SCU plays key role in national research projects

Southern Cross University will play a key role in three of the seven national Co-operative Research Centres, announced by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, yesterday (December 16).

A total of $130 million in funding was announced for the CRCs, which bring together university researchers with partners from the public, private and community sectors, to address national priority areas.

Southern Cross University will be an essential participant in three of the Centres: CRC for Infrastructure and Engineering Asset Management (with federal government support of $12 million); CRC for Remote Economic Participation ($32.5 million); and Wound Management Innovation CRC ($27.9million).

Professor Neal Ryan, Pro Vice Chancellor (research) at Southern Cross University, said he was pleased the University would be playing such a key role in these diverse projects.

“This is a significant achievement for the University and continues our success in involvement in Co-operative Research Centres. Our participation in these world class research centres will deliver considerable benefits for the University and the wider region,” Professor Ryan said.

“These projects provide a great opportunity for Southern Cross University to play a major role in projects with national significance and build capacity in areas where we have considerable research expertise.”

Professor Kerry Brown, Mulpha Chair in Tourism Asset Management for Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, is a program leader in the CRC for Infrastructure and Engineering Asset Management.

“This CRC is looking at the effective management of infrastructure needs right across Australia, including managing across the life cycle of the infrastructure and developing the capability of professionals to transform industry,” Professor Brown said.

“I will be leading a program looking at organisational performance and human capability. This is a great opportunity for Southern Cross University to be a partner in a key nation-building effort.

“Part of this project is also to ensure that the associated industries are developed, so the small and medium-sized enterprises can feed into the sector and grow and prosper at the international level.”

Southern Cross University will also play a key role in the CRC for Remote Economic Participation (REP) in the areas of Indigenous education, regional Indigenous businesses and the development of native food for commercialisation. It will involve a range of areas across tourism, plant conservation, regional futures and phytochemistry.

Professor John Jenkins, head of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, said it was a great outcome for the School which would have a number of researchers, including Dr Kurt Seemann and Dr Grant Cairncross, involved in projects aimed at building education standards for rural and remote Aboriginal youth and better preparing rural and remote communities for new and emerging employment in innovation and sustainability.

The University’s Centre for Phytochemistry and Pharmacology (CPP) will play a key role in the Wound Management Innovation CRC, which aims to improve wound healing and quality of life for people with wounds, and provide cost-effective wound care.

Associate Professor Brad Granzin, Director of the CPP, said the Centre would be investigating the use of native plants in the development of new wound-care materials.

“Indigenous people often use native plants to treat wounds and these plants are extremely effective. We will be looking at the pharmaceutical molecules in native plants that will be helpful for wound healing. We will also be involved in the delivery of that material, through the development of novel wound materials, such as slow release coatings,” Dr Granzin said.

Photo: Professor Neal Ryan, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research).