1. The object of Southern Cross University is the promotion, within the limits of the university's resources, of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and teaching, and academic excellence.
2. The University has the following principal functions for the promotion of its object:

1. the provision of facilities for education and research of university standard, having particular regard to the needs of the north coast region of the State;

2. the encouragement of the dissemination, advancement, development and application of knowledge informed by free inquiry;

3. the provision of courses of study or instruction across a range of fields, and the carrying out of research, to meet the needs of the community;

4. the participation in public discourse;

5. the conferring of degrees, including those of Bachelor, Master and Doctor, and the awarding of diplomas, certificates and other awards;

6. the provision of teaching and learning that engage with advanced knowledge and inquiry; and

7. the development of governance, procedural rules, admission policies, financial arrangements and quality assurance processes that are underpinned by the values and goals referred to in the functions set out in this subsection, and that are sufficient to ensure the integrity of the university’s academic programs.

This Section of the University’s Act has further subsections detailing other functions, including commercial functions, and providing that functions may be exercised outside the State and Australia.

top

RMIT University

The objects of the University include:

1. the development of an institution with excellence in teaching, training, scholarship, research, consultancy, community service and other educational services and products, with emphasis on technology and its development, impact and application;

2. the provision of a multi-level system of post-secondary education programs relevant to the needs of the community covering a wide range of fields and levels from basic trade to post-doctoral studies with provision for recognition of prior learning and flexibility of transition between programs;

3. the provision of high quality educational, research, residential, commercial, cultural, social, recreational, sporting and other facilities;

4. the advancement of knowledge and its practical application by research and other means, the dissemination by various means of the outcomes of research and the commercial exploitation of the results of such research;

5. the participation in commercial ventures and activities;

6. the fostering of the general welfare and development of all enrolled students;

7. the conferring of prescribed degrees and the granting of prescribed diplomas, certificates and other awards;

8. the provision of opportunities for development and further training for staff of the University;

9. the development and provision of educational, cultural, professional, technical and vocational services to the community and in particular the fostering of participation in a university of technology of persons living or working in the northern metropolitan region of Melbourne;

10. the provision of programs, products and services in ways that take account of the principles of equity and social justice;

11. the maintenance of close interaction with industry and the community and the development of associations or agreements with any other educational, commercial, governmental or other institution;

12. the development of a strong international dimension to the University's teaching, research, consultancy, development, service and other activities;

13. generally the development and operation of a university providing appropriate academic and other programs, courses of study, educational products and research activity such as the council considers necessary for the attainment of the foregoing within Victoria and elsewhere.

top

James Cook University

James Cook University does not have an explicit object. Its functions are:

1. to provide education at university standard; 

2. to provide facilities for study and research generally and, in particular, in subjects of special importance to the people of the tropics;

3. to encourage study and research generally and, in particular, in subjects of special importance to the people of the tropics; and 

4. to provide courses of study or instruction (at the levels of achievement the council considers appropriate) to meet the needs of the community; and 

5. to confer higher education awards; and 

6. to exploit commercially, for the university's benefit, a facility or resource of the university, including, for example, study, research or knowledge, or the practical application of study, research or knowledge, belonging to the university, whether alone or with someone else; and

7. to perform other functions given to the university under this or another Act. The University’s act also has a section detailing its general powers.The University of Western Australia

The University has no stated objects and neither the University nor its governing body have any stated functions.

top

The University of South Australia

The University of South Australia does not have an explicit object. The University must strive for excellence in teaching and research and for attainment of the highest standards in education. Its functions are:

1. to preserve, extend and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, scholarship, consultancy or any other means; and

2. to provide tertiary education in such disciplines and areas of study as the University thinks appropriate to meet the needs of industry, commerce, the professions or any other section of the community; and

3. to provide such tertiary education programmes as the University thinks appropriate to meet the needs of the Aboriginal people; and

4. to provide such tertiary education programmes as the University thinks appropriate to meet the needs of groups within the community that the University considers have suffered disadvantages in education; and

5. to provide educational programmes for the benefit of the wider community or programmes for the enhancement of the diverse cultural life of the community, as the University thinks fit; and

6. to foster and further an active corporate life within the University; and

7. to perform any functions that are ancillary or incidental to the functions referred to in the preceding paragraphs.

The University’s act has an additional section detailing its powers.