About NSC

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About us

Australians need to be prepared for an uncertain, complex and fast-changing strategic environment.

Together, therefore, the Commonwealth Government and The Australian National University have made a joint, long-term and strategic investment in the ANU National Security College (NSC) to lift national capability and deepen debate about emerging security challenges and policy options.

The College works in Australia’s national interest to develop whole-of-government and whole-of-nation security capabilities, to foster a skilled national network and communities of practice among Australian security professionals and to facilitate debate and policy contestability on national security, broadly defined.

Our activity ranges across a wide spectrum, converging on the objective of capability uplift: executive and professional development, academic education and research, policy publications, public events, podcasts, dialogues, roundtables, Futures workshops, parliamentary briefings and community consultations.

Our work is sponsored by 19 departments and agencies of the Australian Commonwealth. This government-funded activity draws on interdisciplinary expertise from across ANU and beyond. Our academic program is integrated with the Crawford School of Public Policy, while drawing on wider expertise and providing a signature pedagogy that combines high academic standards and practitioner experience.

We are based at the ANU Acton campus in Canberra, but are active around the nation, the Indo-Pacific and globally. Our staff and affiliate networks bring an exceptional diversity of skills, knowledge and backgrounds to shape a special operating culture. This combines the evidence-based rigour of academia, the agility of a think tank, and the practical insights of the policy community.

Since our establishment in 2010, the National Security College has become a go-to institution in Australia and internationally, with trusted convening power that brings together policymakers, security practitioners, academic experts, the private sector, parliamentarians, civil society and overseas partners.

Join us, engaging minds for a secure Australia.

Our Vision

To develop people, ideas and networks for a secure Australian future.

Our Mission

To lift Australia’s whole-of-nation security understanding and capabilities, and foster communities of practice through executive and professional development, academic teaching and research, futures analysis, policy engagement, dialogue and outreach.

Policy Pursuits

In consultation with the Advisory Board, NSC has selected six ‘Policy Pursuits’.

These themes are strategically aligned with our mission. They are reviewed twice a year, and currently comprise:

Australia’s national interests: including the overlap with values and identity, institutions, whole-of-nation security, and defence capability and strategy.
Democratic resilience: including rule of law, social cohesion, and countering disinformation.
Geoeconomics: including economic resilience, countering coercion, energy security and supply chains.
Technological change and disruption: including cyber, critical and emerging tech, and space.
Environmental and health security: including climate adaptation and biosecurity.
Indo-Pacific security: including geostrategic competition, AUKUS, Quad, and countering coercive statecraft.

Charter

Our work is defined by a Charter agreed between Government and University. This reconciles academic freedom with the need to understand and respond to national policy priorities. The Charter sets out how NSC works with the Commonwealth Government and ANU to deliver its mission.

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