Australian Catholic University Membership Information

Intersect Australia offers hands-on training tailored to researchers and higher-degree research (HDR) students, covering a wide range of research-relevant digital tools and technologies, such as Excel, Python, R, SPSS, NVivo, Qualtrics, etc. These courses are available at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

All ACU staff and students can access the training sessions for FREE. Additionally, you are welcome to participate in training offered at other Intersect member universities. For details on Intersect training courses across all member universities, visit Intersect Training Schedule for upcoming courses and contact your DRA with the exact course date and place via e-mail. The DRA will be able to find you a spot, provided free spots are available. Note that priority will be given to local researchers at the host university.

Digital Research Analysts are the primary contact for researcher and organisational support. Depending on the strategic research priorities of the university, the Digital Research Analyst may undertake many different activities in providing research support, including, but not limited to:

• REDCap support: assistance with project setup, survey design, and optimisation in REDCap, including advice on data collection methodologies and project workflows;
• Programming, scripting, and analytics: basic scripting and programming in R, Python, Matlab, etc., including data visualisation and analytics, along with API identification, access, and usage;
• Training: coordination, administration, and delivery of Intersect training, while also being involved in course ideation, development, and maintenance to ensure training courses meet evolving member needs;
• Direct research support: research and project specific advice delivered one-on-one and via research support forums or communities of practice established for the university;
• Research strategy, policy, and procedures: support both the research community and the university with Research Data Management planning, as well as making contributions to research strategy, policy, and strategic initiatives, drawing on the best practices among member universities and the wider sector;
• Researcher engagement: research community needs analysis and promulgation of university policies and technology practices: helping the university to know what the researchers need and the researchers know where and how to access what the university already provides.

Additionally to training and support, Intersect offers a comprehensive suite of technology solutions that support and enhance the research journey, from data management to advanced computing. These solutions are designed to help researchers streamline workflows, analyze complex data, and accelerate innovation. Here are the key solutions we provide:

1. Advanced Analytics & AI (3AI) Platform

The 3AI Platform connects researchers with experts in data science, AI, and advanced analytics to unlock the power of these technologies in research. With access to high-performance computing infrastructure, researchers can gain actionable insights and overcome barriers to AI and data science adoption.

Accelerates research by enhancing efficiency, informed decision-making, and unlocking new avenues for innovation through advanced analytics.

2. Digital Research Storage Solutions

High-performance computing and cloud resources that enable large-scale data analysis and complex computational tasks.

Handles massive datasets and ensures reliable, scalable storage for research data, both for active and archival use.

Data Management: Includes tools like DataBolt (for automated, reliable data transfer) and IDEA (a platform for organising and preserving research data).

Enables data organisation, sharing, and compliance with best practices.

3. Customised Software Development

Intersect provides tailored software applications designed to meet the specific needs of research projects, as well as off-the-shelf solutions for quick integration into workflows.

Improves data analysis, visualisation, and overall project efficiency by providing specialized tools.

4. Research Computing Solutions

Helps researchers quickly process and share data, host research applications, and analyse large datasets with ease.

Nectar Cloud Computing: The Nectar Research Cloud offers researchers easy access to powerful computing and large-scale storage without requiring specialised IT skills.

National HPC (NCI): Access to Australia’s most powerful supercomputer, Gadi, offering more than 250,000 CPU cores and 930 Terabytes of memory for large-scale computational tasks.

Provides the computing power needed for data-intensive research across a variety of disciplines.

Intersect’s solutions are designed to provide flexibility, scalability, and reliability to researchers, enabling them to focus on what matters most — advancing their research. Contact your Digital Research Analyst and ask about our technology solutions that can help you drive innovation in your field!