Understanding the role of regional universities as anchor collaboratives in the climate crisis: a case study

Abstract

Rural and regional communities in Australia are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. Universities have been characterised as ‘anchor institutions’ that contribute to the communities in which they are located, strengthening the argument that regional universities have a responsibility to the people and the places they belong. Using a case study from the Northern Rivers New South Wales, this paper stresses the importance of anchor collaboratives in the community's response to climate change. For more than half a century, Southern Cross University and its predecessor institutions have operated in Lismore, a town built on a floodplain that has experienced sixteen major floods during that time. This analysis will examine the University's role in responding to climate crises and its potential to drive longer-term change, while also identifying the barriers that may hinder sustained action. In the context of increasing extreme weather events and climate change, the question of whether university relationships in their communities can lead to collective action is timely, strengthening the importance of anchor networks over institutions.