Multiplex was awarded a highly prestigious Australian Research Council Grant of $251,000 by the Australian Research Council in 2018 to study how a unique collaborative approach of our connectivity centres, could help solve solve Australia's youth unemployment problem. Combined with university and industry cash and in-kind contributions, the grant amounted to over $800,000.

As one of only ten grants to be awarded across the country, the grant is designed to help universities, businesses and community organisations collaborate to develop innovative approaches to 'real world' industry and community challenges in practical settings.

Using Multiplex Connectivity Centres as an internationally recognised exemplar of collaborative social procurement in action, the research brings together a team of internationally recognised researchers from UNSW, Swinburne University, Southern Cross University and La Trobe University, with a uniquely qualified team of leading partner organisations from the construction industry, not-for-profit sector and government sector (Multiplex, Heyday Group, yourtown and the Blacktown City Council).

The research will address a critical gap in knowledge, internationally and nationally, around the potential role of collaborative social procurement in reducing youth unemployment - generating new theoretical and practical insights which could be used to leverage Australia's unprecedented infrastructure and construction pipeline to help address Australia's youth unemployment problem.

Full findings from the grant will be launched in the first half of 2023.