Our values come to life in the small, everyday moments that matter, the conversations we have, the choices we make, and how we treat one another.
Values in Action (ViA) is UOW’s behavioural framework that translates our values into clear, observable behaviours that guide how we work, lead and collaborate.
As we look to the future, it’s important to ground Values in Action within the broader direction of the University. Our Vision 2035 and Strategic Plan 2030 set out what we aim to achieve - empowering student success, deepening local impact, and expanding our global excellence. Values in Action supports this by guiding how we work together to achieve these ambitions.
The Values in Action Framework was shaped in partnership with our people at every stage of its development. Over 90 staff from across the University were part of the design process, representing more than 20 faculties, schools, divisions and portfolios.
Our values come to life in the small, everyday moments that matter, the conversations we have, the choices we make, and how we treat one another. Values in Action is a shared commitment to creating an environment where people feel respected, supported and enabled to do their best work.
Ali: At the University of Wollongong, we want our values to be more than just words on a page. They need to shape how we work together, how we make decisions, and how we show up for one another. Every day from 2026 and beyond, we’ll be turning these values into action.
We asked some of your colleagues about the values they represent every day at UOW, and we’d love for you to read them out for us.
Catherine: OK, Dear Cath, you bring people together with care and empathy, valuing contributions, listening deeply, and remaining open to different perspectives. You have a way of uniting people that makes everyone feel welcome, guiding conversations with humility rather than authority.
I started getting a little bit teary about that one. Thriving together means recognising that it’s about responsibility, not rights. We have a responsibility to others.
Joshua: Dear Joshua, yours is a genuine interest and care for others, where your kindness, humour, and friendship really shine. You’re always quick to credit others for their work, recognising and celebrating their successes.
Thrive Together means having the best outcome for students, that they go out into the world, take what they’ve learned, and use it to do good.
Ali: Values in Action was created by our people through workshops, co-design sessions, and conversations to define what matters most here at UOW and the kind of community we want to build.
Stacey: Stacey, working with you reminded me daily what pursuing excellence should feel like - courageous, with a willingness to try, fail, learn, and grow. I’m getting a little emotional because I felt appreciated every day.
Michael: Alright, Michael, you set a strong example for those around you. Your focus on quality and process keeps work moving efficiently and enables others to perform at their best. I like that last part.
Anytime I do anything in the classroom, my first thought is, ‘How is this going to help other people?’ The fact that I push myself isn’t about me - it’s about creating an environment where others can reach their peak.
Ali: These values will guide how we lead, how we collaborate, and how we support our people, students, communities, and partners. We see them lived every day through integrity, accountability, excellence, and helping each other thrive.
Peter: To Lead with Integrity is to move, as you do, with the quiet strength of Buru, the kangaroo. True integrity is not found in being the loudest voice, but in being the most present spirit.
Trish: For me, integrity is about bringing voices into the space ensuring that those who are absent have the opportunity to be heard. Trish, your integrity shows up the same way behind closed doors as it does in public. Your actions match your words because you always do what you say you will.
Max: Values define how we work, how we treat each other, and how we make a difference in the world. But we know values are not culture until they are practiced and lived. This is why our Values in Action plan is so critical, it moves us beyond walls and into daily habits that build an inclusive, high-performing environment.
Yousra: Dear Yousra, you take the time to understand individual needs and follow through to provide the right support. Your community focus ensures students feel safe and welcome on campus. Simply amazing to hear this.
Jessica: I really strive to be accountable. If you’re going to do something, you do it and you do it well. Because I think our values are what we want for humankind, not just for our university.
Max: As we work toward our 2035 vision, this is the community we are building at UOW, a place of purpose, respect, and shared ambition where every individual can grow, feel valued, and make a lasting impact both locally and globally.
Ali: Today, we’re proud to share stories of colleagues who live these values in ways that inspire us. These are real moments, real words, and real reflections from the people who work alongside them.
This is Values in Action. This is who we are.
We cultivate diverse and inclusive communities by valuing every voice – supporting, respecting, collaborating, and caring for one another.
We set ambitious goals and lead the way, pursuing excellence, innovation and ways to adapt, improve and grow.
We take personal responsibility, act with purpose, and empower ourselves and others, following through to deliver on our commitment.
We are honest, transparent, and authentic, always acting with integrity and upholding the standards, policies, and laws that guide us.
Values in Action is a holistic, whole-of-university framework. Each value plays a distinct role, yet their strength lies in how they connect and reinforce one another. Together, they form an interconnected system of mindsets and behaviours that shape how we work, lead, and learn across UOW.
Values in Action brings our values to life through everyday actions, decisions, and interactions - offering a practical foundation to guide how we collaborate, support one another, and contribute to a thriving, values-aligned culture.
Graphic: The Values in Action Framework is a visual representation of how our values function as a holistic framework. While each value has a distinct role - symbolised by the unique colours and patterns, their true strength is found in how they connect and reinforce one another to shape how we work, lead, and learn at UOW.
The icons were developed by third-year UOW Visual Communication Design students to imagine and shape how the Framework is visually expressed.
“Our values reflect who we are and the ambition we hold for our future. They guide how we work together, support our students, and contribute to our region and the world. As we advance Vision 2035 and Strategy 2030, these values provide clarity and direction - strengthening our culture and enabling our people to do their best work.”
Professor G.Q. Max Lu AO
Vice-Chancellor and President
"Over the past two years, as we’ve listened to our staff, shaped our Strategy 2030, and reflected on what our future requires, it became clear that we needed a shared way to describe how we work together - one that feels authentic, practical and genuinely reflective of our community. The Values in Action Framework is the result of that journey."
Ali Bourke
Chief People & Culture Officer
Values in Action is designed to be lived. It provides a clear, practical guide for how we work together, how we make decisions, and how we support one another across the University.
The Framework will be embedded across key parts of the UOW experience so that our values are reflected not only in what we achieve, but in every step of how we get there.
Leaders play a crucial role in fostering a values-aligned culture. Values in Action will support leaders to:
Values in Action helps ensure we attract and welcome people who align with our culture by:
Values in Action provides a clear foundation for performance and development by guiding not only what we aim to achieve, but how we work towards those goals:
Values in Action enables us to celebrate not just outcomes, but the behaviours that shape our culture:
Values in Action provides teams a shared language and a practical foundation for:
Values in Action acts as a compass during times of uncertainty by guiding: