At Adelaide University, our culture is not created for people, it’s created with them.
We’re building a bold, inclusive, and purpose-driven community where individuals are empowered to thrive, collaborate, and innovate.
Our culture is grounded in strong values and behaviours that guide how we lead, support, and connect with one another. We understand that culture is more than just words — it’s brought to life every day through our actions, decisions, and shared experiences.
Our core values reflect who we are, what we stand for, and how we work with each other. They are lived through everyday behaviours that help us pursue our ambitions together. Our values guide how we pursue our ambitions and build a thriving community.
Our values and behaviours are the foundation of our desired culture, shaping how people interact, make decisions and contribute as we pursue our strategic ambition. We cultivate a culture of shared leadership, empowering every individual to make a positive and meaningful impact.
Our values and behaviours are the foundation of our desired culture, shaping how people interact, make decisions and contribute as we pursue our strategic ambition. We cultivate a culture of shared leadership, empowering every individual to make a positive and meaningful impact.
| Trust | Inclusivity | Ambition | Respect | Discovery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We are authentic in our interactions and act with integrity and reliability | We embrace the uniqueness of each member of our community | Together, we are bold and energetic in our pursuit of excellence and positive impact | We listen and learn through respectful dialogue and debate | We move beyond boundaries with curiosity and innovation | |
| Leading self | I follow through on commitments, and support others when navigating setbacks. | I foster a culture of inclusion, enabling people to bring their whole selves to work. | I courageously promote and support transformative ideas. | I communicate openly - even when things change, or I don't have all the information. | I drive improvement by prioritising experimentation and innovation. |
| I provide and receive feedback constructively, to help us grow. | I actively listen to understand and encourage all voices and perspectives. | I hold myself and others accountable to achieve goals and deliver excellent outcomes. | I proactively promote respectful behaviours, and address disrespectful behaviour directly. | I take a range of approaches to decision making, depending on the context and environment. | |
| I am honest and transparent in my engagements, and contribute with freedom and confidence. | I involve people in decisions that impact them directly. | I demonstrate a passion for learning and actively seen new knowledge and experiences. | I embrace learning from mistakes and share lessons learned. | ||
| Leading others | I practise transparency by providing context to decision making. | I bring people together creating connections within and across teams and cohorts. | I enable individuals and teams to build capability that creates lasting positive impact aligned to our shared ambition. | I recognise individual and team achievements, promoting a culture of shared success. | I am reflective, and commited to effective leadership as an evolving practice. |
| I thoughtfully prepare, equip and support our people through change, recognising that everyone responds differently. | I understand and leverage the unique strengths of my team(s) and team members. | I provide a clear vision and direction, aligning team goals with organising strategy and empowering the team to achieve excellence. | I prioritise people leadership skills and expertise equally. | I cultivate a 'safe to fail' environment. | |
| I recognise and value meaningful contributions that extend beyond a person's organisational role, acknowleding their broarder impact on our community. | I advocate for and support my team, seek to understand external perspectives and manage feedback constructively. |
We believe that excellence and equity go hand in hand. We are committed to cultivating a culture where every member of our community, including students, staff, alumni, partners, and visitors, feels safe, supported, and valued.
Our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences are our greatest strength. By embedding inclusion, safety, and wellbeing into everything we do, we build a resilient, respectful, and empowering environment that enables us to deliver world-class education, research, and service.
