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Future Regions Research Centre

The Future Regions Research Centre (FRRC) aims to support sustainable regional development, promote circular economy opportunities and help guide the future use of degraded landscapes.
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The Future Regions Research Centre (FRRC) – part of the Institute of Education, Arts and Community – brings together multidisciplinary teams to address the complex challenges shaping regional and remote communities. Established in 2021, FRRC combines expert research with local knowledge to develop innovative, practical solutions for issues affecting both natural and built environments.

FRRC focuses on challenges such as sustainable land and water management, ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation and the social dimensions of environmental change. Its research supports communities impacted by activities such as agriculture and mining, as well as those recovering from bushfire and drought. By integrating humanities and social sciences with STEM disciplines, the Centre takes a holistic approach to understanding and managing regional systems.

FRRC in action

Research streams

Resilient Landscapes and Aquatic Systems
Evaluates the health of landscapes and aquatic systems and coordinates initiatives based on sound evidence that drive regional-scale ecological rehabilitation. 
Stable Landforms and Mine Rehabilitation
Helps stabilise landscapes and mining landforms through soil conditioning and revegetation programs to make them either productive or of ecological value.
Soil Health, Food and Fibre
Explores the contribution of soils to the long-term stability of landforms, quantifies the potential of soils as sinks for carbon, and improves soil health to advance agriculture.
Circular Economy
Mobilises environmental engineering, advanced monitoring and modelling expertise to improve how industry, government and community use and re-use products and waste.
Society and Heritage
Explores how changes in society and the natural environment interact to gain a better understanding of the legacies that operate and influence natural systems today.
Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Engineering Research Network
Focuses on improving mine stability and monitoring, managing water and environmental impacts and supporting mine rehabilitation and closure.
Read more about the network

Research team

Professor George Earl (research leader)
Professor Jennifer Martin
Dr Mathew Abbott
Dr Ibrahim Abraham
Dr Verity Archer
Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter
Associate Professor Fred Cahir
Dr Marg Camilleri
Dr Angela Campbell
Dr Clement Chihota
Associate Professor Gopi Chattopadhyay
Associate Professor Jerry Courvisanos
Dr Kristen Davis
Dr Meagan Dewar
Professor Singarayer Florentine
Dr Anitra Goriss-Hunter
Associate Professor Abdel Halabi
Dr Tim Harrison
Michelle Hood
Associate Professor Carolyn Johnstone
Trent Kooyman
Dr Christine Lee
Dr Zeb Leonard
Dr Suryani Lim
Damien McCartin
Dr Giles Oatley
Professor Ean Ooi
Eva Orr
Dr Goetz Ottmann
Christine Peacock
Dr Cassie Pedersen
Associate Professor Jessica Reeves
Professor Keir Reeves
Michelle Rossi
Dr Christina Sadowski
Associate Professor Jeremy Smith
Dr Kay Steel
Mr Matthew Thorley
Dr Cathy Tischler
Dr David Waldron
Dr Shaun Watson
Associate Professor Carole Wilson
Professor Wendy Wright
Professor Elisa Zentveld
Dr Lauren Zeuschner
Christina Aitken
Dr Jill Orr
Dr Carmel Goulding
Dr Shirley Strachan
Dr Reshmi Roy
Sharon Sperling
Dr Carla Kennedy

Our work

  • What’s stopping affordable and sustainable housing from becoming a reality in regional areas
  • Using organic soil amendments to make soils deeper and boost yields (case study)
  • Rurality and workforce participation (case study)
  • Impact of climate change on coal mine rehabilitation (case study)
  • How maths is solving complex water quality issues (case study)

Our facilities

Nanya Station
Nanya Station, a 40,000-hectare property in New South Wales, supports a wide range of ecological and environmental research focused on arid and semi-arid landscapes.
Explore Nanya
Horsham Research Hub
The Horsham Research Hub supports regional and rural communities by providing the data and evidence needed to inform planning, investment and service delivery. 
Explore the Hub
Ararat Jobs and Technology Precinct
The Ararat Jobs and Technology Precinct brings together local council, industry and the community to support economic growth and job creation in the region.
Explore the Precinct

Recent FRRC news

Federation historian Professor Keir Reeves awarded OAM
Read more
Indigenous perspective grounds new surf documentary in connection and care
Read more
Transformative funding elevates Nanya Station as a premier hub for biodiversity research
Read more

Engage with us

We're keen to hear from:

  • HDR candidates looking for supervision
  • external researchers who would like to collaborate
  • organisations seeking consultancy services, commissioned research and evaluation or collaborative research partnerships.

We also encourage you to join us for research events, such as the Biodiversity Across the Borders Conference.

Contact us

If you have any questions about FRRC or you'd like to discuss engagement opportunities, please email admin.frrc@federation.edu.au.