The University has officially launched an ambitious new project to address some of society's most pressing problems.
A wicked problem usually requires a complex solution, and overnight UNSW Sydney took a major step forward in addressing deep-rooted and systemic challenges.
Announcing the launch of Progress Partners, UNSW has embarked on a new initiative designed to deepen collaboration with business, government and the community to tackle complex societal challenges at scale.
The initiative was unveiled at Progress through Partnership, a special event in Sydney's CBD, which marked the beginning of a new phase under UNSW's Progress for All strategy.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the initiative reflected UNSW's commitment to delivering positive, real-world impact on deep societal challenges.
"Progress Partners is a practical expression of UNSW's Progress for All strategy," he said.
"It creates a platform where the University can lead and work alongside industry, government and community partners to address complex problems that no single institution can solve alone."
Progress for All recognises partnership as a core pillar of UNSW's mission, alongside transformative education and innovative research. Through Progress Partners, UNSW will mobilise its deep academic expertise and networks to bring partners across sectors and systems to the table, translating evidence into policy, industry practice and community outcomes.
Professor Verity Firth, Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, said the scale and complexity of today's challenges demanded collective responses.
"When we launched Progress for All alongside our Societal Impact Framework, we were clear that our ambitions are bigger than any single institution," she said.
"Progress Partners connects our research excellence and networks to industry, government and community groups so we can co-design practical, evidence-based solutions and turn big societal ambitions into real outcomes."
First Progress Challenge: reducing financial abuse
The first Progress Challenge under the new platform focuses on reducing financial abuse in Australia .
Financial abuse affects more than 600,000 Australians each year and is estimated to cost victim-survivors $5.7 billion annually, exceeding total losses from scams. The impacts extend beyond financial harm, affecting mental health, wellbeing and family cohesion. It is a complex, interconnected issue that cuts across financial systems, regulatory frameworks, legal services and community support networks.
The Progress Partners initiative builds on UNSW's extensive expertise across disciplines, including gendered violence, ageing and population research, taxation and regulation, actuarial studies, social policy, human rights and legal advocacy.
UNSW Chancellor Warwick Negus said the initiative brought the best of UNSW expertise to bear on society's most pressing challenges.
"Preventing financial abuse needs industry, government, community and academia working together. By bringing together all parts of a system around a challenge, we can achieve greater impact for our partners and all Australians," he said.
"Financial abuse is exactly the kind of issue that sits between systems. Progress depends on those systems working together, with clear goals, shared evidence and coordinated action from partners who each hold part of the solution."
Multiple UNSW institutes and centres are already working in this space. Recent ACCC guidance clarifying that cross-sector collaboration on systemic consumer harm is permissible where it delivers public benefit has given institutions greater confidence to work together on complex harms such as financial abuse.
Through Progress Partners, UNSW will convene superannuation funds, banks, regulators, industry bodies, legal centres and community organisations to develop practical responses, better recognise coercive control and reduce financial harm.
Deanne Stewart, CEO of Aware Super and one of the initiative's partners, said coordinated action across the superannuation sector was essential.
"I think it's fantastic to partner with the superannuation sector and UNSW, to really provide the evidence and the data and the insights to make sure we're getting to the root causes of financial abuse," she said.
"As the head of one of Australia's largest super funds, I know reducing financial abuse will help millions of Australians feel more secure in their retirement."
Partnership with Powerhouse launched
One of the first outcomes through the partnership model is the announcement of a new flagship agreement between UNSW and Powerhouse Parramatta . The alliance will see UNSW establish a dedicated presence within the new Powerhouse precinct, partnering on events, exhibitions and public programs to bring research, education and innovation to Western Sydney.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah, a UNSW alum, said the partnership would benefit the museum's millions of expected visitors by bringing world-leading research out of the lab and into the programming and learning experiences at Powerhouse.
