October 15, 2024

Green hydrogen, inclusive playgrounds, rural start-ups: innovations shaping Australia

Awards recognise immense community impact of UOW-led initiatives

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has been recognised for its immense impact in its communities and beyond with three pioneering projects named as finalists in the annual Shaping Australia Awards.

The awards, an initiative of Universities Australia, the peak body for the higher education sector, celebrate the extraordinary people that transform the nation for the better.

Fifteen finalists were chosen across the three award categories – The Problem Solver Award, The Future Builder Award, and The Community Champion Award – with UOW receiving three nominations. People’s Choice Voting is now open with the winners to be announced at the end of January. The finalists were chosen from more than 110 entries from universities across Australia.

iAccelerate Director Dr Tamantha Stutchbury and the team behind iAccelerate’s RISE program, and Associate Professor Shoshana Dreyfus, who spearheaded the All Ages, All Abilities Playground in Wollongong, were named finalists in The Community Champion category.

In The Problem Solver category, Senior Professor Gerhard Swiegers and his team at Hysata, a UOW-backed enterprise, was named a finalist for his breakthrough work aiming to produce the world’s cheapest green hydrogen.

Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor John Dewar AO congratulated the successful projects and encouraged the community to vote in the prestigious awards.

“Having three projects named as finalists out of just 15 is an incredible result. It recognises the significant impact that UOW research has on the communities it serves and beyond.

“We are incredibly proud of our researchers and on behalf of the UOW community would like to congratulate Associate Professor Shoshana Dreyfus, Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, and Professor Gerhard Swiegers for their tireless and groundbreaking work in support of others.

“True progress is measured not just by what we achieve, but by the lives we touch and the communities we uplift along the way.”

Dr Tamantha Stutchbury and iAccelerate’s RISE Program - The Community Champion 

^{Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, Ainslie Tweedie and Natasha Berta from the iAccelerate RISE team.}

Regional and rural businesses in NSW, especially those affected by bushfires, floods, and COVID-19, are uniquely positioned to thrive with the right entrepreneurial support and resources. Many of these businesses operate in key industries such as eco-tourism, advanced manufacturing, and food production, and with enhanced access to tools and resources, they can scale and innovate to excel in a competitive market.

iAccelerate launched the RISE program to provide free, tailored support for regional businesses. RISE offers practical workshops, expert mentoring and networking opportunities to help businesses grow. In its first year, RISE supported 90 entrepreneurs in creating 300 new jobs, with 63 per cent of the businesses led by female founders.

The program empowers participants to develop their businesses and attract investment. RISE has proven that regional startups can compete with urban counterparts, fostering lasting change and economic resilience in NSW’s rural communities.

Vote for RISE: https://www.shapingaustraliaawards.com.au/finalists/uow-iaccelerates-rise-program-empowers-rural-nsw-entrepreneurs

Dr Shoshana Dreyfus and the All Ages, All Abilities Playground - The Community Champion

^{Dr Shoshana Dreyfus, at the launch of the All Ages, All Abilities playground.} 

Around 500,000 Australians have an intellectual disability and many young adults with intellectual disability love playing at playgrounds. However, playgrounds are typically designed for young, able-bodied children. As they grow up, people with intellectual disabilities face barriers to accessing playgrounds because of the small size and inaccessibility of the equipment and the social discomfort from families who are unfamiliar with their needs.  

In 2019, Associate Professor Shoshana Dreyfus spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative, partnering with The Disability Trust and Wollongong City Council, to create Australia’s first inclusive playground designed for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Located in Wollongong, this innovative recreation space features adult-sized, accessible equipment and sensory elements tailored to diverse needs.

Dr Dreyfus’s tireless advocacy secured over $1 million in funding, bringing this vision to life. Opened in December 2023, in an area that welcomes more than 10,000 visitors weekly, the playground provides a joyful, inclusive environment where young adults with intellectual disabilities can engage in outdoor play within the community. The project has earned national recognition and serves as a pioneering model for inclusive spaces worldwide.

Vote for the All Ages, All Abilities Playgound: https://www.shapingaustraliaawards.com.au/finalists/uow-the-all-ages-all-abilities-playground

Professor Gerhard Swiegers and Hysata – The Problem Solver

^{Dr Gerhard Swiegers (right), Chief Technical Officer, with Dr Paul Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at Hysata’s Wollongong Facility.}

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy. Green hydrogen will be essential to decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors of the economy responsible for 20 per cent of global emissions. Green hydrogen will provide an estimated 13-24% of global energy supply by 2050, with Australia in particular standing to benefit. However, current electrolysers – the devices used to produce green hydrogen – are complex, costly, inefficient and difficult to scale.

Professor Swiegers and his team have developed the world’s most energy efficient electrolyser, achieving the International Renewable Energy Agency’s 2050 efficiency targets 25 years ahead of schedule. This innovation is now powering Hysata, an Australian electrolyser manufacturing company, creating highly skilled jobs in Port Kembla and revolutionising the global economics of green hydrogen production.

Hysata has raised $220 million in capital and secured $9.4 billion in conditional pre-orders and letters of intent for its electrolysers. These figures evidence Hysata’s position as a global player in the rapidly evolving green hydrogen sector and underscore the value of Hysata’s electrolyser system in placing Australia at the forefront of global decarbonisation efforts.

Vote for Professor Swiegers and Hysata: https://www.shapingaustraliaawards.com.au/finalists/university-of-wollongong-groundbreaking-invention-producing-the-worlds-cheapest-green-hydrogen