Swinburne to enhance medical research and disability employment with two new major grants

Swinburne University of Technology has been awarded two significant grants from the Victorian Government under the new Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP) Program. These grants aim to support the next generation of medical and MedTech researchers in Victoria and to foster workplace inclusivity for individuals with disabilities.

New training set to upskill and support next generation of Vic medical researchers   

Swinburne has partnered with the Victorian Chapter of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI VIC) and MTPConnect to deliver a new training program for early career medical and MedTech researchers. With a specific focus on the pre-seed stage of research innovation, the ‘Commercialisation Training for Medical and Med Tech Researchers’ training program will equip early career researchers with fundamental knowledge in research commercialisation and the opportunity to partner with industry to progress their groundbreaking research ideas. 

The training will be delivered by Swinburne and will be open to early career medical researchers from AAMRI VIC member research institutes and Swinburne.  

Director of Swinburne's MedTechVic Professor Rachael McDonald said the program would help fast-track innovation in the health sector. 

"This partnership will further enable the rapid clinical and technical prototyping and manufacturing of new ideas here in Victoria,” Professor McDonald said. 

“We are delighted to be a part of driving the research, development and commercial know-how required to address the growing need for medical and assistive technology that can help individuals live their best lives." 

Michelle Marven, Executive Officer of AAMRI VIC, highlighted the program's significance. 

"Medical research is vital for improving health outcomes, but Australia is missing opportunities to develop new and innovative technologies and treatments from our research. The program will enable researchers to develop these skills, providing a strategic platform for collaboration between government, industry, and researchers, and build workforce capacity to drive the innovation pipeline,” Marven said.

MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam noted the importance of this training in capitalising on Australia’s medical research strengths.  

“This initiative will help expand the research community's capacity to translate their ideas into medical products, strengthening Australia’s success in generating value from health and medical research.”

Reshaping Disability Employment with Ability Works 

In another impactful initiative, over a million people living with disabilities in Victoria could significantly benefit from increased employment and workplace inclusivity thanks to a new $1 million grant awarded to Ability Works Australia, in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology.

This project – in collaboration with IVE Group and Transurban – aims to establish a comprehensive training and support framework that empowers organisational leaders with the necessary skills, resources and awareness to foster inclusive and accessible workplaces to support the employment of people with disabilities. 

With an estimated 1.29 million people with disabilities of working age in Victoria, Swinburne project co-lead Dr. Eryadi Masli said the initiative has real potential to boost employment opportunities and improve workplace culture across the state. 

“This grant represents a huge opportunity to reshape the employment landscape for people with disabilities,” said Dr Masli. 

“By providing organisations with practical tools and knowledge, we aim to not only assist in hiring, but to improve workplace culture to ensure individuals with disabilities can thrive and succeed.”

The training program will feature six micro-credential modules covering topics such as disability awareness, accessible workplace practices and inclusive recruitment. The course format will allow businesses to undertake all modules, or select individual modules based on their needs. The program will also be flexible, offering virtual, in-person and hybrid learning options. 

“We know that some organisations don’t know where to begin or have a fear of saying and doing the wrong thing when it comes to disability inclusion and employment. This program will guide people at all levels in organisations, from the C-suite to supervisors, to understand and gain the skills to support the employment of people with disabilities,” said Ability Works Australia CEO, Sue Boyce.

Swinburne’s Head of Industry Engagement (Digital Manufacturing), Sharad Menon, said the project will not only help employers attract and retain talent, but will also help alleviate the skills crunch across SMEs and large enterprises. 

“With their varied skills, experiences and unique perspectives, people with disabilities are one of Australia’s biggest sources of underrepresented talent, which many employers are unaware of,” explained Menon.