commUNIty FEST Maker Space at UTAS’s Cradle Coast campus in Burnie
As higher education reimagines its role within local communities, the University of Tasmania is setting a compelling example—embedding itself into the landscape and lives of the Cradle Coast.
The recently held 11-day commUNIty FEST at UTAS’s Cradle Coast campus in Burnie was more than a packed calendar of events. It was a celebration of inclusion, connection, and place-based engagement—offering a glimpse of what many Australian universities aspire to, but few have truly brought to life.
With activities as diverse as creative writing workshops, bagpipe lessons, interactive robotics demonstrations, and salsa dancing, the festival was deliberately inclusive, ensuring something for everyone. At its heart was a bold yet simple ambition: to dismantle traditional academic walls and welcome people of all ages and backgrounds into a shared space of curiosity and learning.
“We wanted to create something that welcomed everyone onto our beautiful campus,” said Associate Professor Sonya Stanford, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Cradle Coast region. “CommUNIty FEST was a chance for people to connect with each other, to be curious together, and to celebrate the importance of learning across the lifecourse. It was a creative way for the wider community to feel that the University is part of their lives.”
This sense of belonging isn’t incidental—it’s central to UTAS’s evolving vision: education shaped by, and grounded in, community.
While many universities recognise the value of inclusion, UTAS is actively living it. Its decision to join the Welcoming Universitiesinitiative in late 2024 built on a growing commitment to foster a culture of welcome and belonging—starting in Burnie and expanding outward. In the state’s northwest, Associate Professor Stanford leads a place-based approach grounded in local leadership, cultural inclusion, and meaningful opportunities for connection and engagement.
Clarissa Forster, UTAS’s Community and Partnerships Coordinator for the Cradle Coast, reflected on the festival’s impact, saying:
“We welcomed school students, industry and community leaders, parents, friends, artists, writers, scientists, philosophers, musicians, job seekers, entrepreneurs, researchers, dancers, chefs, and more. Each of them is a vital part of our place, and every one of them was invited to be part of our campus community.”
commUNIty FEST Maker Space at UTAS’s Cradle Coast campus in Burnie
Among the festival’s most memorable moments was a conversation between 2024 Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey and UTAS creative writing lecturer and author Lucy Christopher. They were joined by local guest readers, setting the tone for a festival grounded in shared stories and insights. Harvey’s novel Orbital, gifted to all new Cradle Coast students this year, offered a symbolic welcome—an early gesture of inclusion, imagination, and connection.
Equally resonant was the debut of Symphony by the Sea, a collaboration between the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and UTAS. This special event brought the beauty of orchestral music to the Cradle Coast, creating a shared cultural experience that connected audiences across the island. It was a powerful reminder of how music can unite communities, inspire creativity, and foster a deeper sense of belonging.
Yet, commUNIty FEST was not simply a celebration of goodwill. As regional and remote populations remain underrepresented in higher education, fostering a deep sense of belonging can have tangible effects on access and success. When local people feel welcome and valued in university spaces, the path to higher learning becomes clearer—and more attainable.
The UTAS model at the Cradle Coast is still evolving, but its direction is unmistakable: a community-rooted approach that treats education as both an individual journey and a collective endeavour.
As Australian universities navigate how best to engage with the communities they serve, UTAS offers a deceptively simple, quietly radical approach: open the doors, invite everyone in, and begin where people are at.
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