Media release – UTAS, 3 August 2022

Shaking up the conversation about the Uni’s move into the city

Expressions of interest to join The Shake Up, a community panel that will help shape how the University of Tasmania’s campus in the Hobart CBD comes together, will remain open until midnight on Sunday, 7 August.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black encouraged people to get involved and register their interest in joining The Shake Up, which he said would be an unvarnished conversation between the University and the community.

“It’s true, the University is continuing to move into the city,” Professor Black said.

“We want to make this a good move for Hobart. To do that we need the community’s help because we all love our city, and we know lots of people have questions and ideas and fears about how it will evolve in the future.

“We have to shake up the conversation. We need input from everyone it will affect; we need big questions and creative, innovative answers. That’s what The Shake Up is all about.

“It is only together that we can solve concerns like traffic and parking, and only together that we can ensure the University positively contributes to this beautiful city that we all love and value.

“We want to make sure a university in the city is a university for everyone.”

The selection of the panel is being conducted independently by Enterprise Marketing and Research Services (EMRS), and will ensure a range of stakeholder groups from southern Tasmania are represented, including:

  • Business owners
  • Workers
  • University students
  • Parents of year 10, 11 and 12 students
  • Year 10, 11 and 12 students
  • Residents of greater Hobart
  • University staff

EMRS will also ensure the panel reflects Hobart’s diversity and is inclusive, welcoming and accessible for everyone in the community.

“This is a real chance for us to come together as a community and share our perspectives, hopes and fears, and to have an impact on how the University’s consolidation in the city happens. We encourage anyone who is interested in being part of the conversation to register their interest,” Professor Black said.

Expressions of Interest close at midnight on Sunday, 7 August. The first panel session will be held in early September.

For more information about The Shake Up, how it will operate and to register an expression of interest, visit www.utas.edu.au/theshakeup.