Lismore City Council and the University Centre for Rural Health at the University of Sydney have announced a new partnership to bring the globally acclaimed Raising the Bar program to the Northern Rivers, with the inaugural Lismore event to be held at the Metropole Hotel in May 2027.
The one-night event will bring researchers, experts and the community together across Lismore for an evening of engaging, accessible and free talks, exploring the new ideas, discoveries and technologies shaping our world, and the issues that matter locally and globally.
Part of a globally recognised initiative, Raising the Bar transforms pubs and bars into informal ‘pop-up classrooms’, giving people the chance to hear directly from leading thinkers in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
A new way to connect
The announcement comes as UCRH celebrates 25 years of learning and teaching in the Northern Rivers through its regional Lismore campus. Building on that legacy, Raising the Bar will create a new way for local communities to connect with the University’s people, ideas and research.
Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg welcomed the partnership. ‘Lismore has long been recognised as a city of creativity, culture and big ideas, so Raising the Bar feels like a natural fit.’
‘We’re excited to partner with the University of Sydney and UCRH to bring this globally recognised program to our community. It will add another fantastic event to Lismore’s already impressive May calendar, alongside major drawcards such as Groovin the Moo, while also supporting local businesses and bringing people into the heart of our CBD.’
‘Perhaps most importantly, it creates an opportunity for people to come together, hear new perspectives and be part of conversations about issues that matter to our region.’
Head of UCRH, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Professor Vicki Flood said: ‘For 25 years, UCRH has been part of the fabric of the Northern Rivers. We are more than a partner in this region, we are a vital part of how we deliver education, research and community engagement.’
Celebrating a milestone
‘As we celebrate that milestone, we’re also looking ahead. Raising the Bar is about opening our expertise more widely to the communities we serve, bringing ideas, expertise and conversation into community spaces and creating new opportunities for connection.’
‘We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together over the past 25 years, but we’re just as excited about what’s next. Bringing Raising the Bar to Lismore creates a new way for community members to have a fun night out in the pub with food and engaging talks on the latest ideas and research.
The Lismore pilot has the potential to become a regular feature of the city’s events calendar and form part of a broader program of community engagement connecting University expertise with regional communities.
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