A Leader in Clean Earth Solutions
crcCARE, known globally for protecting human health & the environment through world-class contamination assessment, remediation science & policy leadership, was founded in 2005 under the Cooperative Research Centres Program, to bridge the gap between fundamental science & real world environmental challenges
Since its inception, crcCARE has focused on delivering solutions grounded in strong, defensible science and translating them rapidly into practice. One of its most visible innovations, matCARETM, a clay-based immobilisation technology for contaminants such as PFAS and petroleum hydrocarbons, exemplifies this approach and has been deployed across defence, industrial, and legacy contamination sites to reduce contaminant mobility, manage exposure risk, and support regulatory compliance.
crcCARE’s innovation portfolio extends well beyond matCARETM. The Centre has led the development of scientific frameworks that underpin national policy instruments and technical guidance, providing industry with the confidence to make risk-based, evidence-driven decisions. It has also advanced sensor and monitoring technologies, decision-support systems, and remediation strategies — including passive and nature-based solutions — that reduce energy use, operating costs, and long-term environmental liabilities.
crcCARE is defined by its strong focus on delivering outcomes. An independent economic assessment showed that every dollar invested in crcCARE generated approximately nine dollars in economic benefit. This strong ROI demonstrates crcCARE’s value as a trusted partner for industry, government, and communities.
Driving Environmental Expertise
“Knowledge transfer underpins crcCARE’s impact. By working directly with regulators, industry, and practitioners, the Centre translates complex science into applied training and decision-ready tools that strengthen capability in contamination assessment and remediation.”
Policy, Partnerships and Impact
crcCARE partners closely with government agencies, industry, and international organisations to ensure research outputs respond directly to regulatory, operational, and societal needs. Since 2021, it has operated as an independent, member-driven Centre of Excellence, enabling high-impact research, science-to-policy translation, and rapid responses to emerging environmental challenges. crcCARE has made substantial contributions to Australia’s environmental policy, including revised national site contamination standards and the National Remediation Framework for consistent, risk-based decision-making.
Sustainability at the Heart
Sustainability underpins all crcCARE activities, from remediation and resource recovery to environmental management. The Centre’s projects improve soil and water quality, help industry reduce emissions and resource use, and deliver measurable outcomes. By addressing challenges such as lead contamination, degraded soils, and low-impact remediation, crcCARE demonstrates practical, scalable impact. Looking ahead, the Centre is expanding its international footprint, with a strong focus on nutrient management, food security, and farm profitability in regions facing climate, resource, and productivity pressures—ensuring environmental protection aligns with economic resilience.
Applied Scientific Excellence
crcCARE combines research, technology, development, policy engagement, and industry partnerships within one integrated organisation. It goes beyond academic research by rapidly translating scientific findings into practical, cost-effective tools and guidance for regulators and industry. Its multidisciplinary teams, spanning predictive modelling, chemistry, engineering, soil science, toxicology, data analytics, and environmental economics, enable the centre to deliver science that is rigorous, relevant, and ready for real-world application.
