Centre for Regional Education Research Development
The Centre for Regional Education Research Development (CRERD) aims to improve education quality and learning opportunities in regional and rural communities.
The Centre for Regional Education Research Development (CRERD) – part of the Institute of Education, Arts and Community – was established in 2025. The Centre's researchers work with a range of organisations to support the Victorian Government’s education targets: learning for life, happy, healthy and resilient kids, breaking the link, and pride and confidence in our schools.
CRERD’s goal is to establish applied, research-focused partnerships with education services, providers and organisations (including early years, school and community) to advance educational opportunities and quality in regional and rural communities and help address current and future education sector challenges, including workforce recruitment, retention and access to education and professional learning opportunities.
Research team
Associate Professor Marg Camilleri
Associate Professor Barbara Chancellor
Associate Professor Stuart Levy
Associate Professor Sharon McDonough
Associate Professor Dung Tran
Dr Josh Ambrosy
Dr Natasa Ciabatti
Dr Amy Claughton
Dr Susan Emmett
Dr Luiza Lana Goncalves
Dr Anitra Goriss-Hunter
Dr Scott Jukes
Dr Yuwen Ma
Dr Trent Newman
Dr Gulsah Ozturk
Dr Lauren Petrass
Dr Reshmi Roy
Projects
The Sandbox Project is an AI-enhanced, game-based learning program for early years educators, covering Nature Play, Trauma-Aware Practice, Indigenous Perspectives, and STEAM Education.
The Sandbox Project is funded by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and delivered in partnership with Y Ballarat.
CRERD researchers:
Girls as Leaders in STEM (GALS) engages girls in Years 5-8, particularly in regional and rural schools, in STEM learning through real-world challenges, design thinking, mentoring, and teacher professional learning.
GALS is funded by the Invergowrie Foundation and delivered in partnership with the Deakin Centre for Research for Educational Impact, STEM Education for Sustainable Futures stream
CRERD researchers:
Other researchers:
A partnership between Ararat Rural City Council and Federation University delivering professional learning to prepare and support Victoria’s emerging Pre-Prep workforce.
The Ararat Pre-Prep Best Start Program is funded by the Department of Education, Victoria and delivered in partnership with Ararat Rural City Council.
CRERD researchers:
Other researchers:
A project led by Outdoors Victoria to develop resources and professional learning to support outdoor recreation workplaces to become more inclusive employers.
The Inclusive Outdoor Recreation Workplaces project is funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria and delivered in partnership with Outdoors Victoria.
CRERD researchers:
This project aims to develop middle school students’ multimodal reading and authoring in extended reality (XR) environments using virtual, mixed, augmented reality and AI technologies.
The Advancing Multimodal Literacy Learning and Pedagogies with XR and AI Technologies discovery project is funded by the Australian Research Council and delivered in partnership with Australian Catholic University.
CRERD researchers:
- Professor Garry Falloon
- Adam Young
Other researchers:
Recent CRERD news
Engage with us
We're keen to hear from community organisations, local government, schools and learning centres. Partner with us to co-design and trial applied, research-informed programs that improve educational quality, wellbeing and lifelong learning opportunities in regional and rural communities.
Work with us on:
- education and training research
- project evaluation
- education and training project design and development
- expert input and program review
- keynote speakers and workshop facilitation
- professional development programs
- curriculum and training content development
- higher degree by research supervision.
Contact us
If you have any questions or you'd like to discuss engagement opportunities, contact CRERD Co-directors Annette Foley and Garry Falloon.