Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
The Applied Research and Innovation (ARI) Project supports Victorian TAFEs to become trusted innovation partners for industry and community organisations within the care economy.
Through funding by the Victorian Government, the ARI project helps TAFEs strengthen partnerships, support future workforce needs and contribute strong outcomes to one of Victoria’s most important sectors.
The care economy is one of Victoria’s fastest-growing sectors, recognised as a government priority in the 2024 into 2025 Victorian Skills Plan. It includes essential services such as:
Supporting applied research in this space helps TAFEs develop evidence-based workforce solutions, grow industry relationships and contribute to a strong care economy.
Supported by the Victorian Government, Holmesglen’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation is offering a second opportunity for new or early-career researchers from a Victorian TAFE institute and industry partners to collaborate on real-world applied research projects in the care economy.
Funding range: $50,000 - $100,000
Project duration: 6 – 12 months
Eligibility: New or early-career researchers from a Victorian TAFE institute. Successful research applicants from round one are ineligble.
Project focus: Must have a strong collaboration with an SME in the care economy and demonstrate a specific, immediate benefit to that partner.
We are looking for projects addressing challenges in these vital care economy areas:
Deadline: Wednesday 17 December 2025, 5pm AEST
Follow these steps to prepare and submit your application.
Step one: Review the funding documents
Step two: Complete your application
Step three: Submit your application
Email your full application documents to: appliedresearch@holmesglen.edu.au
Important: Successful Round One applicants are not eligible to apply again. Unsuccessful Round One applicants are encouraged to reapply.
Applications are reviewed by the Research Projects Advisory Committee (RPAC), which includes representatives from:
If your project involves human participants, you may require approval from a registered Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
Before a project can begin, all partners must establish an intellectual property (IP) management strategy. The ARI Project Agreement may outline how IP is created, shared and governed.
The ARI Project supports TAFE staff in developing applied research skills through tailored professional development.
Proposed workshops topics include:
Only Victorian TAFE institutes are eligible. Dual-sector institutions and interstate TAFEs are not eligible.
Yes. You may apply under multiple care economy topics.
Each application must be submitted separately.
Yes, but researchers with similar interests are encouraged to submit a single collaborative application.
No. Teams of any size are acceptable, provided the application demonstrates the capacity to deliver the project within budget and timeframe.
No. These organisations cannot be lead partners or co-applicants.
Projects funded externally by universities or tertiary bodies are not eligible.
It is permissible for a TAFE institute to receive in-kind support from a university on this project. However, please note the following key conditions:
Yes, this is encouraged. Please note, that to be eligible for round two funding, applicants must partner with an SME (refer to the project prospectus pdf and application guide pdf).
Each letter should outline:
Yes. One letter per partner organisation is required.
Projects involving human participants may require HREC approval. Applicants must identify risks, budget appropriately and secure approval before starting work.
Any registered Australian HREC can review your project.
There are around 200 HRECs nationally (via the NHMRC website).
Successful teams will:
There is no restriction on publication formats.
