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Applied Research and Innovation Project

Grantees

Showcasing applied research projects led by Victorian TAFE practitioners in partnership with industry to strengthen workforce capability and outcomes across the care economy.

Applied Research and Innovation (ARI) Project

The Applied Research and Innovation (ARI) Project supports collaborative research initiatives led by Victorian TAFEs in partnership with industry and community organisations. These projects focus on addressing workforce challenges, improving skills capability and delivering practical solutions that benefit learners, employers and communities.

Through the ARI Grants Program, Victorian TAFEs work with industry partners to explore innovative approaches in areas such as aged care, disability support, health services, education, workforce development and the care economy.

3 funding rounds

7 research projects

Multiple Victorian TAFEs

20+ industry partners

Round 1

Three projects were funded to explore workforce development, skills recognition and vocational education innovation across aged care, disability support and healthcare sectors.

Bendigo Kangan Institute, Health and Community Centre of Excellence

Bendigo Kangan Institute is leading the development and evaluation of the Competency Certification Pathway (CCP) tool – an innovative approach designed to close critical skills gaps in the aged care and disability sectors. The project brings together multiple stakeholders – educational specialists, industry partners, vocational learners and researchers. By modernising curriculum design and embedding digital capability, the CCP initiative aims to make skills recognition more accessible.

The expected learning outcome is to generate evidence-based research findings into the effectiveness of the certification pathway tool to inform continuous improvement and future iterations of the initiative, with a focus on developing targeted strategies to bridge the skills gap across Victoria in Aged Care and Disability.

The Research Team:

  • Dr Oksana Razoumova (Lead Investigator)
  • Julie Kramer
  • Ian Said
  • Jeanette Swain
  • Dr Dipika Dabas
  • Dr Biljana Ivanova-Miloshevska

Industry Partners:

  • Bupa Aged Care
  • Mecwacare Australia
  • Spectrum Australia
  • Uniting AgeWell
  • Opal Healthcare
  • Frontline Care
  • Hume City Council

Bendigo Kangan Institute trades as Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute, with its Health and Community Centre of Excellence located in Broadmeadows and Bendigo.

Chisholm Institute

Chisholm Institute, in partnership with Bass Coast Health and RISR Asia-Pacific, is developing a new Problem-Based Learning (PBL) framework to strengthen training pathways for the regional allied health workforce. Drawing on expertise in PBL, workplace-based assessment, and clinical education, the project introduces a series of specialised workshops designed to build learner confidence, initiative, and advanced problem-solving skills.

By aligning vocational training with the realities of contemporary clinical practice, this initiative supports educators, trainees, and regional employers—ultimately helping to enhance the quality of allied health care across rural Victoria through evidence-based, student-centred learning.

The Research Team:

  • Dr. Andy Pham (Lead Investigator)
  • Dr. Ben Alitt
  • Michelle Barnes
  • Mary Lawson

Industry Partners:

  • Wonthaggi Hospital (Bass Coast Health)

RISR Global Australia 

Holmesglen

Holmesglen, in partnership with St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne, is conducting a 12-month study to redefine how Enrolled Nurses contribute to modern healthcare teams. Through a mixed-methods approach—combining workforce data analysis, focus groups, and staff surveys—the project explores a revised nursing workforce model that expands the scope of practice for Enrolled Nurses.

Led by specialists in research, clinical leadership, and nursing policy, the initiative aims to reduce workforce burnout, improve team workflows, and strengthen patient care delivery. The findings will help inform national curriculum updates and national nursing policies, supporting enrolled nurses to work to their full professional scope, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient healthcare workforce across Victoria.

The Research Team:

  • Dr Gabrielle Koutoukidis
  • Neil Parry
  • Kim Kenwell
  • Ian Balducci
  • Lindsay Bava

Industry Partner:

  • St Vincents Private Hospital Melbourne 

Round 2

Two projects were funded to investigate applied research in education, workforce capability and service delivery, including recovery programs and emerging learning technologies.

Chisholm Institute

Chisholm works with NAS Recovery Centre’s to evaluate its Path2Home program. Path2Home offers support for individuals recovering from Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) addiction. Their support is tailored for communities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD). This specific group often faces barriers such as poor knowledge, stigma, and fear that limit help-seeking.

Project insights will inform VET curricula and Chisholm Higher Education programs, embedding culturally responsive care and assertive outreach. Partnering with NAS will deliver practical, scalable solutions to address systemic inequities and build a culturally skilled workforce, improving health and social outcomes for vulnerable populations.

The Research Team:

  • Georgina Hubbard (Lead Investigator)
  • Alexis Lillo Lawrence
  • Assoc. Prof. Ilsa Evans
  • Assoc. Prof. Joanne Joyce-McCoach

Industry Partner:

NAS Recovery Centre 

Melbourne Polytechnic

This project creates and evaluates a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation for early childhood education (ECE) training purposes in collaboration with in-service ECE educators. The simulation trains students for challenging conversations with parents. This is a critical competency for ECE professionals, yet opportunities for authentic practice are limited in traditional teacher education programs.

By leveraging generative artificial intelligence within a VR environment, this project seeks to create a dynamic, responsive simulation that mimics the demands of real-world interactions. The industry-led refinement and testing of a GenAI-powered VR simulation can be immediately used for training purposes. It will further provide a potential blueprint for creating further adaptable and scalable VR simulations.

The Research Team:

  • Dr Hayden Park (Lead Investigator)
  • Dr Eloise Thomson
  • Sarah Nelson
  • Richard Mailhot
  • Dr Julie Bostrom
  • Dr Rachel Chapman
  • Dr Alicia Flynn
  • Gracie Abela
  • Katie Hull-Brown

Industry Partner:

  • Renown Kindergarten 

Round 3

Two projects were funded to address workforce capability and community challenges through family violence advocacy, regional skills development and innovative training models.

Chisholm

This project is developing a micro-credential designed to equip survivor-advocates with the skills and knowledge needed to contextualise their lived experience within the broader family violence landscape. It addresses a clear gap in current training by offering a practical, empowering learning pathway tailored to the realities and responsibilities survivor-advocates often carry.

The micro-credential responds to challenges such as limited access to training, unexamined power dynamics, and the emotional burden of receiving disclosures without adequate support. The micro-credential will be shared across the TAFE network to ensure broad access and strengthen the overall family violence workforce through consistent, high-quality learning.

The Research Team:

  • Nida Anees (Lead Investigator)
  • Danielle McCaffrey
  • Louise Sheehan

Industry Partners:

  • Women's Health in the South-East (WHISE)

Bayside Peninsula Integrated Family Violence Partnership (BPIFVP)

This project will conduct a comprehensive review of the Mobile Skills Lab traineeship model introduced in 2022. It will analyse up to three years of student and employer data and incorporate qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with students, staff, and industry partners. The review will produce several practical outputs, including a sector-validated Measurement Framework, a Provider Implementation Checklist, and a roadmap for strengthening recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and learning transfer.

These outputs are designed to give service providers clear, actionable tools for embedding improved training and workforce practices into everyday operations. The project has been intentionally structured for transferability, ensuring that all resources such as templates, capability indicators, and monitoring tools, can be easily adapted and adopted across the Victorian TAFE Network and other care providers.

The Research Team:

  • Robert Peoples (Lead Investigator)
  • Mel Braithwaite
  • Dr John Flett
  • John Finnerty
  • Siddarth Jacob
  • Jacqui King

Industry Partners:

  • Eventide, Stawell
  • Eventide Lutheran Homes, Hamilton
  • Edgarley Assisted Living, Casterton
  • West Wimmera Health Services, Nhill
  • East Grampians Health, Ararat
  • All About Care, Nhill
  • Calvary Community care, Shepparton
  • Skillinvest, Horsham
  • My Choice, Geelong