Supporting cutting-edge research

THE HON DAN TEHAN MP
Minister for Education  

MEDIA RELEASE  

12 January 2019 

Supporting cutting-edge research 

The Morrison Government is funding new cutting-edge research to keep Australians safe and our economy strong, including a project to protect the smart devices in our homes from cyberattacks. 
 
Minister for Education Dan Tehan today announced more than $5 million for 11 new research partnerships. The projects include: 

•  $360,000 to improve the detection of cyber-attack vulnerabilities in internet-enabled home devices. This project is a collaboration between Swinburne University and Greenland Property Group. 
•  $395,000 to develop an early-warning system capable of detecting cracks and leaks to prevent burst pipes in our cities. This project is a collaboration between the University of Adelaide and South Australian Water Corporation. 
•  $472,635 to identify and address the daily challenges faced by children who have lost their hearing that will lead to improved support for the hearing impaired. This project is a collaboration with Macquarie University and hearing service providers, parents and industry. 
•   $300,512 to develop a technological platform to detect food spoilage and life threatening microbial contamination in the food we eat. This project is a collaboration between the University of Sydney and Applied Research Centre-Centro Richerche Applicate S.R.L. 

“Eight out of ten Australians have a smart device in their home, including smart TVs, baby monitors and mobile phones; nearly 50 per cent of us have three or more such devices,” Mr Tehan said.  
 
“These devices are being targeted by cybercriminals and hackers and any security vulnerability in the internet enabled devices in our homes can have very real consequences. People need to have confidence when using new technology that they have the best-possible protection, so the Morrison Government is providing $360,000 to Swinburne University of Technology to use new technology to find previously unseen vulnerabilities and develop protections.  
 
“The ARC’s Linkage Projects scheme supports research that brings higher education researchers and other innovative businesses together to conduct critical research collaborations that address issues affecting our communities. These collaborations will improve the lives of everyday Australians through research that drives ideas, finds practical solutions to existing challenges, and creates real-world benefits.” 
 
More details about all Linkage Projects announced today are available from the ARC website. 
 
Media contact:
Byron Vale 02 6277 7350 | minister.media@education.gov.au