UA is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities. Our members are spread across Australia, in both regional and metropolitan areas. They educate more than a million students each year and undertake research that adds to Australia’s stock of knowledge.

Not as often discussed, universities also have a significant role to play in civic society in their local community and provide important elements of the industrial structure. In many regions they are a major employer and play a key role in the facilitation of jobs and economic growth. Indeed, universities contribute over $2 billion to regional economies each year, and sustain over 14,000 regional jobs.