Swinburne's latest partnership news

Left to right: Jewish Care (Victoria) CEO Gayle Smith, Swinburne’s Director of Business Growth Services Sharad Menon, and David Edvardsson, Acting Executive Dean of Swinburne’s School of Health Sciences.

Swinburne University of Technology and Jewish Care (Victoria) have established a new partnership to advance education, workforce development, research and innovation across health, disability and community services. 

Jewish Care delivers aged care, community and disability services across client homes, residential facilities and day centres in south-east Melbourne.

The partnership brings together Jewish Care's unique expertise in the sector and Swinburne's vocational education, higher education and research capabilities. 

A key focus will be creating clearer pathways from vocational education and higher education to employment, supported by industry-informed learning, applied research, student projects, clinical placements and workforce development opportunities. 

Swinburne staff and students will also be able to access Jewish Care's training facilities, providing a realistic setting where learning, research and service innovation is shaped around real community needs.

Dr Sharad Menon, Swinburne's Director of Business Growth Services, said the partnership was designed to translate shared ambition into practical outcomes for learners, the workforce and the wider care sector.

"This partnership creates a strong platform for Swinburne and Jewish Care to co-design education, research and innovation that is grounded in real service environments and responsive to the evolving needs of communities".

Dr Menon further added that "By connecting vocational and higher education pathways with placements, workforce development, technology and applied research, we can build capability across the care economy while creating more meaningful opportunities for students, staff and industry."

The partnership will be progressed through jointly developed initiatives and appropriate project agreements, supported by ongoing planning and regular review.  

When speaking about the benefits of the partnership. Gayle Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Care Victoria, stated that by bringing together industry expertise and educational capability, it will create lasting benefits for learners, workers and the broader care sector.

“For Jewish Care, this partnership supports achievement of our mission to provide excellent care and support for our community. It provides opportunity to build the workforce of the future by creating pathways into meaningful careers, strengthening the capability of our existing staff, and working together on research, education and innovation to ensure we are at the forefront of best practice.“

Ms Smith added that "Ultimately, every investment we make comes back to the people we care for. Access to research and innovation ensures our community receive the best care and support”. 

She explained that “A skilled, confident and culturally capable workforce means better care, stronger connections and greater trust for our clients, residents, their families and our community. These are such exciting opportunities for us.” 

David Edvardsson, Acting Executive Dean of Swinburne’s School of Health Sciences, said the partnership would create valuable opportunities to connect education and research with the needs of the care sector.

He explained that “By working closely with Jewish Care, we can create meaningful opportunities for our students and researchers to learn from real-world care environments, while contributing new knowledge and ideas that support the health and wellbeing of the community”.

The partnership aims to strengthen the connection between education, research and practice, helping  prepare a skilled and adaptable health workforce, while advancing person-centred approaches to care.

Left to right: Jye Marshall, Mark Threadgold and Blair Kuys celebrating a new partnership to strengthen design education and create pathways for future creatives.

Swinburne University of Technology and Methodist Ladies College (MLC) have partnered to strengthen design education and create clearer creative pathways for students.  

The partnership will provide MLC students with access to contemporary design education, industry-informed practice, and authentic creative experiences beyond the classroom.

Swinburne’s Executive Dean, School of Design and Architecture, Professor Blair Kuys says that the partnership will help foster meaningful connections between secondary and tertiary design education.

He adds, “For Swinburne, this collaboration is about opening our School of Design and Architecture to the next generation of designers and sharing our expertise, facilities and industry networks.”  

When talking about the benefits of the partnership, Professor Kuys said that he sees “Enormous value in bridging the gap between secondary school and tertiary education, learning alongside MLC’s educators and students, and building a partnership that strengthens design education across both institutions.”

MLC’s Head of Art and Design, Mark Threadgold, when explaining the benefits of strengthening professional connections between the institutions stated that “The opportunity to share knowledge, connect with contemporary practice, and learn from leading academics and industry practitioners will be valuable for our team and will help us continue to develop and strengthen excellence in Art and Design at MLC”.

The partnership will include a tailored guest lecture and workshop series, on campus experiences at Swinburne and shared design expertise. Swinburne and MLC will also explore a research collaboration examining the effectiveness of school-university partnerships in design education.

Swinburne University of Technology has become the first Australian university to offer the SkyNet REACH Next Generation (NG) aviation operations software platform for aviation students.  

Students studying a Bachelor of Aviation Management and majoring in aviation operations, now have the platform integrated into their units, giving them realistic operations control centre experience before formally entering the workforce. 

The software is used by hundreds of Australian and overseas carriers in regional, aeromedical and metropolitan services  to schedule flights, plan crews and adapt to weather and airport condition changes. 

Alongside the Aviation Simulation Hub on Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus, this new software will allow students to have the same experience as real operations control centre workers.

An operations control centre is a 24/7 “heart” of an airline, controlling many functions including crewing, flight dispatch, managing delays or cancellations and maintenance. 

Associate Professor Tommy Cheung, from Swinburne's Department of Aviation, explained that operators have increasing expectations of graduates to be fluent with the complexities of airline operations as they enter the workforce. 

“Most students don’t use anything like this until they enter the industry, so they’re learning the techniques and gaining exposure to the complexities of operational concepts well ahead of time,” he said. 

Executive Dean of Swinburne's School of Engineering, Emad Gad, explained that students use the system to build flights into the schedule, plan crew rostering and learn how airports impact airline operations – all while applying legal and operational frameworks as they study. 

“The students have had really positive feedback so far, they love the exposure and ability to gain experience before they progress professionally.”

Paul Chevalier, General Manager SkyNet Aviation, said the industry is experiencing a pivotal time in workforce transition. 

“Industry-relevant education is something we believe in strongly. World-class software is now available to the next generation of aviation operators before they've even left the classroom,” he said. 

“The current professional cohort, who built their skills through decades of on-the-job exposure, is ageing – and the next generation entering the industry will find themselves in more complex environments, and with higher expectations placed on them from the outset.”

“Our partnership with Swinburne will prepare students for this transition.”

Swinburne University of Technology is partnering with the Centre for Pavement Engineering Education (CPEE) to advance professional development, education and research in road and pavement engineering and infrastructure management. 

CPEE is an established leader in the pavement and roads industry, providing professionals with grounded training and education, while supporting the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems. 

Swinburne will collaborate with CPEE across initiatives including joint research projects, curriculum development and professional education programs addressing the evolving needs of the transport, road and infrastructure sectors. 

From Semester 2 2026, CPEE will deliver two elective units to students studying the civil engineering major in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours). 

Professor Emad Gad, Executive Dean of the School of Engineering at Swinburne, said the partnership solidifies Swinburne’s commitment to advancing education, research and professional development. 

“This collaboration demonstrates our shared goal of empowering the next generation of industry leaders, while ensuring our collective knowledge and innovation translates to real-world solutions,” he said. 

“We are proud of our strong connections to industry for everyone’s benefit, from students and researchers to professionals and the broader industry.”

Madeleine McManus OAM, CEO of CPEE, said they were excited to partner with Swinburne and collaborate on road and pavement infrastructure and innovation.  

“Together, we will continue to elevate the standards of pavement engineering education and contribute to the future of infrastructure development,” she said. 

Swinburne University of Technology has partnered with ASX-listed NoviqTech subsidiary Coralia on a new research project exploring the development of low-carbon concrete for data centre infrastructure.

Swinburne will undertake a scoping study to assess the technical and commercial feasibility of incorporating biochar into concrete. 

Coralia uses Chinese apple tree-based biochar as a supplementary binding material in concrete.

When incorporated into concrete, biochar has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with producing new buildings and infrastructure, while also enhancing material performance and structural integrity.

The research will also examine how biochar-enhanced concrete can be used in non-structural and landscaping elements for digital infrastructure and data centre construction.

Traditional cement-based concrete accounts for approximately 8 per cent of global CO₂ emissions; in data centre developments, concrete can form up to 40 per cent of total construction materials. 

Sharad Menon, Swinburne’s Director of Business Growth Services, said the partnership is a strong example of connecting research innovation with industry leadership.

“When we partner with industry pioneers like Coralia, Swinburne researchers can tackle complex environmental challenges and help build a more sustainable future. Together, we’re co-designing the future of industry for world-leading impact,” he said.

Timothy Brooks, Managing Director of Coralia, said the partnership aligns with the company’s long-term decarbonisation strategy.

“Working with Swinburne is helping Coralia integrate our biochar carbon dioxide removal initiatives with practical, large-scale biochar applications,” he said.

“We’re bridging cutting-edge university research with the commercial concrete industry, and we are already in active discussions with major concrete suppliers to involve them in the next phase of real-world testing for biochar concrete.”

Pat Rajeev, Chair Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, said the partnership also provides an opportunity to embed world-leading engineering expertise.

 "This collaboration and initiative demonstrate the type of collective action and innovation needed to support the transition towards achieving net zero carbon emissions," he said.

Benefits of using Chinese apple tree biochar

Invasive Chinese apple trees, a type of woody weeds, have spread across agricultural properties within the Great Barrier Reef catchment, outcompeting native vegetation, reducing agricultural productivity, and contributing to declining reef health. 

Removing these invasive weeds and converting them into biochar restores the land to productive agricultural use, providing an economic boost to the region. Biochar can also be used as a valuable and versatile feedstock for local industry and farming. 

Removing these invasive species is also expected to reduce sediment runoff into the Great Barrier Reef, supporting broader reef recovery and resilience.

Left to Right Back Row: 1. Joe Glesta, Swinburne Senior Manager, Business Growth Services, 2. Sharad Menon, Swinburne Director Business Growth Services, 3. Henry Zhou, Managing Director of OMRON Automation and Robotics Oceania, 4. Dr Werner van der Merwe, Swinburne Vice-President, Innovation and Enterprise,  5. Leon Georgiou, OMRON Senior State Manager (VIC, SA, TAS), 6. Mark Allen, OMRON Senior Automation and Robotics Solutions Manager.

Front Row:  1. Professor Jiong Jin, Swinburne Associate Dean Research, School of Engineering, 2. Professor Prem Prakash Jayaraman, Swinburne Director, Factory of the Future and Digital Innovation Lab, 3. Professor Suresh Palanisamy, Swinburne Director, Manufacturing Futures Research Platform, 4. Brendan Corrie, Swinburne University of Technology, Graduate in Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics & Mechatronics) and OMRON Customer Solutions Manager, 5. Professor Emad Gad, Swinburne Executive Dean, School of Engineering.

Swinburne University of Technology will work with OMRON to advance Australia’s workforce capability through advanced automation, applied research and industry collaboration, under a new partnership. 

The partnership will support applied research, education and industry training across key areas, including robotics, AI, edge computing and next-generation manufacturing technologies.

Swinburne and global industrial automation leader OMRON will also focus on upskilling the workforce and accelerating the adoption of advanced automation solutions across the industry.

The partnership will build on a long-standing relationship of more than 15 years, which includes collaboration through Swinburne’s Factory of the Future, where OMRON technology enables hands-on learning, applied research and industry collaboration.

Swinburne’s Vice-President, Innovation and Enterprise, Dr Werner van der Merwe said Swinburne is committed to partnering with industry leaders to co-create industries of the future.

“This partnership with OMRON reflects our focus on working with industry to take new technologies to market – combining research, education and industry insight to accelerate adoption and deliver impact across advanced manufacturing and related next-generation technologies.”

Henry Zhou, Managing Director, OMRON Automation and Robotics Oceania, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation and skills development.

“This agreement marks an important milestone in a partnership that has already delivered strong outcomes, with even greater potential ahead. By combining Swinburne’s research and talent with OMRON’s automation expertise, we can accelerate innovation from concept to deployment and deliver tangible outcomes for industry while strengthening future workforce capability.”

Brendan Corrie, Swinburne alum and Customer Solutions Manager at OMRON, said the partnership highlights the importance of industry-connected education.

“As a Swinburne graduate, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable it is to apply what you learn in a real-world environment. This partnership will help ensure future engineers graduate with practical skills that industry truly needs.”

Professor Emad Gad, Swinburne Executive Dean of the School of Engineering described it as a partnership with impact.

“By working as one team and bringing together the complementary strengths of Swinburne and OMRON, this partnership enables deep‑tech capability to be translated into the real world with applications in AI robotics. It creates a strong foundation for scalable solutions, skills development, and sustained economic and social benefit.”

Swinburne has partnered with Y Careers and BPA Children’s Services to create new pathways for young trainees in the early childhood education sector. 

Trainees will “earn while they learn”, working full time in BPA Children’s Services centres in Melbourne’s west, while completing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care over approximately 18 months.

Y Careers will provide the wraparound support for young people completing the traineeship program, allowing space for BPA’s educators to focus on caring for children.

Swinburne will deliver the education component of the program through a combination of online learning, classroom training and workplace assessment.

Director of VET Health, Community, and Education at Swinburne Debbie McLaughlin says the partnership showcases the impact of meaningful industry partnerships.

“This partnership enables Swinburne to work alongside trusted partners to strengthen the early childhood education and care workforce, respond to sector needs, and create accessible, supported pathways for learners to build successful and rewarding careers.”

The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care can be a pathway to a diploma or a bachelor’s degree, giving trainees the option to move into early childhood teaching or centre leadership opportunities.

Anna Booth, Executive Manager, Education and Innovation at Y Careers, says the partnership with Swinburne strengthens links between vocational and higher education.

“This partnership gives our trainees access to a quality education provider while also opening pathways into university, if they choose to continue their studies,” she says. 

BPA Children’s Services CEO Tim Watts says the program addresses workforce and educator capacity challenges and encourages young people to enter the industry. 

"With workforce shortages in this sector, we think this model has scalability and legs,” he says.

Swinburne University of Technology’s alliance with the Bionic Institute (BI) has strengthened with the appointment of three Swinburne leaders as directors on the BI board.

In January 2026 Swinburne joined forces with the Bionics Institute, a world leader in medical device research, development and commercialisation.

In an important new milestone in the partnership, three leaders from Swinburne’s senior leadership team, Dr Werner van der Merwe, Vice President, Innovation and Enterprise; Professor Karen Hapgood Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, and Professor Alan Duffy, Pro Vice Chancellor, Flagship Initiatives have joined the Bionics Institute Board.

Dr van der Merwe says this next step will accelerate pathways for turning breakthrough research into real-world solutions, enabling commercialisation and impacting health outcomes at a global scale. 

“We’re excited to formalise our partnership with the Bionics Institute and forge a new approach toward value creation – one that allows us to save more lives, alleviate suffering, and together co-create the future of the medical device industry.”

Interim Chair of the Board, Hannah Crawford says the new Swinburne Directors will bring expertise in research strategy, commercialisation and transdisciplinary research to the Board, helping to propel the Bionics Institute into the future. 

“This marks the beginning of our partnership with Swinburne where we will combine cutting edge facilities, scientific expertise and resources to progress medical device innovation with the aim of improving human health,” she said. 

Swinburne University of Technology has partnered with Wholesale Investor to connect startups with real-world investor opportunities. 

Led by Swinburne’s Innovation Studio, the partnership will begin by profiling selected Swinburne-affiliated startups at the Emergence 2026 conference, and providing ongoing investment support through Wholesale Investor’s proprietary platform.  

At Emergence 2026,  Gap Drone, Eudeamon, Entromat, and Pulsetile will showcase their ventures. The conference will provide Swinburne-backed innovation with exposure to investors actively seeking scalable, IP-backed opportunities at different funding stages. 

Through the Wholesale Investor partnership, promising startups will have connections to external investors and industry, providing a competitive edge for up-and-coming ventures. Startups on the Wholesale Investor platform will also collaborate with Swinburne researchers to develop their understanding of intellectual property, commercialisation, growth and real-world impact.

Abs Seth, Director of Commercial Innovation at Swinburne , said the partnership is an important milestone as the University strengthens its entrepreneurial spirit, and would connect research innovation, investors, and strategic partners.

"The partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting Australia’s innovation ecosystem and advances Swinburne’s Ad Astra_2030 vision by helping Swinburne-affiliated startups and founders access capital, expertise and networks needed to succeed globally."