Wednesday, 21 May to support industry engagement in the arts, law and business. Chaired by Professor Christy Newman, the panel will bring together PhD candidates, academics and industry partners to reflect on the benefits and complexities of formalising industry relationships across these research areas. UNSW HDR candidates and colleagues are welcome to attend.
Find out more and register: Supporting HDR industry engagement in the arts, law and business — Wednesday, 21 May 2025 in the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre.
Prepping for Success from Day 1
O-Week is a wonderful time as we welcome students to UNSW and do our best to give newcomers a sense of belonging from the very first time they set foot on campus. Helping students make connections, find their way around and understand what uni life is like – academically and socially – is all part of the O-Week experience.
To kick off Term 2 O-Week, Student Life–Student Engagement (part of the Division of Education and Student Experience) is hosting an expanded Prepping for Success Fair. From 11.30am–3.30pm on Monday, 26 May students will be able to drop by Prepping for Success in the John Niland Scientia Building and learn about the academic and wellbeing services available to help them have a successful, enjoyable time at UNSW.
This term, Prepping for Success will include a workshop series for the first time. The workshop program will give students the opportunity to build their own schedule to find out about supports and services on campus – whether it’s ‘Speedfriending’, ‘Moodle & More’, ‘Wellbeing & You’ or any of the other workshops on offer over the four-hour event.
As always, I’m looking forward to visiting the Fair and meeting some of our new students. If you can make time to pop in, please do – it’s a great opportunity to engage and showcase our friendly UNSW community.
I’m also excited about having a first-hand demo of ‘Scout’, the AI-powered assistant that provides quick, reliable answers to a wide range of enquiries related to UNSW student life, learning and wellbeing. Scout is all about optimising the student experience and, as its name suggests, helping students be prepared!
Prepping for Success has been created to complement the Official Student Welcome and the International Student Welcome, which also take place on the first day of O-Week. Thank you to the Student Life–Student Engagement team and all who are organising or delivering Term 2 O-Week activities.
Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue
I was pleased to attend a Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue event last week where discussions focused on critical priorities for the region. Key topics included health service delivery and addressing emerging health challenges as Greater Western Sydney continues to grow.
Enabling healthy lives is one of the strategic pillars of our Progress for All strategy. Through our new strategy, we are focusing our wide-ranging research, education and engagement efforts in health. Central to this is our commitment to fostering collaboration at every level — with government, industry and the community.
UNSW has longstanding relationships across Parramatta, Liverpool and Bankstown, and emerging partnerships in Westmead and Nepean, with well over 100 activities in the areas spanning health, research, education and entrepreneurship.
In Liverpool, we’ve invested $700,000 into a Health Tech Entrepreneurship Program to support local founders, researchers and innovators – reaching more than 550 participants in 2024 and aiming to double that in 2025. The Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur, where our researchers will tackle pressing health issues such as mental illness, diabetes and healthcare for Indigenous and culturally diverse communities, is due to open at the end of the year.
At the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue event, I reiterated UNSW’s commitment to expanding our presence and support for health activities across Greater Sydney. I look forward to continuing to work in collaboration to enhance health outcomes for our community.
Photo at the top of the page: UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, with UNSW’s Pro Vice-Chancellor – Precincts, Dr Zoe Terpening; Secretary of NSW Health, Susan Pearce AM; Dean UNSW Medicine & Health, Professor Cheryl Jones; and CEO Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, Adam Leto.
Support available for students and staff
I would like to again acknowledge all in our community who are reeling under the ramifications of the increasing number of armed conflicts taking place in zones across the globe. The loss of life, serious injuries and displacement of so many people continue to have deep impacts on people in the UNSW community, in Australia and throughout the world. I thank everyone who is making special effort to look out for and support people who need us at this time.
We will continue to build understanding, express compassion and show empathy to those who are feeling the effects most keenly. We will continue to do all in our power to make UNSW a welcoming, supportive, respectful community for all who study, work and visit. I reiterate my call for each of us to take responsibility for respectful behaviours and interactions, now and always. The safety of everyone in the UNSW community and on our campuses is paramount.
If you need help or support, please do not hesitate to contact one of our services listed below. I would like to remind colleagues that our EAP support services also extend to family members.
Support for students
Support for staff
As always, UNSW will not accept racism, hate speech, inciteful behavior or religious vilification. Visit our Speak up website for more information or to speak up about something you have seen or experienced that you need to report.
I also remind colleagues that UNSW is a member of the Scholars at Risk network. If you would like to know more about this network and its work, please connect with the University Office of Global Affairs via DVCGlobal@unsw.edu.au.
UNSW is working to support refugees and those suffering forced displacement. If you would like to know more about this work, please contact Professor Bruce Watson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Societal Transformation and Equity, in the first instance.
There’s more to read Inside UNSW…
- UNSW researchers have been awarded $17 million in National Health and Medical Research Council clinical trials funding. Congratulations to Associate Professor Sradha Kotwal, Professor Bala Venkatesh, Professor Manuela Ferreira and Scientia Professor Louisa Degenhardt. The projects will investigate improved treatments for sepsis, kidney disease, the health of people leaving prison, and chronic lower back pain.
- Five UNSW researchers have been awarded Cancer Council NSW grants for research to advance cancer detection and treatment. Congratulations to Conjoint Associate Professor Clare Stirzaker, Conjoint Associate Professor Belamy Cheung, Conjoint Associate Professor David Croucher, Professor John Pimanda and Associate Professor Orazio Vittorio.
- I also extend my congratulations to Derek Winter, UNSW’s Director of Cyber Security and Chief Information and Security Officer (CISO), who has been awarded CISO of the Year and the overall Excellence Award by news publication CyberDaily.
- This week’s staff profile is Mitch McBurnie, General Manager (Marketing, Strategy & Experience) with Arc. Mitch’s passion for creativity and for creating an engaging student experience are completely infectious, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor and President
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