Learning and Innovation for Equity in Education (LIFEE)

CQU student raises her hand to ask a question in a classroom with other students.
Learning and Innovation for Equity in Education (LIFEE) drives educational innovation to improve outcomes for underserved communities, with a focus on regional and rural Australia.

Through research-informed solutions and community partnerships, we tackle systemic educational barriers to create lasting change.

The LIFEE cluster is interested in understanding and improving the lived experiences of people in diverse teaching and learning contexts. As a group of researchers, we are committed to equity in education with projects focused on innovations in policy, principles, and practice. 

Our researchers draw on an extensive range of approaches and methodologies, with projects attracting funding from large-scale competitive grants, philanthropic groups and corporate partnerships. Our research makes a difference by developing innovative solutions to better educational access, participation and outcomes, particularly for diverse groups of people in regional and rural communities.  

Core Expertise

Our team brings expertise in diverse industries and disciplines.

  • Educational project design and evaluation
  • Curriculum and content development
  • Organisational change management
  • Co-design methodologies
  • Educational research and analysis
  • Policy development and advocacy
  • Social innovation design and solutions
  • Education transitions (encompassing early years to post-secondary and marginalised groups).

Developing workforce capabilities 

CQU provides co-design and evaluation of training and education programs to:

  • Equip students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge for today’s job market
  • Empower individuals in industry to excel in high-demand careers across regional and remote areas
  • Strengthen community capacity through tailored vocational and professional pathways

Partnering with industry

CQU partners with industry, government, and community stakeholders to:

  • Develop workforce-ready graduates through practical learning experiences
  • Co-create research solutions that address real-world challenges
  • Provide tailored training programs to meet industry needs
  • Strengthen regional economies through strategic collaboration

Transform Educational Practice

CQUniversity transforms educational practice to:

  • Design and implement evidence-based teaching innovations
  • Create practical toolkits and frameworks for educators
  • Develop professional learning programs and micro-credentials

Championing Regional Education

At CQUniversity we champion regional education, driving sustainable growth and resilience in rural and remote communities to:

  • Improve access to quality education in rural and remote areas
  • Support student transition and retention in higher education
  • Develop solutions for equitable Work Integrated Learning
  • Create pathways for underrepresented groups in education

Build Strong Partnerships

At CQUniversity, we build strong partnerships to enhance educational outcomes and community impact by:

  • Collaborating with schools, industry, and community organisations
  • Engaging actively with decision-makers to influence policy
  • Serving on education and industry boards
  • Fostering cross-sector innovation in educational practice

Drive Research Innovation

At CQUniversity, we drive research innovation to advance educational equity and impact by:

  • Conducting interdisciplinary research focused on equity
  • Designing specialised evaluation frameworks
  • Creating evidence-based intervention strategies
  • Developing inclusive assessment practice

LIFEE Pillars

Pillar One: Educating for Diversity

This pillar focuses on developing and implementing pedagogical approaches that recognise, value, and respond to the varied learning needs, cultural backgrounds, and abilities of all students. 

Pillar Two: Incentivising the Workforce in Rural and Remote Settings

This pillar investigates the complex factors that influence professional workforce distribution and develops innovative strategies to ensure adequate service provision in rural and remote communities.

Pillar Three: Equity and Access in Higher Education

This pillar investigates the systemic, institutional, and individual factors that influence access to and success in higher education, with particular attention to historically underrepresented groups and international student populations. 

Other Research Areas

STEM Central

The Australia Pacific LNG STEM Central facility opened on the 23rd August 2018. The facility is a partnership between Australia Pacific LNG and CQUniversity.