AusBiz - October-November 2023

68. SALTBUSH SOLUTION

A strain of saltbush resistant to drought is being planted across Australia in preperation for soaring temperatures.

Technological takeover

BlueRoom, the new program being used by the Royal Australian Air Force, took home the Innovative Project Award at the 2023 Simulation Australia Awards.

The BlueRoom simulator was developed by medical professionals and software developers in St Kilda, Melbourne. It is currently being utilised by Navy, Army and Air Force medics to help them train with advanced medical equipment and practise complex medical scenarios within the safety of a virtual environment.

BlueRoom was designed to help professionals hone their skills and undertake rigorous training. It can be programmed to simulate remote hospitals, field operations, aircraft and Navy vessels. It also reduces costs, as trainees can learn how to handle critical procedures from their home base.

GLENCORE IN THE GOOD BOOKS

Mining company Glencore has recently reached the milestone of delivering 200,000 books to primary school students in North-West Queensland, thanks to its partnership with Books in Homes – a charity providing disadvantaged and low socio-economic communities with books-of-choice for children. This helps promote literacy engagement and creates life-long skills and interests.

Currently, Glencore sponsors eight schools surrounding the Mount Isa Region, contributing $1.62 million towards the children’s literary education through the Books in Homes program. This means that each student within the eight schools is provided with nine books a year to take home and share with their family. The children are encouraged to choose the books they receive, promoting a love of stories and encouraging an interest in reading and knowledge building.

Peter Large, CEO of Books in Homes Australia, says: “On behalf of our Australia-wide Books in Homes community, congratulations to Glencore for their ongoing generosity and support over the past 17 years. Having personally experienced the delivery of Glencore’s Books in Homes programs in and around Mount Isa, I have witnessed first-hand the joy those books bring to children and their families, the depth of appreciation shown

The program was created using mixed reality technology and the Vargo XR3 headset. This is more effective than traditional virtual reality, which relies on controllers. Instead, mixed reality allows users to engage with their hands and physical movements, closely simulating real-world scenarios. Benjamin Krynski, registered paramedic co-founder of Real Response and praises BlueRoom as an innovative and effective solution for providing valuable training in a controlled environment.

“BlueRoom completely reimagines what is possible using simulation – a student can be placed into any environment, and a trainer can manipulate the scene and adjust the patient’s condition all while the student is performing interventions using their own hands with real equipment,” he says.

BlueRoom CTO Dale Linegar is grateful for the Innovative Project Award, and hopes it can lead to further developments in the project moving forward.

“This award validates the massive amount of investment and hard work our team have put into making the BlueRoom Simulator a reality. It’s incredibly gratifying to be given this recognition by our peers in the simulation industry,” he adds.

BlueRoom is a world-first project that is changing the nature of immersive learning for the future.

to Glencore for their sponsorship, and the value placed on the books by the school communities.”

Glencore is currently one of the biggest natural resource companies in the world. Maryann Wipaki, general manager for health, safety, environment and community at Glencore’s Zinc Assets Australia, reveals that the partnership with Books in Homes has been a rewarding and heart-warming experience for the entire business.

“Thanks to the initiative, teachers are happy to report that learning outcomes have improved, as well as school attendance,” she says. “Through the program Glencore is helping to build the foundations of a literature-rich environment for children in their homes and schools, improving their potential for the future.”

Since 2001, Books in Homes has provided more than 2.9 million books to disadvantaged children.

FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND WHY IT MATTERS

Why is financial literacy important? Financial literacy helps people make better decisions. There’s a material benefit to being good with money, but there’s also an emotional benefit. Financial stress, especially in times of rising interest rates and cost of living, has a genuine impact on people’s lives.

What behavioural trends have you noticed in your clients when it comes to money and finance?

and less intimidating. I’ve always had the philosophy ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and by educating clients about their options, I see them take control of their financial lives.

What insights do you hope readers will take from your book?

I hope that readers discover there are practical steps to help them reach their goals. Many people think that financial planning is only for the already rich and wealthy, but it can help everyone. I know of many business owners who are benefiting from the book and learning about financial opportunities outside of their business.

We spoke to Luke Smith, awardwinning financial planner and author of Smart Money Strategy, on the importance of developing financial literacy when preparing for your future.

Why do you think so many of us are limited with our financial knowledge?

School never really prepares us for financial adulthood and most parents keep financial matters from their children, so there are lots of missed learning opportunities. Many people aren’t taught to consider their longterm goals, and lose sight of the bigger picture.

As a result of Covid-19, many people have become more aware about how much money they spend on day-today things. As more people work from home, they’ve started to realise you can live life cheaper when you don’t have all of the everyday incidental spending.

There’s also more focus on budgeting and ensuring that spending results in good value due to the current economic environment.

Tell me about the decision to start your own financial planning business. What inspired you to take the first steps?

I was inspired by a genuine wish to help people. I wanted to make financial planning more accessible

What changes can we all make to improve our financial knowledge? Regardless of where you’re at in life, it’s important to assess your relationship with money.

Many people don’t respect their earnings. It takes a lot of effort to earn money, so it’s important to respect your income.

Equally, wasteful spending will slow you down in achieving your financial goals, so pay attention to your spending.

Be realistic. We live in a world where you can get what you want without delay, but not everything is going to be achieved quickly.

Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself. When the long-term goal is a long way off, it can feel disheartening. Breaking down these goals into milestones along the way and celebrating achievements is more productive in the long run.

TOP TO BOTTOM: TOPCON’S MC-X PLATFORM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR GRADERS, DOZERS AND EXCAVATORS. NEW 3D-MC SOFTWARE OFFERS THE SAME USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE.

automatic blade and bucket control for a variety of machines, the system also provides a full array of positioning technologies to suit the application.

From slope control and laser levelling to multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning, robotic total station and Topcon’s unique Millimetre GPS technology, Topcon MC-Max gives users the flexibility to mix and match components for the task at hand.

New Topcon MC-X machine control solutions from Position Partners

The Topcon MC-X machine control solutions platform from Position Partners includes MC-Mobile 3-in1 setup for compact machines and MC-Max for excavators, graders and dozers.

“We’re excited to roll out Topcon’s new solutions for our customers here in Australia and have been working closely with early adopters to test their suitability for the local market,” said Josh Allan, Civil Business Executive Manager at Topcon.

“The new platform offers the same user-friendly software and swappable components that customers know and love, but with faster, modern interfaces that connect directly into the machines. Topcon’s solutions have always been machine brand agnostic, but the new platform connects even more seamlessly to the machine and provides faster, more responsive performance that is market leading,” he added.

Now available for excavators, dozers and graders, Topcon MC-Max can be fitted to all makes and models of heavy earthmoving machines. With flexible mounting solutions and optional

For smaller excavators, skid steers and compact track loaders, Topcon has designed a new 3-in-1 workflow solution to enable contractors to measure, design and build with a single system. Topcon MC-Mobile combines the Topcon LN-150 construction total station, machine sensors and a prism pole, with the option for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning. Users can create and edit designs, set-out and check as-builts without the need to scale off PDFs and use stringlines.

With more than 40 years’ experience supporting and deploying Topcon technology on all sizes, makes, models and ages of heavy equipment, Position Partners is the leading supplier of intelligent positioning and automation technology in Australia.

Backed by the company’s Tokara remote access technology, customers and support technicians can manage machine design files, communicate with operators and solve technical problems without visiting machines in person.

“Tokara is able to connect to and support customers using the new MC-X platform technology to assist customers as they transition and learn the advanced features of the new platform,” Mr Allan added.

For more information, please contact Position Partners on 1300 867 266 or visit positionpartners.com.au

With updated 3D-MC software and flexible componentry that can be swapped and configured to suit the application, Topcon’s new platform promises increased processing power, speed, accuracy and reliability.

AMAZING ANAMEKA

A strain of saltbush resistant to drought is being planted across Australia in preparation for soaring temperatures.

words: Matilda Meikle

With the potential for El Niño to cause severe droughts in Australia this summer, farmers across the country are planting thousands of a specially designed variety of saltbush in order to remain agriculturally and financially secure.

ORIGINS OF ANAMEKA

Anameka Saltbush is a type of Oldman Saltbush. When the CSIRO first identified the potential of this native plant 15 years ago, scientists began a research and improvement program in the hopes of strengthening its droughtresistant capabilities.

Experts from the CSIRO collected seeds from areas around the country, using shrub evaluation and clonal selection techniques to eventually develop a new variety of the Anameka Saltbush plant, Anameka. Anameka was released commercially in 2014. Since then, more than six million shrubs have been planted, which is

equivalent to around 8,000 hectares. The program has been a success thanks to the CSIRO, along with partners such as Meat & Livestock Australia, as well as Australian Wool Innovation. Funding also came from the Australian government’s Future Drought Fund.

Anameka has been popular with farmers due to its ability to grow in dry, nutrient-deficient areas. It is also known to regenerate the topsoil of infertile land, and is popular as a feed supplement for livestock.

BENEFITS TO AG

There are many agricultural benefits when planting Anameka. Studies have revealed that it supports animal health, leading to higher-quality meat and wool production.

According to Dr Hayley Norman, CSIRO agricultural scientist, Anameka Saltbush is vital as a source of supplementary feed during times of drought or infertility.

THIS PAGE: OLDMAN SALTBUSH. IMAGE: HARRY ROSE.

“Anameka Saltbush is a moderate-energy, high crude protein and sulphur feed source that is full of essential minerals and antioxidants.”

THIS PAGE: DR HAYLEY NORMAN IDENTIFIED ANAMEKA SALTBUSH FROM 60,000 PLANTS. IMAGE: DAMIEN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY.

“Anameka Saltbush is a moderateenergy, high crude protein and sulphur feed source that is full of essential minerals and antioxidants,” she says.

“It grows well on most landscapes, and once established, Anameka Saltbush can become a ‘living haystack’ for grazing livestock for more than 20 years if managed correctly.

“We’re now bringing these benefits to new regions across Australia’s south-east to carry farmers through poor seasons and build up their resilience to drought.”

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Similarly, there are several economic benefits to Anameka. Economic gains from the plant total around $12 million due to the profitability increase as well as the decrease in the cost of feed for farmers.

Modelling from CSIRO has also revealed that the shrub delivers 20 per cent higher economic returns when compared with standard saltbushes.

This is particularly prevalent in years of drought, where regular plants are unable to withstand the harsh climate. Farmers reduce financial risks by investing in a plant more likely to make it through the season – one which simultaneously regenerates their soil and feeds their livestock.

WEATHER WARNINGS

The CSIRO is currently on a mission to help Australia’s agricultural sector adapt and better prepare for the impact of droughts. This includes programs such as the development of the Anameka Saltbush, as well as researching ways to save water and implementing decision-making tools. The aim is to reduce the impacts of

drought in Australia by 30 per cent by 2030.

With the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) announcing that El Niño is underway, the importance of drought-resilient crops is becoming increasingly evident. In fact, the WMO has stated that El Niño has a 90 per cent chance of continuing until the end of the year at moderate strength. This could lead to record-breaking temperatures, impacting Aussie farms as sweltering heat and droughts sweep across the country.

Now, more than ever, the uses of Anameka Saltbush are becoming increasingly evident. It’s no surprise that farmers are planting this shrub in growing numbers.

“We’re now bringing these benefits to new regions across Australia’s south-east to carry farmers through poor seasons and build up their resilience to drought.”

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Financial Times

FIGHTING FIRE WITH AI

A new program will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to improve Australia’s bushfire response capabilities.

Words: Matilda Meikle

The Green Triangle is one of Australia’s major forest regions, spanning south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria. It has been chosen by tech company Pano AI as the site for the country’s biggest network of bushfire detection cameras, in the hopes of limiting the impacts of bushfires in the future. If successful, the cameras could help to improve the efficiency and overall effectiveness of bushfire response teams.

IMPACT OF BUSHFIRES

Australia is known to experience extreme and often catastrophic bushfires due to the hot, dry and windy climates of many regions in the country.

Unfortunately, these bushfires have significant impacts on local flora and fauna, as well as surrounding communities. Bushfires destroy the homes and food sources of many native animals, meaning experts often find a spike in the death rates of our fauna in the weeks after a fire. Similarly, bushfires have several economic consequences, damaging infrastructure and agricultural land, which leads to heavy costs for Australian industries such as farming and tourism. In the bushfire season of 2019-2020, more than 18 million hectares of land were burned, and over 2,800 homes were lost.

THE NEW SOLUTION

Pano AI has developed a new method of monitoring outbreaks of fires. The company plans to spread a series of fire detection cameras across 14 locations. If the cameras spot a possible fire, the images are automatically sent to an intelligence centre to confirm the fire, and authorities are alerted within minutes.

ABOVE AND BELOW: KOALA IN THE GREEN TRIANGLE. IMAGE: PANO AI. REGROWTH AFTER BUSHFIRES.

“This is a system that isn’t just for the benefit of the Green Triangle forest region but is a win-win for all other landscape users, primary producers and local communities.”

This system is made possible through satellite feeds, AI and cloud software which work together to identify new fires and swiftly send out an alert. The aim of the program is to improve response time, protecting local communities and environments by helping the industry to effectively use its resources. Crews will be able to arrive at the fire scene quickly, and armed with more information.

Pano AI is well-equipped to carry out this trial as one of the best disaster preparedness technology providers in the world. The company uses AI to offer real-time data and coordinate emergency response teams in a number of different locations and environments. Currently, Pano AI operates in both Australia and the US, monitoring a total land area of around 2.4 million hectares.

WHAT TO EXPECT

According to Clare Scriven, South Australian Minister for Primary Industries, Regional Development and Forestry, “South Australia’s $1.4 billion forest industry has had a long and strong history of embracing cutting edge technology, and the implementation of Pano’s AI fire detection system continues this proud legacy.

“Unfortunately fire doesn’t recognise boundaries, so this collaborative state government/industry initiative in utilising this ground-breaking technology helps us to ensure the best fire management tools are at our disposal. This is a system that isn’t just for the benefit of the Green Triangle forest region but is a win-win for all other landscape users, primary producers and local communities.”

The cameras are set to be installed before the start of the 2023/2024 fire season. If operations run smoothly, this could be the dawn of a new age for fire detection and prevention.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: WILDLIFE AT RISK OF BUSHFIRES; PANO AI TEAM WITH SA PREMIER PAUL MALINAUSKAS AND MINISTER CLARE SCRIVEN; BUSHFIRE SMOKE; GREEN TRIANGLE.

THIS PAGE: EXPERTS HAVE LINKED COVID19 WITH CHANGES TO THE BRAIN.

THE LINK BETWEEN COVID-19 AND NEURON DAMAGE

Words: Fran Molloy

New research has shown that COVID-19 can fuse brain cells together, and could explain brain fog, headaches, loss of taste and smell, and other long-term neurological symptoms some patients experience. Many viruses, including the SARSCoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, can infect the brain and cause brain cells to fuse together and either malfunction or stop working completely, new research has shown.

These fused brain cells can hide the virus from the immune system, which may explain why the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be found in the brains of long COVID patients months after they were first infected. The research showed that some viruses could trigger fusion in cells in both mouse and human brain tissue, which could explain chronic neurological symptoms such as headache, ‘brain fog’ and exhaustion, that some patients experience long after initial infections.

“While some viral brain infections can be deadly, and others cause inflammation, this study has found yet another outcome, where the host brain cells are fused, possibly causing brain dysfunction.”

The study was a collaboration between Macquarie University, the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), University of Queensland and the University of Helsinki.

“While some viral brain infections can be deadly, and others cause inflammation, this study has found yet another outcome, where the host brain cells are fused, possibly causing brain dysfunction,” says Professor Lars Ittner, Director of the Dementia Research Centre at Macquarie University.

The research also showed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike S protein embeds itself in fused brain cells, which may help the virus to evade the immune system.

Neurological symptoms from viral brain infections can include headache, fever, confusion, epileptic seizures, and

THIS PAGE: MACQUARIE UNIVERISTY SCIENTISTS; A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST; NEURONS IN THE BRAIN.

loss of taste or smell, and in very severe cases viral brain infections can cause encephalitis, meningitis, paralysis and even death.

BREAKTHROUGH BRAIN TECHNOLOGY

The research relied heavily on “minibrains” developed by Lars in collaboration with Macquarie University molecular biologist Associate Professor Yazi Ke, which allow researchers to experiment on complex human neuronal networks resembling a live human brain.

Some of these mini-brains were infected with viruses, or viral surface fusogens –including the SARS-CoV-2 virus – and then compared with non-infected control minibrains, using a remarkable breakthrough in brain experiment techniques.

“We reprogram human stem cells into brain cells, including neurons, and allow them to assemble into mini-brains in a dish,” explains Yazi.

This study is just one example of the

“We cannot definitely say: this cell part belongs to one neuron, this belongs to another neuron, without the help of the engineered marker proteins that we use throughout the study on live tissue.”

huge research potential now possible thanks to the development of the minibrains, which bridge the gap between non-living tissue and human subjects.

“We can’t observe cell fusion from a virus using post-mortem tissue,” says Lars.

“We cannot definitely say: this cell part belongs to one neuron, this belongs to another neuron, without the help of the engineered marker proteins that we use throughout the study on live tissue,” he adds.

SURFACE FUSION

The research was initiated by senior lead author Professor Massimo Hilliard at the Queensland Brain Institute, who had tested surface molecules used by viruses to enter host cells, on cell cultures and on roundworms, and found these were causing host cells to fuse.

Massimo contacted Lars and Yazi

to invite them to work on this research because of their experience developing robust brain experiments with mouse models.

“We realised this work would be an ideal application of the mini-brains, and worked with him to design a number of experiments to show how the viralinduced brain cell fusion occurs, and what the effects are on the nervous system,” Lars says.

He explains that a number of minibrains generated at Macquarie University were shipped to the Queensland Brain Institute to be infected with SARSCoV-2 virus, the spike protein, and an orthoreovirus, and studied within QBI’s high-level biocontainment facilities.

Other research collaborators included Associate Professor Giuseppe Balistreri from the University of Helsinki and Associate Professor Kirsty Short and Professor Frederic Meunier from the

University of Queensland, Lars says.

He says this study will also make an important contribution to our understanding of the long-term impact of COVID-19 infections, in particular where long COVID symptoms are present.

“This very comprehensive study can help us understand some of the mechanisms of this viral behaviour,” says Lars.

“We have also started a research program in our lab around understanding the impact of COVID infections on the brain and how this impacts the progression, outcome and even the onset of dementia.

“Through this new Macquarie University research program, the first compounds we have designed in our lab, from scratch, to treat COVID are now under development.”

This story was originally published in The Lighthouse.

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: ALUMINIUM FOIL IS A COMMON HOUSEHOLD USE OF ALUMINIUM; AERIAL OF THE YARWUN ALUMINA REFINERY. IMAGE: RIO TINTO.

REDEFINING MINING

The world’s first hydrogen pilot for low-carbon alumina is about to be undertaken in Australia. If successful, this project could signal a significant win for renewable energy in the mining sector, and provide insight into the power of green technology to protect Australia’s natural resources while maintaining the success of our industries.

Words: Matilda Meikle

WHAT IS THE PILOT?

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has been working in partnership with the Australian government to develop the exciting hydrogen pilot. On 11 July, they announced a $32.1 million grant that will be provided to Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation to test hydrogen calcination technology on their mining sites.

The tests will be undertaken at the Yarwun Alumina Refinery in

Gladstone, Queensland. It is the first time hydrogen calcination will be utilised on this scale anywhere in the world, and has significant implications for the future of renewable practices in Australia’s major mining industry.

WHAT IS ALUMINA?

Alumina is a white granular material also known as aluminium oxide. For every two tonnes of alumina, one tonne of aluminium can be produced. However, aluminium does not start out as a metal. First, it has to be

refined from bauxite into alumina in a process called alumina refining, which involves heating bauxite at extremely high temperatures before separating the alumina and bauxite ores. This process is undertaken using calciner machines, which rely on fossil fuels to heat and separate the materials.

As such, the process of alumina refining contributes 3 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

However, Australia is also the world’s largest exporter of alumina. The industry contributes $7.5 billion

to the economy every year, making it an important part of mining production. It is not feasible to discontinue the practice entirely, so a greener method of alumina extraction is needed in order to reduce these dangerous levels of carbon emissions.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?

ARENA’s project was born from this desire to reduce carbon emissions when refining alumina. It will involve operating a 2.5 MW electrolyser on site at the Yarwun Alumina Refinery. This machine will supply hydrogen

directly to Rio Tinto, and has the capacity to produce more than 250 tonnes of hydrogen every year.

While fossil fuels are typically used for the refining process, hydrogen calcination instead uses hydrogen to produce a high purity steam which can be recycled and reused in other parts of the refining process. Rio Tinto plans to test this hydrogen calincator in a variety of operating conditions to ensure it is a stable and suitable method for refining alumina. If successful, it will signal a move towards renewable energy in mining and encourage other

alumina refineries to adopt this environmentally conscious method.

As ARENA CEO Darren Miller says, “This world-first pilot looks to prove a promising technology for decarbonising one of our most emissions-intensive industries.

“Having already backed an encouraging feasibility study, we’re excited to be working with Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation to build on that success and trial hydrogen calcination in the field.

“If this pilot project is successful it could be a game-changer for Australian alumina production, paving the way for deployment across the industry, and underscoring the importance of low-cost green hydrogen to decarbonise our largest industrial emitters.

“ARENA will continue to support projects at this scale as we develop other larger programs, such as Hydrogen Headstart.”

“If this pilot project is successful it could be a game-changer for Australian alumina production, paving the way for deployment across the industry, and underscoring the importance of lowcost green hydrogen to decarbonise our largest industrial emitters.”

THIS PAGE: ALUMINIUM STONE AND BAUXITE ORE. IMAGE: ISTOCK GETTY/ RHJ.

HOME GUARANTEE SCHEME OPENS THE DOOR

As the “great Australian dream” of home ownership slips away from many of us, the federal government has expanded the criteria of the Home Guarantee Scheme. Here is how you can take advantage of it.

Words: LJ Charleston

New measures are being introduced to address the ongoing housing crisis, including changes to the First Home Guarantee, the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, and the Family Home Guarantee.

It’s all about trying to provide greater accessibility and support to prospective homeowners. Let’s take a look at the changes to each scheme.

CHANGES TO FIRST HOME GUARANTEE AND REGIONAL FIRST HOME GUARANTEE

Initially, the First Home Guarantee and Regional First Home Guarantee schemes were restricted to married and single people, as well as those in de facto relationships, but now those restrictions are being relaxed.

According to the new rules, from 1 July 2023 siblings, friends and other family members will be able to jointly

apply for the First Home Guarantee and Regional First Home Guarantee.

These schemes will also be available to non-first home buyers who have not owned a property in the past 10 years.

For both the First Home Guarantee and Regional First Home Guarantee schemes, the federal government will act as guarantor on up to 15 per cent of a loan. This will allow eligible home buyers to buy a home with as little as a 5 per cent deposit, without paying lenders mortgage insurance.

FAMILY HOME GUARANTEE CHANGES

The criteria for Family Home Guarantee applicants will also be expanded beyond just single, natural or adoptive parents with dependents.

This change means the guarantee will become available to eligible borrowers who are single legal guardians of children, such as aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Under the Family Home Guarantee, the federal government acts as

THIS PAGE: CHANGES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENTS TO THE FAMILY HOME GUARANTEE.

“We’re bringing together all levels of government to tackle housing issues from planning to rental reforms, and making sure housing and homelessness service providers are listened to as we plan for the future.”

guarantor on up to 18 per cent of a loan. This means eligible home buyers will be able to purchase a home with as little as a 2 per cent deposit without paying lenders mortgage insurance. There’s also good news for Permanent Residents, who are now eligible too.

Housing Minister Julie Collins claims the eligibility changes reflect the changing make-up of Australian households.

“We know friends and family members are already teaming up to secure their own place to call home,” she says.

“Our actions will allow them to access vital assistance, just as couples have been able to previously.

“We’re bringing together all levels of government to tackle housing issues from planning to rental reforms, and making sure housing

and homelessness service providers are listened to as we plan for the future.”

The government says allowing nonfirst home owners who haven’t owned a property for 10 years to access the schemes will be beneficial to people who have fallen out of home ownership due to financial issues or relationship breakdowns.

THE HOUSING AGENDA

The federal government’s housing agenda also includes:

• The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing by a federal government in more than a decade, which will build 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes in its first five years.

• In the 2023 Budget, an extra $67.5 million to states and territories

to help tackle homelessness, as part of a $1.6 billion one-year extension of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.

• In the 2023 Budget, incentives to increase the supply of rental housing by improving taxation arrangements for investments to build-to-rent accommodation.

• A new National Housing Accord: a shared ambition to build one million new well-located homes over five years from 2024.

• Widening the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up to $575 million available to invest in social and affordable rental homes.

WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY?

Every year, 35,000 Home Guarantee places are made available. In addition, up until 30 June, 2025, there will

be 10,000 places available per year under the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee and 5,000 places per year under the Family Home Guarantee.

Experts predict the schemes will be popular with prospective home buyers, allowing for a more affordable entry point to the housing market for those on a low- to mid-level income.

However, according to CoreLogic, there is risk attached to the government’s “help to buy” schemes.

“Anyone considering the scheme

should be aware of the risks associated with buying on such a small deposit. With the housing market probably heading into a downturn over the coming year or years, some buyers may find their home is worth less than the debt held against it.

“It’s important to know if the government will share in the downside risk if the property is sold while in a negative equity situation.”

There are also concerns that, while expansion of criteria makes these

schemes fairer, they might not necessarily be more effective.

For example, there’s a relatively high income threshold around the First Home Guarantee that might help people into housing more quickly – but there’s an argument that this might limit more equitable home ownership across income distributions.

However, in the event of declining interest rates, these schemes will become increasingly appealing to prospective homeowners, as they weigh up the financial implications of additional mortgage debt against the ongoing expenses associated with renting.

You can check your eligibility for the housing schemes here: nhfic.gov. au/support-buy-home/eligibilitychecker.

“It’s important to know if the government will share in the downside risk if the property is sold while in a negative equity situation.”

THIS PAGE: CRITERIA FOR THE HOME GUARANTEE SCHEME IS EXPANDING; FIRST HOME OWNERS WILL BE MORE SUPPORTED.

SHARP THINKING

Could a simple ingredient in household vinegar be the key to slowing climate change?

Words: Matilda Meikle

Scientists from Monash University have discovered that a major ingredient in household vinegar could help to create negative carbon emissions. Plans for the adoption of this process across national industries are already underway, and if successful, could help to slow or even reverse the effects of climate change. And it’s all thanks to acetic acid.

WHAT IS ACETIC ACID?

Acetic acid can be found in a variety of everyday items including household vinegar, vinyl paints and glues. In fact, it’s estimated that the demand for acetic acid is around 6.5 million tonnes every year.

The clear, colourless liquid makes up around 4 per cent of vinegar by volume, making it the largest ingredient aside from water and a few trace elements. It is also used to produce chemicals for photographic film and in synthetic fibres.

WHAT’S NEW?

Published in Nature Communications, the study into acetic acid was undertaken by chemical engineers from Monash University. They found that captured carbon dioxide could be used to produce acetic acid instead of the liquid rhodium or iridium catalysts currently being used.

This is significant because liquid catalysts require a long purification process, using additional energy. Instead, carbon dioxide can be made into acetic acid using an economical solid catalyst, requiring less processing and thus reducing emissions. By removing the need for additional processing, costs were also reduced.

According to Associate Professor Akshat Tanksale, lead researcher on the project, this discovery has several environmental and economic implications.

“CO 2 is overabundant in the atmosphere, and the main cause of global warming and climate change. Even if we stopped all the industrial emissions today, we would

continue to see negative impacts of global warming for at least a thousand years as nature slowly balances the excess CO 2 ,” says Akshat.

“There is an urgent need to actively remove CO 2 from the atmosphere and convert it into products that do not release the captured CO 2 back into the atmosphere. Our team is focused on creating a novel industrially relevant method, which can be applied at the large scale required to encourage negative emissions.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

In order to commercialise and simplify this process, the team developed a metal-organic framework (MOF), characterised as a crystalline material made up of iron atoms.

The MOF was then heated to encourage the iron atoms to bond and form particles. These iron nanoparticles were dispersed among a layer of captured carbon, and it’s these materials working together that created the catalyst for making acetic acid.

This process has already proven to be more efficient and costeffective than previous practices used for producing the acid. Similarly, it has several environmental benefits by reducing pollution caused by manufacturing and repurposing excess carbon dioxide.

Experts are excited by the potential to slow climate change as a result, due to the newfound ability to limit the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Similarly, the economic benefits of this discovery are a strong motivator for an overall adoption into national industries. In fact, researchers are already collaborating with industry partners in order to develop the project further for commercialisation.

It seems that a simple ingredient in household vinegar now holds the key to environmental action and economic success.

“There is an urgent need to actively remove CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into products that do not release the captured CO2 back into the atmosphere.”

MAKING THEIR MARK

In a world where many of us are lucky enough to feel safe and supported, it’s important to remember to give back to those who may not be as fortunate. That’s what these three Australian charities have recognised in their journeys to make Australia a haven for all, and it’s making a big difference to the lives of many.

Words: Matilda Meikle

SISTERWORKS

SisterWorks is a notfor-profit organisation that supports migrant, refugee and asylum seeker women trying to establish roots in Australia. The charity is based in Melbourne, where it works towards a common goal of creating an Australia where all women have equal opportunities for success and access to support.

Primarily, it achieves this through its Empowerment Hubs: places where women can go to connect with one another while gaining important skills for future success. The hubs offer Labs targeting design, cooking, business, digital and pathways, and participants gain practical skills to help them achieve financial independence in Australia.

SisterWorks also offers talks where businesses can hear firsthand from a refugee, migrant or asylum seeker woman trained in public speaking and presentation. This helps Aussie companies to understand the importance of supporting displaced women and provides the women with a platform to share their story.

The latest program from SisterWorks is Craft Cafe. Located in Richmond, the cafe is a place where women involved in the SisterWorks program can gain hospitality and customer service skills while beginning their journey towards long-term employment in Australia. The menu features dishes made entirely by the Sisters. It’s a great place for women to gain hands-on experience and employment.

In total, the charity has supported more than 2,000 women from 105 countries, and it’s only just getting started.

THE SCHOOL PROJECT

Established in 2016 by the National Homeless Collective, The School Project supports families with school-aged children fleeing domestic violence situations. Leaving these dangerous situations often means families end up in crisis accommodation without the necessary resources and tools needed to support their children while they are at school.

THIS PAGE: THE SCHOOL PROJECT SUPPORTS CHILDREN’S EDUCATION; SISTERWORKS HUBS CREATE A COMMUNITY. IMAGE: SISTERWORKS.

As such, The School Project works by providing these kids with equipment, uniforms and other essential items so they can continue their education and maintain the important network of friends and teachers who can help get them through tough times.

So far, it has delivered more than 1,000 backpacks to students in need. But that’s just the beginning. This charity has also sponsored an Indigenous girl to play football, supplied bedding to children in new housing, and offered other supplies such as camp bags, sleeping bags and pyjamas where required. The project recognises the value that education can have for young people, and hope to ensure all children have access to the benefits.

TWENTY10

Twenty10 is an organisation dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ youth across NSW. It began all the way back in 1982, when a group of volunteers decided to start a housing refuge

for displaced queer youth in Sydney. Since then, the charity has grown to offer a broader range of services targeted at helping LGBTQIA+ youth stay healthy and safe.

Twenty10 offers different levels of support to cater to the age and needs of queer youth in Australia. They acknowledge that many children risk losing their homes when being open about their sexuality, providing medium-term accommodation as well as education and employment assistance for those who need it.

It also delivers several community programs to build a network of people who can turn to each other

in times of trouble. One such program is OutWest, where young people are invited to connect with their peers in a relaxed environment once a week. During the session, they are free to eat and drink, talk to a Twenty10 worker, or simply watch a movie. It’s all about providing a safe space for relaxation and fun.

Twenty10 also offers training and consulting services for Aussie businesses and schools. During these workshops, individuals are encouraged to build skills and confidence when it comes to supporting queer people in the community.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A TWENTY10 MARKET STALL. IMAGE: TWENTY10; EDUCATION SUPPORTED BY THE SCHOOL PROJECT; A SISTERWORKS HUB. IMAGE: SISTERWORKS.

SUPER SEAWEED

Words: Matilda Meikle

Seaweed is the term used to describe aquatic marine plants such as seagrasses and macroalgae. Around the world, seaweed production has grown to over 30 million tonnes, supporting local economies and farmers.

But apart from economic and trade benefits, seaweed is also an environmental superhero. It naturally sequesters carbon, meaning it uses carbon as fuel rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. On seaweed farms, the plants absorb nutrients and carbon to grow. As a fast-growing plant, this makes it a convenient and popular crop.

In Australia we have access to an abundance of seaweed on our coastlines. Tasmania alone is home to 750 different species, making it a hotspot for seaweed diversity. In fact, this year it hosted the International Seaweed Symposium, which brings together international farming and environmental bodies to focus on how seaweed aquaculture is changing and growing.

However, despite having access to such vast amounts of crop, Australia’s commercial seaweed industry is not as vibrant in other countries.

WEEDY INTERESTING

Research into the possible applications of seaweed began back in June. Dr Jianhua Zhang and biochemist Dr Marlene Cran from Victoria University teamed up with experts from universities in Shandong, a Chinese province known for growing around three-quarters of the world’s commercial seaweed.

The team is currently analysing how polymers can be made from seaweed for use in clothing and cosmetics, replacing plastic as a common ingredient. The team is also studying the use of seaweed in food, and the possible benefits of this change.

CHANGING TIDES

While the study is still in its early days, the implications of using seaweed in place of synthetic materials are already astounding. Unlike plastic, seaweed is biodegradable, meaning it can be disposed of without releasing pollutants and carbon.

Seaweed plants also store carbon, cleaning up our water and air. According to one study, using seaweed in place of plastic could save around 175 million tonnes of CO 2 in a year.

However, there is still a while to go before seaweed-based products are commercially viable. Currently there are no commercial ocean-based seaweed farms in Australia, and a significant amount of research is yet to be undertaken before seaweed can be introduced as a reliable alternative.

But scientists are encouraged by the current trajectory, meaning we could be seeing an increase in the use of seaweed very soon.

Scientists from Victoria University are undertaking studies on the power of seaweed, and its use in a range of products including fertiliser, cosmetics, food and more. It means we could be seeing plenty more seaweed-based commodities on our shelves sooner than you may think.

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