Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University (SCU) is a public university in Australia with campuses located in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales, and at Coolangatta on the southern end of the Gold Coast in Queensland. Recognized globally, it was ranked among the top 100 young universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2019. The origins of SCU trace back to the establishment of the Lismore Teachers' College on 23 February 1970, which operated from the site now known as the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. In 1971, the college became a College of Advanced Education and was renamed Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (NRCAE) in 1973. Under the leadership of Dr. Rod Treyvaud from 1984, NRCAE expanded its infrastructure and academic offerings. Following the 1988 Commonwealth Government White Paper on Higher Education, which encouraged the formation of larger educational institutions, NRCAE joined the University of New England (UNE) network in 1989. However, dissatisfaction with the arrangement led to the establishment of an independent university for the North Coast of New South Wales. On 29 June 1993, it was announced that this new institution would be called Southern Cross University. The necessary legislation was passed in October 1993, and SCU was officially established on 1 January 1994. The university continued to grow, opening a new campus at Coolangatta in 2010 near North Kirra Beach and Gold Coast International Airport, featuring modern facilities and ocean views. A second ten-story building followed in 2013, reflecting SCU’s commitment to expansion and innovation. In 2019, a new health sciences building opened at the Coffs Harbour campus, funded through the Australian Government’s Community Development Grants program, offering degrees in nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, and sport and exercise science.