A new report from researchers at Griffith University highlights how hotels and accommodation providers can significantly reduce energy and water use by aligning infrastructure, staff practices and local environmental conditions.
The report, based on a five-year project funded by the Australian Research Council, examines how sustainability initiatives work in real-world accommodation settings and why some interventions succeed while others fall short.
Led by Alexandra Coghlan with collaborators including Susanne Becken, Stefen MacAskill and Christopher Warren, the research explored how energy and water are used across tourist accommodation properties and how infrastructure, organisational practices and human behaviour interact to shape outcomes.
Associate Professor Alexandra Coghlan
Associate Professor Coghlan said the research shows sustainability in accommodation is not simply a technical challenge:
“Sustainability in accommodation is often framed as a matter of installing efficient technologies,” she said. “Our research shows that real change happens when infrastructure, place and people are aligned. Without that alignment, even well-intentioned initiatives can fall short.”
Key findings
The study identified several insights for accommodation providers seeking to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining guest comfort. Infrastructure upgrades—such as improvements to HVAC systems, hot water systems, insulation and shading—delivered the most consistent reductions in resource use. However, the researchers found that these upgrades were most effective when tailored to local climate conditions rather than applied as generic solutions.
The research also highlighted the importance of staff and managerial understanding of building systems. Accommodation managers who understood how energy and water systems behaved—and who could interpret data from tools such as smart meters—were better able to make informed operational decisions.
Dr Stefen MacAskill
Dr MacAskill said this knowledge was a critical factor in achieving long-term sustainability outcomes:
“Technology alone does not deliver change. Managers and staff need to understand how systems behave and how everyday decisions affect energy and water use. When that knowledge is present, sustainability becomes part of routine operations rather than an add-on.”
Guest engagement and organisational culture
Guest behaviour also plays a role in resource consumption, but the research found that messaging needs to be carefully framed. Values-based communication—such as encouraging guests to contribute to protecting the local environment—was generally more effective than messages framed around restriction or obligation.
Professor Sussane Becken
Professor Becken said guests were more likely to respond positively when sustainability initiatives were presented as part of a shared effort:
“Guests respond best when they feel they are contributing to something meaningful. Providing simple feedback about how their actions help reduce pressure on local energy or water systems can encourage more mindful behaviour without affecting the guest experience.”
The report highlights the need for a systems approach to sustainability in tourist accommodation. Successful initiatives typically combine infrastructure improvements with leadership, staff engagement and organisational learning.
The researchers say sustainability should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-off intervention.
“Some operators assume that installing new technology will automatically reduce resource use,” Dr Warren said. “In reality, the biggest improvements occur when businesses combine efficient infrastructure with informed management and supportive organisational culture.”
The findings also suggest a role for policymakers in supporting sustainability transitions across the tourism sector, particularly by helping smaller operators access infrastructure upgrades and training.
Dr Christopher Warren
Overall, the researchers hope the report will help accommodation providers adopt more integrated and effective approaches to sustainability.
“Sustainability is not a point of arrival,” Associate Professor Coghlan said. “It is an ongoing process that requires infrastructure, people and organisations to evolve together.”
For more information about sustainable tourism and to access the report, visit Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT)’s Resilient and sustainable tourism webpage.
Griffith University alumnus Dr Bikram Timilsina has been elected to Nepal’s House of Representatives, marking a significant milestone in his transition from academia to public service.
Dr Timilsina, who completed his PhD at Griffith under the supervision of Professor Sara Davies and Professor Renee Jeffery, was elected as the representative for Nuwakot–1 as a candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
His election reflects a broader trend of highly educated candidates entering public office in Nepal, with recent coverage highlighting a cohort of PhD holders securing seats in the federal parliament.
In a message shared with his former supervisors, Dr Timilsina described the moment as a “significant transition” in his professional life and acknowledged the influence of his academic training on his approach to governance.
“My academic work and the mentorship I received… have played an important role in shaping how I think about policy, governance, and public service,” he wrote. “I carry those lessons with me into this new chapter.”
Dr Timilsina has built a distinguished career spanning research, policy engagement, and institutional leadership. He currently serves as Chair and Research Fellow at the Asian Institute for Advanced Research in Kathmandu and has maintained strong ties with Griffith as an Adjunct Research Fellow.
His election represents not only a personal achievement but also a powerful example of the impact of academic research and mentorship beyond the university—demonstrating how scholarship can inform leadership and decision-making at the highest levels of government.
For the Griffith Asia Institute community, Dr Timilsina’s success highlights the global reach of its alumni network and its ongoing contribution to policy and governance across the Indo-Pacific. Professor Davies stated:
“We celebrate the success and achievements of our alumni because they are the emerging leaders who will advocate for social justice and equality. We are proud to be part of their journey.”
As he steps into his parliamentary role, Dr Timilsina has expressed a strong desire to remain connected with the academic community, signalling opportunities for continued collaboration between research and policy in Nepal and beyond.
Student Academy of Excellence Manager Dr Rhys Cooper
Fourteen Griffith University students will expand their knowledge and experience of countries across the Indo-Pacific region supported by New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarships.
The students will travel to different destinations including South Korea, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nepal, Malaysia and Japan.
Following their passions, they will explore a range of pressing topics such as plastic waste, body image, connecting communities through vocal music, sustainable manufacturing, financial inclusion, and robotics in aged care.
Student Academy of Excellence Manager Dr Rhys Cooper said students would broaden their perspectives and develop a rich understanding of the regions.
“Congratulations to all 2026 NCP scholars, who have dedicated significant effort to reach this milestone, and are preparing for an unforgettable journey in countries across the Indo-Pacific region,” Dr Cooper said.
The 2026 Griffith University New Colombo Plan scholars are:
Rishel Reyes, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Yonsei University, South Korea)
Matthew Day, Bachelor of Business (Honours) (Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia)
Harmony-tree Hansen, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Environmental Science (Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia)
Louise Whittaker, Bachelor of Music (Seoul National University, South Korea)
Jonathon Cornish, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics (Beijing Foreign Studies University, People’s Republic of China)
Alana Pereira, Bachelor of Design (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
Luca Foley, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan)
Imogen Wood, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations (Tribhuvan University, Nepal)
Piper Stock, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations (University of Malaya, Malaysia)
Riley Sonter, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (Akita International University, Japan)
Hannah Blain, Bachelor of Music (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Alice Gascoigne-Pees, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, India)
Sana Faris, Bachelor of Computer Science (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia)
Roree Winkel, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics (Komazawa University, Japan)
Griffith alumnus chosen to lead the Northern Territory NCP Alumni Network
Amongst the first-ever cohort to be awarded an NCP scholarship, Griffith alumnus Courtney Organ traveled to Japan in 2015, and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Business (Honours) and the University Medal.
Griffith alumnus Courtney Organ
Ms Organ was recently appointed the inaugural Northern Territory Alumni Lead for the New Colombo Plan, marking an important step in the evolution of the program’s alumni network.
The appointment reflected the enduring commitment of Griffith alumni in supporting the next generation of NCP participants and fostering Australia’s connections across the Indo-Pacific.
“As the alumni community matures, there is a real opportunity to support professionals who are further into their careers to stay engaged and strengthen long-term partnerships,” Ms Organ said.
The NCP initiative is Funded by the Australian Government and enables undergraduates to strengthen their understanding of the Indo-Pacific region through internships, courses and mentorships.
Seaweed may be a popular food item, but it has certain properties which have the ability to create a shield within the human body, effectively blocking norovirus infection.
To date, there are no approved vaccines or anti-viral treatments for human norovirus, the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide with more than 685 million infections each year.
New collaborative research between Griffith University and Australian biotechnology company Marinova, investigated whether compounds from a range of brown and green seaweeds could block the illness in the early stages of infection.
Dr Grant Hansman
Senior author Dr Grant Hansman from Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics said noroviruses infect people by attaching to molecules in the intestine called histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs).
“We tested the seaweed compounds fucoidan and ulvan to see how well they prevented norovirus virus-like particles from binding to human saliva samples which contain HBGAs,” Dr Hansman said.
“Fucoidan, from brown seaweed, showed the strongest and most consistent blocking activity against two major norovirus strains, GII.4 and GII.17.”
The fucoidan likely bound to the HBGA binding pocket to form a physical shield making it harder for the virus to attach.
Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst
Co-senior author Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst said fucoidan had a history of dietary use and had demonstrated good tolerability in human studies, with fucoidan used in premium dietary supplements.
“Our study highlights that fucoidan could be a promising, natural treatment for preventing norovirus infection,” he said.
Research is now focused on validating how fucoidan could be formulated to maximise its protective effect in the gastrointestinal tract.
Norovirus is highly contagious and a leading cause of gastroenteritis which is a disease of the stomach and intestines.
Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever, stomach pains, headache, and muscle aches.
The paper ‘Harnessing marine sulphated polysaccharides to inhibit norovirus: from seaweed to solution’ has been published in Microbiology Spectrum.
A life-changing new scholarship, backing students with educational barriers as they pursue careers in medicine, has been awarded to two Griffith University students.
The Mannu Kala Foundation MD Scholarship was awarded to Rob Schilling and James San, both studying the Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Griffith.
The driving force behind the Foundation, Griffith University alumnus Mannu Kala, dreamed of becoming a doctor when he first arrived from India, and experienced first-hand the barriers to achieving that goal.
Mannu Kala and Griffith MD student Rob Schilling.
Now an influential healthcare entrepreneur employing a workforce of thousands nationwide, he is focused on creating opportunities for future doctors with similar financial obstacles that once limited his own ambitions.
“I firmly believe that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not,” Mr Kala said.
“This scholarship aims to remove financial barriers so that passionate students can pursue medicine and serve their communities with compassion, skill, and integrity.”
Completing his final year of the MD, scholarship recipient Rob Schilling grew up in Pambula, a small rural town in New South Wales, where he gained a deep appreciation for the impact doctors have on their communities.
“Growing up, my local doctors strongly influenced my decision to pursue medicine and fostered a particular passion for rural medicine,” Mr Schilling said.
Griffith MD student James San and Mannu Kala.
“This scholarship provides meaningful support during a demanding stage of my medical training by helping to reduce financial stress as I transition into my junior doctor years.”
In his first year of the MD, James San was awarded a four-year scholarship, and said it was a truly life-changing outcome that would allow him to graduate free of debt.
“As a first-generation student from a single-parent, low-income household, I once believed medicine was a career reserved for the wealthy and well-connected,” Mr San said.
“By studying medicine, I will have the chance to restore another person’s sense of hope and to help them find a second chance at life.
“I want to be the kind of doctor who not only heals but also empowers, guiding patients through their most vulnerable moments with both competence and compassion.”
Pro Vice Chancellor of Griffith Health Group Professor Analise O’Donovan.
Pro Vice Chancellor of Griffith Health Group Professor Analise O’Donovan said the scholarship was a true investment in the future of healthcare.
“The Mannu Kala Foundation MD Scholarship program represents something profoundly important to us here at Griffith – the belief that excellence in medicine should never be limited by circumstance, and that talent, compassion and commitment deserve the opportunity to flourish regardless of financial background,” Professor O’Donovan said.
“This sustained support does more than ease financial pressure; it creates belonging, encouragement and the freedom to pursue medicine with purpose.”
Gifting more than $350,000 over the next five years, the Mannu Kala Foundation will continue to award aspiring doctors who experience educational barriers.
Researchers from the Griffith Institute for Tourism are helping reshape how the tourism sector responds to the global climate crisis with the publication of a new book, Climate Justice in Tourism.
Edited by Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Raymond Rastegar and Roshis Krishna Shrestha, the book provides the first comprehensive examination of climate justice in tourism. Bringing together international scholars and case studies from around the world, it critically examines how tourism both contributes to climate change and is increasingly affected by its impacts.
The publication is closely linked to Griffith’s Climate Justice and Tourism research initiative, which investigates how justice can be embedded into tourism-related climate policies and actions. The project explores the complex relationship between tourism development, climate change and social equity, with a focus on ensuring climate responses do not reinforce existing inequalities.
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries and a major contributor to global emissions, particularly through aviation and transport. At the same time, many tourism destinations—including island nations, coastal regions and nature-based destinations—are among the most vulnerable to climate impacts such as sea-level rise, extreme weather and ecosystem degradation.
Dr Rastegar said the book highlights this paradox at the heart of tourism’s climate challenge.
“Tourism is both a contributor to the climate crisis and one of its victims,” he said. “If we want meaningful climate action in tourism, we must consider who benefits from tourism development and who bears the environmental and social costs.”
Climate Justice in Tourism introduces a multidimensional justice framework to analyse these issues. It examines systemic inequalities embedded within tourism governance and the broader climate policy landscape, while exploring how decision-making processes, economic structures and global power dynamics shape climate outcomes in the sector.
The book also challenges dominant growth-oriented models of tourism that prioritise economic expansion over environmental and social wellbeing. Instead, contributors argue for transformative approaches that recognise the rights of local communities, Indigenous peoples and ecosystems.
According to Dr Rastegar, embedding justice into tourism’s climate response is essential for building resilient and sustainable destinations.
“Too often climate action focuses only on reducing emissions or protecting industry growth,” he said. “A climate justice perspective asks deeper questions about fairness, participation and responsibility — ensuring that climate policies support communities, workers and ecosystems rather than leaving them behind.”
The Griffith Climate Justice and Tourism project is part of the institute’s broader Climate Change Action research cluster, which brings together experts working on tourism decarbonisation, adaptation and resilience. Researchers examine issues such as equitable net-zero transitions, the ethics of aviation emissions, climate impacts on vulnerable destinations and the role of governance in climate decision-making.
By analysing how justice narratives shape climate policy and tourism development, the project aims to identify context-specific challenges and provide practical insights for integrating justice into climate action.
The new book seeks to bridge theory and practice by combining critical analysis with pathways for change. Through interdisciplinary perspectives and global case studies, it outlines how tourism could transition toward more regenerative and equitable futures.
For researchers, policymakers and industry practitioners, the publication offers both a warning and a roadmap.
“Tourism cannot continue with business-as-usual growth while the climate crisis accelerates,” Dr Rastegar said. “This book is about reimagining tourism so it contributes to climate solutions while advancing justice for people and the planet.”
A study to prevent pre-eclampsia and improve maternal and perinatal health outcomes is underway as part of a joint initiative between Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH).
GCUH is the coordinating site for the OPTIMA study which involves pregnant women attending three visits at 11-14 weeks gestation, 20-22 weeks, and 35-37 weeks.
Professor Fabricio da Silva Costa
Professor Fabricio da Silva Costa from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry and Maternal Fetal Medicine Director at Gold Coast Health, said each visit would involve clinicians running a series of tests.
“We’ll review the patient’s history, measure their blood pressure, perform an ultrasound scan and take a blood sample,” Professor da Silva Costa said.
“At each visit, we’ll assess the risk calculation of the patient developing pre-eclampsia.”
PhD Candidate Dr Carman Wing Sze Lai, who is also a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, said pre-eclampsia was a serious obstetrics complication which usually occurred after 20 weeks of gestation.
PhD Candidate Dr Carman Wing Sze Lai
“Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition driven by placental dysfunction, leading to high blood pressure and damage to maternal organs such as the kidneys,” she said.
“Without early identification and careful monitoring, it can threaten the health of both mother and baby.”
According to the World Health Organisation, pre-eclampsia affects three to eight per cent of women globally.
Gold Coast Health Executive Director of Women, Newborns and Children Hazel Brittain said out of the approximate 5,000 births at GCUH each year, three percent of patients experienced pre-eclampsia.
“This study is all about early detection and intervention to support decreasing pre-term pre-eclampsia by around 60 per cent,” Ms Brittain said.
“We can prescribe medication earlier and define the best time of delivery, reducing the number of unnecessary caesareans and inductions.
“Gold Coast University Hospital is proud to lead the study that will support more equitable outcomes for women of all socioeconomic backgrounds.”
The OPTIMA study aimed to demonstrate that using the Fetal Medicine Foundation tool could reduce complications related to placental dysfunction.
This National Health and Medical Research Council‑funded, multi‑centre study involved seven major hospitals across several states.
For 25 years, Griffith Youth Forensic Service (GYFS) has provided world-leading assessment and treatment services to young people who commit sexual offences, strengthening justice outcomes and community safety across Queensland.
Established in April 2001, GYFS recently marked the milestone with youth justice leaders, international experts, clinicians and members of Griffith Criminology Institute reflecting on the service’s purpose, achievements and emerging challenges.
GYFS Director Professor Benoit Leclerc, Judge Deborah Richards and GYFS Deputy Director Jesse Cale.
The event opened with Refiti Tovi, a proud descendant of the Turrbal People, who offered safe passage to and from Country and shared powerful words on the importance of protecting Queensland’s children.
GYFS Director Professor Benoit Leclerc said the opening grounded the occasion in shared responsibility as the service marked one quarter of a century of youth sexual offending intervention.
“GYFS has delivered highly specialised, evidence-based services to young people with rigour and consistency for 25 years,” he said.
“In that time, GYFS has assessed and treated 579 young people.
“Clinicians have completed more than 54,000 hours of treatment involving young people, their families and communities.”
What makes GYFS different?
Professor Leclerc said the service’s field-based model remained one of its defining features.
“The service has several unique strengths including research-driven practice and its field-based delivery model,” he said.
“Clinicians travel to meet and treat young people where they live, which maximises engagement with them and their communities and thus supports treatment delivery.
“Queensland is a large state, and clinicians have travelled from cities in the South East and Far North to towns in regional Western Queensland and remote Cape York to work with young people.”
Professor Leclerc also pointed to evidence that a subgroup of young people would continue offending in adulthood, which would involve an escalation of behaviour, underscoring the importance of early intervention.
Director of GYFS, Professor Benoit Leclerc.
What’s next for GYFS?
Professor Leclerc said the service’s role was more critical now than ever.
“ABS data shows sexual assault victimisation rates have grown rapidly since 2020 as technology access widens and reporting increases,” he said.
“As rates rise, demand for specialist services will grow.
“Looking ahead, the service aims to sustain and expand specialist treatment and develop programs addressing the urgent issue of technology-enabled sexual offending.
Deputy Director of GYFS, Associate Professor Jesse Cale.
Evidence proves impact
GYFS Deputy Director Associate Professor Jesse Cale highlighted recent research which showed the service’s treatment reduced sexual reoffending by up to 90% and overall reoffending by up to 44%.
“Spending time with clinicians, I have heard positive change stories that have always stayed with me,” he said.
“The research translated what was a widely known sentiment about the success of the program into evidence.
“It showed GYFS-treated young people had sexual reoffending rates up to 10 times lower than comparable non-treated peers.”
Associate Professor Cale echoed the need for further research and resources to meet the challenges of tomorrow when it came to youth sexual offending, including risks posed by the increase of technology and AI-facilitated child exploitation material.
Her Honour Judge Deborah Richards.
Call for expansion of service
President of the Children’s Court of Queensland – Her Honour Judge Deborah Richards – described the service as “gold star” and highlighted the value of its tailored reports in helping judges assess the drivers of youth offending.
“Recent research is solid proof of the value of the service. Since 2001, I have seen it go from strength to strength,” she said.
In marking the milestone, Judge Richards recalled one example of a boy who had appeared in her courtroom for a serious sexual offence and was referred to GYFS for treatment.
Years later, it was revealed that not only did he not commit any further sexual offences, but instead became a valued member of his community.
“The extent of the turnaround from the boy I had sentenced many years ago was impressive and attributed largely to the service,” Judge Richards said.
“It’s this treatment work that, in my view, is the gold star because it’s delivered by specialists in the field in community and detention centres to offenders who – if not treated – have the potential to cause lasting misery for others in the community if their behaviour is not addressed in a concentrated and effective way.”
Judge Richards called for expanded funding so the program could reach more young people.
“There is simply no substitute for this treatment. I congratulate the service on reaching this milestone of 25 years.”
“There can be no doubt that your contribution is worth every cent invested and more,” she said.
“There are currently no low-cost services for parents who might identify inappropriate behaviours which they seek to address before offending occurs.
“Extra funding for an expansion of the program could address this, providing benefits to young people and wider society.”
Michigan University’s Associate Professor Karen Holt and Professor Tom Holt.
International experts Associate Professor Karen Holt and Professor Tom Holt from Michigan University reinforced the service’s global standing and its success in protecting Queenslanders.
“To the clinicians at GYFS, you are amazing,” Associate Professor Holt said.
“Australia is such a leader in research and progress in this space,” she added.
In his address, Professor Holt highlighted emerging risks, from camera glasses to AI ‘nudification’ apps, that demanded sophisticated, specialised and preventative responses.
Professor Carolyn Evans (far right), was one of several honoured guests at the celebration.
Griffith Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Carolyn Evans, was among the honoured guests at the 25-year GYFS celebration which acknowledged its clinicians, researchers and supporters for their work which continues to create lasting change for young Queenslanders.
A new report from Griffith University has found fragmented medication systems in Australian aged care are driving high rates of medication discrepancies and avoidable hospital admissions — costing the health system an estimated $312 million annually.
The study, led by Dr Maryam Sassoli and Associate Professor Luke Houghton from the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, examined the post-discharge medication process as patients transition from hospital to residential aged care facilities.
The research identified a 72.6 per cent medication discrepancy rate when medicines are transferred between healthcare settings. It also found that medication information can be transformed six or more times before reaching the patient, with each step introducing risk.
Dr Maryam Sassoli
Dr Sassoli said the findings reveal a structural, not individual, problem, stating:
“This research shows the issue is not a lack of commitment from healthcare professionals — it’s a fragmented system where medication information is repeatedly translated and re-entered, increasing the risk of error.”
The doctoral research was validated through the CSIRO ON Prime program, with 65 stakeholders across aged care, pharmacy and hospital sectors confirming the problems have intensified.
Stakeholders consistently identified three priorities: interconnected software systems, adequate staffing and training, and standardised protocols across facilities.
A key insight was that the sector does not primarily lack technology, but implementation support.
Associate Professor Luke Houghton
Associate Professor Houghton said the challenge reflects a broader digital transformation issue:
“Healthcare doesn’t suffer from a shortage of software. It suffers from systems that don’t speak to each other and organisations that aren’t supported to implement them effectively,” he said. “If we treat this as a complex systems problem rather than a single technology fix, we can unlock major gains in safety, efficiency and cost reduction.”
The report recommends leveraging Australia’s existing electronic health record platform to reduce medication “translation moments”, enable real-time information sharing, and strengthen continuity of care
With Australia’s ageing population projected to reach 6.66 million people aged 65 and over by 2041, the researchers say reforming medication records management is critical to protecting patient safety and easing pressure on the health sector.
A prototype artificial intelligence-powered camera incorporated into an intelligent road sign has successfully detected and recorded a koala crossing a road in real-time on the Redlands Coast, marking the first time this technology has been proven in the field.
This development expands on previous research led by Griffith University that built an AI-powered database to detect and record koalas at various high-use transport crossings, and confirms intelligent detection systems can play a critical role in preventing wildlife-vehicle collisions and saving lives.
The trial, led by researchers from Griffith’s School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in partnership with the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Telstra and Redland City Council, was part of a broader initiative funded under the New South Wales Koala Strategy to reduce koala road fatalities and support population recovery.
This footage in 2022 was captured by AI-powered cameras developed by the Griffith research team, adding to the team’s database for training the technology to be deployed in the real-time road sign detection project.
Griffith University had been trialling the system on the Redlands Coast since March 2025. Using edge computing – which is a decentralised IT architecture that processed data near its source – and real-time video analysis, the technology demonstrated it could detect koalas in real time as they approached or crossed a road.
This successful detection laid the groundwork for future systems that could trigger roadside warning signs and improve driver responsiveness.
Deputy Head of School of ICT Professor Jun Zhou said traditional static road signage failed to address the unpredictable timing and location of koala movements.
A koala mother and joey at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, who have supported the Griffith team’s training of the AI database.
“Drivers become desensitised after repeated exposure to signs without encountering wildlife, reducing their responsiveness when real hazards arise,” Professor Zhou said.
“This issue is further amplified during low-light conditions – particularly between dusk and dawn – when koalas are most active and visibility is poor.”
Koalas were facing unprecedented threats, with populations at risk due to habitat loss, disease, dog attacks and road mortality.
As urban development continued to encroach on koala habitats, koalas were increasingly at risk of a car strike as they attempted to cross roads.
“The successful detection of a koala proves the concept works,” Professor Zhou said.
“With further investment, this pilot can be expanded into a scalable solution that protects more wildlife and improves public safety across high-risk corridors.
“This is more than a tech milestone – it’s a turning point. We now have the ability to intervene before tragedy strikes. Expanding this system could be a game-changer for koala conservation and road safety.”
Professor Jun Zhou
“By creating responsive infrastructure that adapts to koala behaviour, we’re aiming to reduce road fatalities and safeguard one of Australia’s most iconic species.”
This development followed research contributed by Griffith University’s Dr Douglas Kerlin that found the koala population in Redlands City Council had stabilised with no evidence of continued decline since 2018.
Redland City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell said the findings reflected years of council investment in science-based conservation, technology and community-led programs.
