Why TEFMA and UNE Partnerships Are the Perfect Match

Shaping Smarter Campuses: TEFMA and UNE Partnerships in Action – Together

The higher education facilities management sector faces unprecedented challenges: aging infrastructure, sustainability imperatives, complex regulatory environments, and the need to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective services across diverse campus environments. Meeting these demands requires professionals with specialised knowledge, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This is why this collaboration between Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association (TEFMA) and UNE Partnerships (UNEP) have come together to launch the inaugural scholarship program, combining industry leadership and education expertise to build capability and elevate professional standards across the sector.

Through the TEFMA UNE PARTNERSHIPS Diploma of Facilities Management Scholarship Program, emerging leaders can gain access to a qualification (10938NAT Diploma of Facilities Management), specifically designed in partnership with the Facility Management Association of Australia (FMA) for the unique demands of higher education property and facilities management, delivered by a provider with over 40 years of experience in flexible, work-integrated professional development.

What Makes this Scholarship So Special 

The TEFMA UNE PARTNERSHIPS Diploma of Facilities Management Scholarship recognises that professional development is most effective when it is sector-specific, practically relevant, and supported by both the institution and industry. UNE Partnerships brings several key strengths to this partnership:

• Sector Understanding: As an RTO established by the University of New England and operating since 1986, UNE Partnerships has deep experience in higher education contexts and understands the unique operational, regulatory, and cultural environments in which TEFMA members work.
• Flexible, Work-Integrated Delivery: The Diploma is delivered online, enabling professionals to balance study with full-time work commitments. Learning is designed to be immediately applicable, allowing participants to integrate new knowledge and skills into their current roles as they progress through the qualification.
• Holistic Student Support: UNE Partnerships’ consistently high NCVER satisfaction ratings reflect its commitment to supporting students throughout their learning journey, ensuring that scholarship recipients have the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to succeed.
• Practical, Applied Learning: The curriculum combines foundational management competencies with facilities-specific technical units, ensuring graduates develop both strategic leadership capability and practical expertise in areas such as lifecycle services management, maintenance planning, risk management, and environmental sustainability.

Supporting Emerging Leaders to Shape the Future

The TEFMA UNE PARTNERSHIPS Scholarship is more than financial support. It represents a commitment to building the next generation of facilities management leaders in higher education. Scholarship recipients join a network of professionals dedicated to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement in campus property and facilities management.

By completing the Diploma, emerging leaders gain:

• Strategic capability in financial planning, procurement, risk management, and project coordination.
• Technical expertise in maintenance planning, lifecycle services, and sustainability practices.
• Leadership confidence grounded in evidence-based decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• Professional recognition that supports career progression and sector contribution.

For TEFMA members considering the scholarship, or managers identifying emerging talent within their teams, this qualification represents a clear pathway to building the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to lead effectively in an increasingly complex and demanding sector.

Build the Skills That Matter Most

Whether through the scholarship or full enrolment in the Diploma of Facilities Management, two standout units deliver immediate, real-world impact:

BSBFIN501 Manage budgets and financial plans
Build the confidence to manage large, complex budgets, forecasting, tracking performance, and making data-driven decisions that demonstrate value and support strategic investment.

BSBPRC502 Manage supplier relationships
Master the art of supplier and contract management, ensuring performance, managing risk, and building strong partnerships that keep campus operations running smoothly.

Together, these units develop the commercial mindset and relationship skills that set high-performing facilities professionals apart, turning day-to-day operations into strategic

Applications for the TEFMA UNE PARTNERSHIPS Diploma of Facilities Management Scholarship are Now Open.

• Closing date: 5pm AEST 8th June 2026
• Further information and application portal: TEFMA UNE PARTNERSHIPS Diploma of Facilities Management Scholarship Program,
• Enquiries: info@tefma.com 02 9431 8692

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