Australia's growing care economy is set to be transformed by the nation's first Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in the sector with collaborators from the University of Sydney and industry. Led by La Trobe University, it is funded by a $35 million grant from the Australian Government.

The care economy is a critical industry, covering all services that support people's wellbeing from early childhood education to aged care, family services, social housing, mental health and disability support.

The Care Economy CRC has been awarded $35 million in funding from the Australian Government through its CRC grant program. The $129 million, 10-year partnership of 60 organisations across Australia will collaborate on care technology, data solutions and workforce innovation to address challenges such as increased demand and skills shortages currently crippling the sector.

Located at La Trobe University, the CRC will foster collaboration with wide-ranging stakeholders from across Australia including private and public companies, partner universities, councils of social service, regulators, government agencies, consumer peak bodies and community groups.

Professor Adam Dunn, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health, will lead the University’s node of the CRC, and is one of three Research Program Leads in the CRC, focused on data solutions.

“I am excited about helping researchers across faculties work together with industry partners to create new care technologies, improve how we use data and AI across care sectors, and build a more resilient and effective care workforce,” Professor Dunn said.

Other University of Sydney researchers working for the Centre will include:

Professor Amy Conley Wright, Professor Marianne Fenech, and Professor Jioji Ravulo from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Professors Anya Johnson and Helena Nguyen from the Business School; Dr Lei Bi, Professors Jinman Kim and Alistair McEwan, and Associate Professor Chang Xu from the Faculty of Engineering; and Professor Melissa Baysari and Associate Professor Ben Hachey from the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott AO, welcomed the initiative which is projected to deliver more than $1.4 billion in direct benefits over the next 15 years.

“The University of Sydney is proud to be a partner on this Centre, working with industry in our shared commitment to serving Australia in this area of critical need – delivering improved outcomes to some of Australia’s most vulnerable and supporting jobs for the future,” Professor Scott said.

Care Economy CRC’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, Carmela Sergi, said the CRC will develop new technologies and workforce solutions to meet Australians’ expectations for high-quality and contemporary care into the future.

“This funding will help transform care services to improve quality, productivity and sustainability of care,” Carmela Sergi said.

Director of La Trobe’s Care Economy Research Institute (CERI) and incoming Research Director of the Care Economy CRC, Professor Irene Blackberry, said that no other research centre in the world is focusing on health and social care at this scale of investment and that the new CRC will play a pivotal role in advancing Australia’s care system.

“By fostering collaboration and innovation, we can ensure that Australians receive the highest quality care, and that our care workforce is well-equipped to meet future challenges,” Professor Blackberry said.

The industry-led research centre will support the growth of small and medium enterprises in the care sector, boosting their growth and contributing to the overall prosperity of care providers and outcomes for people in care.

By supporting innovation and workforce efficiencies, the CRC will position Australia as a global leader in exportable care services, models, training, and technologies.

A key focus will be on a new education and training program, co-created with industry and care participants, integrating the three programs of research. The program will create new career pathways, qualifications and training that will improve overall workforce digital literacy levels.