MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04:214:): Today I am proud to advise the house of the leadership taken by Victorian universities in research and development. This has been made possible by the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund. Today I announced $17 million of funding to support 12 Victorian universities to expand significant research capabilities and facilities that will enable a strong post-COVID-19 recovery, generate new industry opportunities and jobs and support ongoing improvement of communities in Victoria and indeed the world. This government is facilitating strategic collaboration between universities and industry. 1200 students will have the opportunity to be part of groundbreaking research programs that will benefit all Victorians, especially those with health needs.
Victoria will now be home to one of Australia’s most powerful microscopes. Monash University’s transmission electron microscope will revolutionise medical research in cancer and infectious diseases, as well as vaccines and medical quality control. Victoria will also be home to the largest open-access clean room in the Southern Hemisphere. This is a brilliant collaboration between Melbourne, Monash, Deakin, La Trobe, RMIT and Swinburne universities and the CSIRO. Groundbreaking research will take place in the treatment of epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
Medical research has been a priority of the Andrews Labor government’s unprecedented funding of university research. This was our response to support universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reinforces this government’s commitment to creating jobs and providing industry-linked training opportunities. We support university research that creates genuine collaboration—collaboration that is tangible, relevant and forward thinking. This is just another reason why we are the Education State.
