Joint release with the Hon Julia Gillard MP
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr today announced $580 million would be fast-tracked into universities through the Education Investment Fund.
The Ministers approved 11 successful projects as part of a $4.7 billion nation-building infrastructure package announced by the Prime Minister to support Australia’s economy in tough times.
The successful projects were selected from 55 eligible applications received through the 2009 funding round of the HEEF.
This round focuses on capital expenditure and strengthening research facilities in Australian universities and the proposals selected highlight the diversity of the sector.
The proposals are across the teaching, learning and research spectrum, as well as a variety of disciplinary areas ranging from education and creative arts to medical research, engineering and science.
The successful projects include a $35 million world-first comprehensive research and training SMART infrastructure facility at the University of Wollongong.
In line with the Rudd Government’s commitment to nation-building, the facility of integrated laboratories will transform the way that infrastructure-related disciplines are taught and researched.
Infrastructure development and the reliable operation of our complex web of interdependent infrastructure are crucial to Australia’s social, economic and environmental prosperity. This project will deliver practical training for engineers, scientists, mathematicians and other relevant professions, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, to ensure a future supply of infrastructure professionals.
The Rudd Government is investing in Australia’s long term productive future and has made it a national priority to create a world-leading higher education and research sector for Australia.
A full list of the successful projects is attached and further information on the Education Investment Fund is available at: http://www.heef.deewr.gov.au/EIF/
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office: 02 6277 7758
Minister Carr’s Press Secretary: Catriona Jackson 0417 142238
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au Non-media queries: 1300 363 079
Education Investment Fund – Round One:
The Centre for Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Sydney – $95 million
This project will result in the University of Sydney building the Centre for Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease – which is stage one of a major health and life sciences precinct at the university.
The Peter Doherty Institute for Immunity and Infection at the University of Melbourne – $90 million
The Peter Doherty Institute will co-locate the University’s world-renowned Department of Microbiology and Immunology and a new Life Sciences Computation Centre, with a number of Victorian Government and World Health Organisation laboratories. The facilities will include a peak computing and bioinformatics capability; a high-throughput DNA sequencing facility; containment laboratories; and teaching & networking spaces.
The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing at the University of Adelaide – $28.8 million
The University will create an internationally leading transdisciplinary Institute which will allow it to develop new fibre-based platform technologies to underpin paradigm-changing tools for human health, the environment, industrial processes and defence systems. It will also facilitate breakthroughs in physics, chemistry, biology and environmental science.
The Hearing Hub at Macquarie University – $40 million
Macquarie University will build a world-class hearing research and teaching facility, bringing together key University research groups in hearing and cognitive sciences, neurosurgery, special education, and electronic engineering with major organisations involved in developing hearing technologies and services.
The RMIT Design Hub at RMIT University – $28.6 million
The RMIT Design Hub is 12,000 m2 building providing highly flexible design ‘warehouse’ spaces and collaborative technical workshops supporting cross disciplinary research and postgraduate education in design. Its scale, composition and range of facilities including workshops and a design archive make the Design Hub unique in Australia and the world.
The Energy Technologies Building at the University of New South Wales – $75 million
The UNSW will build the Energy Technologies Building as the focal point for its new Centre for Energy Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA). The proposed building will support UNSW’s world-leading work in photovoltaics as well as research into carbon capture and storage, reservoir characterisation, nanomaterials and policy and market analysis.
New Horizons Centre at Monash University – $89.9 million
Through physical and virtual collaboration, the New Horizons Centre brings together dispersed science and engineering expertise in a new, world-class research facility, at the heart of the Clayton Innovation Precinct.
The International Microsimulation Centre at the University of Canberra – $11 million
The University of Canberra will construct a purpose built teaching, learning and research training Centre for the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) on the main campus at Bruce. The building will include a public gallery and auditorium as well as teaching and research spaces for NATSEM students, staff and international visitors.
The Materials and Minerals Science Learning and Research Hub at the University of South Australia – $40 million
The university will construct a 5000 m2 dedicated building housing innovative, multidisciplinary laboratories and learning spaces designed to grow the next generation of engineering, material and mineral science graduates and provide the interface required to ensure effective knowledge transfer to regional, national and international industry.
The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science at Gatton Campus – $47.2 million
University of Queensland will build three state-of-the-art new buildings - the Veterinary Science building, the UQ Veterinary Hospital and the Veterinary Teaching and Research Facility - as well as completely renovating an existing building to house modern pre-clinical teaching laboratories.
The SMART Infrastructure Facility at the University of Wollongong – $35 million
The University of Wollongong will create the SMART Infrastructure Facility, a world-first comprehensive research and training infrastructure facility of integrated laboratories that will transform the way that infrastructure-related disciplines are taught and researched. Facilities will include lecture theatres, specialised research and teaching laboratories and collaborative research spaces.