From cutting-edge research to graduates who are making an impact in their communities; discover 25 ways UniSA is making a difference to the world.


Students in a courtroom.Community clinics 

The South Australian community has benefited from more than one million dollars’ worth of pro bono legal work undertaken by the UniSA Legal Advice Clinic, which is one of many UniSA community clinics offering affordable or free health and legal support to local communities. 

UniSA community clinics also include the Exercise Physiology Clinic, Mammography Clinic, Psychology Clinic, Physiotherapy Clinic, Podiatry Clinic, Mobile Allied-Health Clinic, Dietetic Clinic and UniSA Medical Clinic. 

Fostering reconciliation 

UniSA was the first Australian university to issue a Statement of Commitment to Australian Reconciliation in 1997. Since then, the University has developed its first Reconciliation Action Plan with the aim of becoming the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander University of Choice. 

Supporting rural communities 

The University Department of Rural Health improves the health of rural and remote communities through outreach facilities in the Spencer Gulf region including Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln and Port Pirie. 

Promoting gender equality 

For 11 years UniSA has been acknowledged as an Employer of Choice for Women by the Commonwealth Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. Women currently make up 61 per cent of the UniSA workforce. 

Access for all 

UniSA College provides supportive pathway programs that offer more people opportunities to study at university. Since 2011, 700 students have completed studies with UniSA College and more than 80 per cent gained entry to study a diploma or degree at UniSA.

SA’s most international university 

Ranked among the world’s most international universities*, and with Australia’s most internationally diverse academic staff population*, UniSA is SA’s most international university. The University has graduated almost 48,000 international students from more than 140 countries, and is engaged in university and industry partnerships with more than 20 countries.
*QS Star Rankings
*QS World University Rankings

Plastic car side mirrors. World-first plastic car mirror 

Industry collaborations are a key part of UniSA’s research focus and have led to some world-leading innovations, including the world’s first plastic car side mirror that is safer and more environmentally friendly to produce.

Healing wounds 

UniSA researchers have produced prototypes for the next generation of smart bandages capable of caring for and healing chronic wounds, an issue that costs the Australian healthcare system an estimated $2.65 billion each year. 

Communicating with the world 

UniSA houses Australia’s largest university telecommunications research centre, the Institute for Telecommunications Research.

The Institute works with industry on projects such as the Global Sensor Network, a two-way satellite messaging system which reduces the cost of ground-based remote data sensing.

Protecting our natural world 

UniSA researchers have developed a technology that separates oil and water through a hydrophilic membrane driven by gravity.

The research has the potential to improve oil-water separation following tanker oil spills or oil platform accidents.

Harnessing green energy 

UniSA researchers are investigating different renewable energy sources, including the sun and wind. Industry-partnered research includes an investigation into solar powered air-conditioning and the development of TREV – a lightweight, two-seater Renewable Energy Vehicle – which has travelled all over the world. 

World-first manipulative physiotherapy program 

UniSA physiotherapist Geoffrey Maitland started the world’s first postgraduate program in Manipulative Physiotherapy at the SA Institute of Technology in 1974, before it became part of UniSA. 

Daniel Rogers - PAFC PhD Student.Sporting heroes

Embracing the power of sport to change lives and strengthen community bonds, UniSA manages community sports programs including Football United®-UniSA, a high performance partnership with Port Adelaide Football Club, and the Aboriginal Power Cup.

Partnering with industry 

Dedicated to enterprise and industry innovation, UniSA has more than 2000 partnerships with business and industry including Hills Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, University College London, Santos, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Google, ANZ, ESPN, Foxtel, Mars and Nielsen.

Driving debate  

Established in 1997, the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre has presented thousands of public forums, lectures and art exhibitions that encourage debate about society’s big challenges and opportunities. 

Creating new spaces 

UniSA is one of the State’s largest investors in infrastructure, investing more than $240m in its campuses to create vibrant teaching and research spaces for staff and students and, at the same time, building the wealth of the State through its capital investments.

Leading business innovation 

In 2013 UniSA became the first university globally to host an online brainstorming event called unijam. Working with IBM technology, the University community contributed more than 17,000 posts about ideas for the University’s future across a 36-hour period. 

More than a century of mining education and research 

Beginning with the School of Mines, UniSA’s work in mining and materials science has contributed more than $1 billion to industry since 1988, and includes advances such as the AMIRA International project P260, which improves the flotation of minerals. 

Supporting young sporting talent 

For 16 years UniSA has supported the Santos Tour Down Under by sponsoring Team UniSA-Australia, a group of young, upcoming Australian riders. Team UniSA has been a stepping stone in the careers of many internationally acclaimed riders, including former Olympian Patrick Jonker.

Teacher with students.Paving the way to careers

Since its foundation in 1991, UniSA has graduated more than 180,000 students. You’ll see them every day, making positive contributions to the community. They are our engineers and lawyers, our pharmacists and physiotherapists and our children’s teachers.

Building South Australia

UniSA graduates have been shaping our built environment for more than 100 years, following the formation of South Australia’s first architecture course in 1906. This history is captured in Australia’s only internationally recognised Architecture Museum located at City West campus.

World-class visual arts

UniSA is home to one of the most valuable visual arts scholarships, the Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship, which supports Australian artists to develop their art at an international level.

World top 100 for Education*

With the largest tertiary School of Education in the State, UniSA has a long tradition in leading teacher education and researching child development. Today UniSA researchers are at the forefront of research into bullying, child protection and engaging vulnerable and marginalised children and families.

*QS Subject Rankings 2015

Engineering a world record 

As part of the Santos Tour Down Under 2015, UniSA’s mechanical engineering students, in collaboration with Santos, pushed the boundaries to build a 42-metre long bike – breaking the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest bike.

Constructive education

UniSA has one of the largest award-winning student construction programs in the world, running programs including Design and Construct, a nation-leading, hands-on construction program for industrial design and architecture students.