Michaela Meade
Victoria University (VU) is planning to help drive the west’s pandemic recovery by establishing three new research and innovation hubs to boost jobs and skills.
Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney last week announced $17.2 million in funding for the hubs from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.
The VU initiative will include a Jobs and Skills Hub, an Education Hub and a Stronger Communities Hub, to join the $4.9 million Sustainable Futures Innovation Hub the university launched earlier this year.
The three hubs will be located across Victoria University’s campuses and at facilities owned by some of its 15 industry and community partner organisations, with the project set to create more than 30 new jobs.
The hubs are part of the VU RISE (Recover, Innovate, Sustain, Evolve) project.
VU vice-chancellor, professor Adam Shoemaker, said: “VU RISE is ambitious in its aims and its work will improve job prospects for those living in Melbourne’s west, including young people making career decisions in a COVID-world.”
The Jobs and Skill Innovation Hub will focus on issues including future career skills needed in the west and helping to rebuild tourism in the region.
The Education Innovation Hub will deliver research solutions to reduce barriers, and increase student success, across higher education and vocational education and training.
The Stronger Communities Innovation Hub will collaborate with Western Health to develop an online platform to improve the health of patients who live with chronic pain and osteoarthritic conditions.
It will also work with Western Bulldogs Community Foundation to address barriers facing culturally and linguistically diverse community members, through access to health promotion programs such as Sons and Daughters of the West.
Quyen Tran, who participated in Daughters of the West in 2017, described herself as “really shy” before she joined the initiative.
Ms Tran, now a facilitator with Daughters of the West, has helped more than 100 women join the program.
“I feel really happy that I am able to help my community … to get out there, to enjoy a bit for themselves, to do exercise, to make friends,” she said.
