Adelaide University Act - Draft Bill

Have your say on the draft Bill for the new Adelaide University.

What's being decided?

The Adelaide University draft Bill is now open for public consultation.

The Adelaide University Act will establish Adelaide University as a new South Australian university that has global standing by combining the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. The new Adelaide University Act will provide for the administration of Adelaide University, make related amendments to other Acts and repeal the University of Adelaide Act 1971 and the University of South Australia Act 1990.

**Please note, the purpose of this consultation process is to seek feedback specifically on the draft Bill to establish Adelaide University. If you wish to provide feedback on other aspects relevant to the establishment of Adelaide University, please consider making a submission to the Joint Committee on the Establishment of Adelaide University.

Background

The South Australian Government made a commitment to determine how the state can be best served by the university sector. In December 2022, the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide signed a Statement of Cooperation with the South Australian Government and the Australian Government to explore the feasibility of creating a new university.

In signing the Statement of Cooperation, the two universities agreed to work together to progress the feasibility and business case of creating a leading, for purpose university dedicated to addressing educational inequality; conducting future making research of scale and focus; and partnered with communities and industry, to become a globally recognised powerhouse for innovation and economic development.

In March 2023, the Universities released ‘A Vision Statement for a South Australian university for the future’. The Vision Statement was published on the websites of both universities and distributed to more than 285,000 people including students, staff, alumni, donors, and industry partners.

Following the release of the Vision Statement, feedback from the two university communities and an extensive six-month feasibility phase, both University Councils were presented with a comprehensive business case and associated documentation for their consideration. Both Councils resolved to enter into a Heads of Agreement to support the State Government in the creation of a combined new university for South Australia, to be called Adelaide University.

Following the announcement, a Bill to establish Adelaide University was drafted and is now open for public consultation.

Get involved.

Find out more by reading the following:

• Draft– Adelaide University Bill 2023
• Explanatory Guide to the Draft Bill

Have your say by:

• taking our survey

Feedback closes 5.00pm Friday 18 August 2023

What are the next steps?

All feedback will be considered and will be used to inform a Bill that will be introduced to Parliament later in 2023.