Campus Optimisation update

ACU’s Campus Optimisation initiative continues to progress, with the Ballarat Campus plan now finalised and consultation for the Melbourne Campus Plan underway.

Campus Optimisation is a Vice-Chancellor initiative and aims to review the ACU campus ecosystem, balancing the unique characteristics and requirements of each campus with the overarching ambition of ACU, and developing a long-term strategy and roadmap for ACU’s campuses. The Ballarat Campus was the first campus to be addressed by the initiative.

Ballarat Campus Plan

The Ballarat Campus Plan was recently finalised, following consultation and feedback from the campus community.

Key outcomes of the plan include:

• Development of a unique curriculum proposal, tailored to the high proportion of regional and low SES students at the campus, to be implemented in 2023.
• A focus on nurturing current partner relationships and identifying further opportunities to partner with local community and industry partners across the region.
• Development of an integrated marketing plan for the campus, offering tailored marketing activity with a local approach.
• Creation of a distinct identity for the Ballarat Campus, to be integrated into campus communications and messaging.
• A review of education courses at Ballarat, to better understand the decline in education and the application to enrolment funnel. A strategy to build awareness and strengthen demand for education at Ballarat will be included in the integrated marketing plan.
• Enhancing work integrated leaning experiences by purchasing new paramedicine equipment for the campus (funded through the Regional Loading Program).
• Additional support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, regional and low SES students by extending service provision (funded through the Regional Loading Program).

Next steps

The next phase of the Campus Optimisation initiative is the development of the Melbourne Campus Plan. Consultation with Melbourne students and staff will begin this month and Melbourne staff will be emailed details of how they can participate.

Plans for other campuses, including ACU Online, will be developed throughout 2023.

Keep an eye out for quarterly updates on the progress of the Campus Optimisation initiative in the Staff Bulletin.

For more information regarding Campus Optimisation, please contact National Manager Campus Leadership Mel Phillipson