Australia's $327 billion care economy is set to be transformed by the nation's first Cooperative Research Centre in the sector and the largest in the world, brought together by La Trobe University.
The care economy is a critical industry, covering all services that support people's well-being from early childhood education to aged care, family services, social housing, mental health and disability support.
The Care Economy CRC has been awarded $35m in federal funding through a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) grant.
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, which has a footprint in both Melbourne’s north and across regional Victoria, 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.
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.
Professor Theo Farrell, La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor, thanked the Australian Government for its significant support and said the Care Economy CRC represented a unique opportunity to transform the care sector in Australia tapping into La Trobe’s world-leading expertise in both health innovation and technology.
“Aligned to La Trobe’s major Health Innovation Strategy, which is building Australia’s health workforce through significant investment in research and teaching, the new Care Economy CRC builds on the strong foundations of our Care Economy Research Institute,” Professor Farrell said.
“By leveraging La Trobe’s pioneering research and technology along with that of our research and industry partners, we can improve the lives of millions of Australians and position our country as a global leader in care services and innovation.”
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 CRC will enable us to address the growing demand for care services, support our workforce and deliver better outcomes for all Australians."
The Care Economy CRC is projected to deliver more than $1.4 billion in direct benefits over the next 15 years.
The industry-led research centre will support the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) 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.
Full list of Care Economy CRC research and industry partners: careeconomycrc.com.au/partners
For more information on the Care Economy CRC, visit the website at https://www.careeconomycrc.com.au/
Email: [email protected]
Contact details:
La Trobe University: [email protected] | Robyn Grace: 0420 826 595
CRC: Carmela Sergi | [email protected] | 0408 062 094