As part of Townsville’s very own ‘Design System for Change’ approach to difficult sustainability challenges—an approach now reaching all corners of the globe—Sustainable Townsville ran a series of Collective Social Learning (CSL) workshops in partnership with Smart Precinct NQ, engaging over 60 diverse local businesses, youth representatives, all tiers of government, and a wide array of business types and sizes. CSL is a collaborative methodology that brings together diverse stakeholders to co-create practical and adaptive solutions. This approach is critical for Townsville’s journey toward becoming a “Looping Reef City of Action” as it aligns community actions with sustainability goals, ensuring solutions are both locally relevant and widely supported.

Established in Townsville, North Queensland, Sustainable Townsville emerged through the collaborative efforts of local small businesses, including founding member VRM Biologik, and Townsville City Council, supported by dedicated local volunteers. The initiative gained momentum through influential programs such as the Townsville Solar City initiative, White Roofs Townsville, Dry Tropics Water Smart, IBM Smarter Cities (Australasia), Candia Bruce Foundation scholarships, and a growing members base. Its primary purpose is to address regional sustainability challenges through inclusive, community-driven collaboration.

While currently largely on pause, Sustainable Townsville has historically served as a pivotal platform for industry collaboration and community engagement, with growing global recognition of its innovative, collaborative approach and the potential for its principles and models, such as the Design System for Change, to shape sustainability practices worldwide.