May 14, 2025The Care Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has received $35m of federal funding through Round 25 of the CRC grants.
The Care Economy CRC is a $129 million partnership of 60 organisations across Australia, including Northern Health, collaborating on care technology, data solutions, and workforce initiatives.
The consortium aims to develop and implement innovative solutions to improve care over the next decade. Based at La Trobe University in the Research and Innovation Precinct, the CRC will support development of care technology, apps and interfaces, connected information systems, navigation and decision support tools alongside workforce skills development, and new technology-enabled models of care.
Partners include leading technology organisations and research institutions working together with aged care, community healthcare, disability services, early childhood education, family services, housing, mental health, wellbeing, and youth services.
Professor Donald Campbell, Divisional Director of Design and Discovery, said there was a strong alignment between the strategic objectives of Northern Health and the Care Economy CRC.
“Participation will enable Northern Health to move healthcare focus from bricks and mortar facilities to supported ecologies of care, and realise its strategic goal of promoting a healthier community by helping embed and connect ‘Staying Well’ initiatives into both hospital and community care,” he said.
“It will also better understand our patients and community needs and their lived health experience in context of the evolving Care Economy. We can train a workforce which can connect acute and community care in new and affordable ways and implement technologies which help people support their own health at home using modern IT platforms.”
“This necessitates working with broad based partners who share a well-developed vision of how to shape a thriving Care Economy. We look forward to working with Latrobe University partners and the CRC for the Care Economy.”
Deena Shiff, Care Economy CRC Chair, said they have brought together a broad coalition who, working together, can improve care in these important sectors.
“We express our gratitude to La Trobe University for the work that has gone into bringing together these parties who can drive change,” Deena said.
Carmela Sergi, Interim CEO, Care Economy CRC, said the care economy is a rapidly growing part of Australia’s economy, affecting the lives of many Australians.
“The CRC is dedicated to encouraging innovation and supporting change to achieve contemporary and sustainable future care,” she said.
To read more about the Care Economy CRC, please click here.
Featured image: Care Economy CRC launch.
