New RMIT Security and Resilience Hub to create a more resilient Australia

New RMIT Security and Resilience Hub to create a more resilient Australia

RMIT's Security and Resilience Hub will serve as a front door to industry, creating a nexus with teaching and research to drive innovative collaborations and solutions to some of Australia's most complex challenges.

The increasingly volatile global environment has posed many challenges to Australia's national security, ranging from climate-driven disasters to cyber threats.

The Security and Resilience Hub will serve as a front door to industry, government and communities on security and resilience issues.

Launched last week, the Hub seeks to mobilise RMIT and industry expertise across all STEM disciplines, including engineering and computer science, to strengthen the country's ability to prepare for, prevent and respond to global challenges.

Its work is aligned to one of Australia's core strategic objectives, National Science Priority 5: Building a secure and resilient nation. 

Director of the RMIT Security and Resilience Hub, Professor John Thangarajah said the Hub will foster a collaborative environment across disciplines, where cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships converge to create sustainable solutions that safeguard society.

"The vision for the Hub is to bring together the great work happening at RMIT across the security and resilience fields in order to transform the workforce, address skills gaps in priority sectors, translate research directly into practice, and strengthen Australia's sovereign capability and policy landscape," Thangarajah said.

06 July 2026

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Untitled design - 4Academic and industry speakers at the launch event, including Hub Director Professor John Thangarajah (second from right) and Distinguished Professor Sujeeva Setunge (third from right).

Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the STEM College, Distinguished Professor Sujeeva Setunge, said the Hub draws together RMIT's unique capabilities.

"STEM College's Innovation Hubs are designed around big questions and areas of significant challenge, rather than individual disciplines, combining research excellence and education,” Setunge said.

"Simply put, the Security and Resilience Hub demonstrates the remarkable outcomes that are possible when our research, education, government and industry partnerships on national and digital security, sustainable and resilient infrastructure and disaster management are advanced and integrated to shape the nation's future."

Addressing skills gaps and driving workforce transformation 

Alongside its work with industry in driving solutions to issues of national strategic priority, the Hub will offer minors and work-integrated learning (WIL) placements for students, helping them build industry-ready skills and graduate with more workplace experience and opportunities to build their careers.

Further to this, the Hub will offer tailor-made training through masterclasses and short programs for professionals, including the recently announced series of micro-credentials funded under the Victorian Government's Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP) program.

Untitled design - 5Panel at the launch event.

Since 2023, the Victorian Government’s SSP program has brought industry and tertiary sector training providers together to develop and deliver targeted training that builds skills, fosters innovation, and creates more jobs in Victoria.

The micro-credentials will see the University partner with Memko, Navantia, Leap Australia and Engineers Education Australia to tackle skills gaps in high-demand fields, including Model-Based Systems Engineering, Digital Mission Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, and Cybersecurity.

"These micro-credentials will allow for significant capacity building for mid-career professionals, supporting them to deepen their expertise in areas that underpin Australia's prosperity, capability and security in an age of rapid technological, economic and societal change,” Thangarajah said.

Driving impactful research through industry collaboration 

The Hub will act as a nexus for industry and academia, facilitating industry access to RMIT’s world-class researchers and facilities to conduct collaborative projects to translate research directly into practice.

RMIT is already collaborating with industry to solve Australia's pressing challenges, many of which were showcased in a series of live demonstrations during the Hub launch, such as a bushfire evacuation simulation tool that is supporting local governments.

Untitled design - 3Robot displayed during the industry showcase at the launch event.

A collaboration between RMIT and academics from around the world, this tool has been used by consulting firms that work with councils and emergency services to run virtual scenarios, rather than large-scale physical exercises, to plan future bushfire responses.

Thangarajah said the Hub will facilitate important cutting-edge research, with a pipeline for this research to be translated into practical solutions for industry and government to implement at scale.

"Our RMIT researchers are at the forefront of developing some of the most trail-blazing technologies and solutions to address national and global security challenges,” he said.

“This includes everything from an Aircraft-integrated CT scanning device that facilitates emergency health care for remote communities, to tools and materials that enable smarter, more sustainable construction.” 

"We're excited to continue expanding on this work through the Hub and invite industry partners to join us in this effort."

Find out more and partner with us: https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/stem-college/research/security-and-resilience-hub

 

Story: Keely Tzoukos

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06 July 2026

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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