UNAA Victoria and Deakin University are delivering a year of events to build awareness of – and advocacy for – the SDGs in Victoria.
Project implemented: February to October 2018
To raise awareness of the SDGs in Victoria and the work that is being done to assist in the achievement of the goals.
It is vital that Australians are aware of the goals and the role that they can play in assisting to achieve them.
We worked to develop a year of varied events which would bring in different stakeholders and audiences
Deakin University, a signatory to the University Commitment to the SDGs, has provided project funding and in kind support.
We chose speakers from a range of organisation to increase the spread of the program
Attendance and interest in our events have exceeded our expectations and there has been considerable positive feedback in relation to the program.
Increased participation by tertiary students and interest in SDGs embedded in their studies
In 2018, UNAA Victoria and Deakin University ran the first of a year-long series of events to better contextualise the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrate how they were applicable in a domestic context and show why it makes political, economic and social sense to deliver on this global approach.
Events ranged from: panel discussions that explored what mechanisms were required to support clean and affordable energy; a young professionals’ volunteer day around life on land and under the sea; a Model UN Conference which developed a new UN resolution on Sustainable Cities and Communities; while a dinner discussed responsible consumption and production approaches.
The first year of events culminated in the UN Day Media Awards in late October which brought together over 100 journalists, photographers, producers, presenters and guests and highlighted a range of social issues that addressed the empowerment of girls, women, people with disabilities, and indigenous people; climate action; responsible consumption and production practices; and sustainable cities and communities. These featured short films and documentaries that fundamentally underpinned the importance of driving deep systemic changes to help support the shifts required to meeting SDGs.
These events enabled us to reach out to a broad-based set of stakeholders and raise awareness around what is being done across a range of sectors but also what mechanisms, actions or policies are required to ultimately meet the SDGs.
The second year of events – to be held in 2019 – is being finalised now.