Overall, nine Deakin University researchers will share in more than $4.1 million for new projects under the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) 2025 Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme with Dr Christina Zorbas from the Institute’s Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE) domain being awarded $483K.
‘The ARC Discovery Program has an impressive track record in generating new knowledge that addresses a significant problem or gap,’ ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Johnson says.
‘As well as boosting Australia’s research and innovation capacity, DECRA projects result in new technologies and ideas, often leading to new jobs, economic growth, and ultimately an improved quality of life for Australians.’
The DECRA scheme provides focused research support for early career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions.
Dr Zorbas’ project aims to identify policy priorities to combat food insecurity amongst Australia’s migrant and refugee communities in the current cost-of-living crisis.
Dr Zorbas will work with researchers, governments and local communities to generate new data, community engagement, and policy implementation tools on food insecurity policies. The project aims to enhance social, economic and cultural equity in Australia by accelerating policy actions to reduce food insecurity.
Dr Zorbas’ work will deliver new routine monitoring of food insecurity among migrant and refugee communities and strategies to instil community perspectives into food insecurity policy decisions.
