Deakin SME Research Centre

26/05/2026

Less time on paperwork, less repetitive admin. More time serving customers, growing ideas, and building stronger businesses.

That’s what Seed AI is designed for. From drafting emails and managing invoices to improving workflows and customer service, AI can become a practical helping hand for your business.

📅 June Cohort starts 9 June
🔗 Register link in the comment

07/05/2026

As Andrew Leigh MP mentioned during his opening speech at the AI in Practice: Turning Hype into Measurable SME Impact Breakfast Panel:

“The real test is whether AI helps a small business owner quote faster, roster better, market more cheaply, serve customers more personally, detect errors sooner, or spend fewer Sunday nights doing paperwork while the rest of the household is entertained with something better than MYOB. For a small business, the killer app may look like getting a decent night’s sleep.”

Yesterday at Deakin Downtown, the Deakin SME Research Centre proudly hosted a room full of 40 attendees for an insightful morning exploring how AI can create measurable and practical impact for SMEs across Australia.

A sincere thank you to Andrew Leigh for his valuable keynote and thought-provoking insights on the future of AI adoption for small businesses.

Thank you also to our moderator, Rui Torres de Oliveira, and to all of our incredible panelists Tony Bain, Yifei Wang, Jeremiah Mannings, Prof. Subhash Challa for sharing practical experiences, honest conversations, and real-world applications of AI across industries.

We truly appreciate everyone who joined us and contributed to such a meaningful discussion and networking session.

More videos, highlights, and speaker insights from the event will be shared soon.

04/05/2026

The Australia-India Investment Initiative (Maitri Workshops) – Sydney & Brisbane

After an incredible week of deep-diving into cross-border strategy in Melbourne, the MAITRI Roadshow, organized by the Deakin SME Research Centre, is officially moving to Sydney and Brisbane.

If you’re looking to scale into India or seeking high-impact R&D partnerships, this is your roadmap to success. Specifically designed for Australian SMEs in AI, Robotics, or Health/Pharma, this program offers:
- 3 Expert-Led Workshops: Practical, face-to-face sessions focused on R&D collaboration and market entry.
- Sector-Specific Roadmaps: Leave with a strategy tailored specifically to your business goals.
- Strategic Networking: A unique chance to connect with a cohort of like-minded founders and leadersnavigating the same cross-border challenges.

The "Golden Ticket": Shortlisted leaders will join a fully funded India R&D Centres Roadshow Trip to connect directly with global innovation hubs, universities, and industry partners. This is a complete, no-cost opportunity to build your international footprint on the ground.

Save the Date:
Sydney: Wednesday, June 3 – Friday, June 5
Brisbane: Monday, June 8 – Wednesday, June 10

The bridge between Australian innovation and Indian scale is being built right now. Don’t miss your chance to join this high-impact, fully funded cohort.

Send us a DM for enquiries and registration.

01/05/2026

What does it actually take for an Australian SME to break into the Indian market?

Jawwad Aamer Khan, CEO of Australia Cyneryx, came away from the MAITRI Melbourne workshops with some sharp insights, and they're worth paying attention to.

The Australia-India Innovation & Investment Initiative is now heading to Sydney and Brisbane, and registrations are open. If you're a business owner or startup in Health, AI, or Robotics with your eye on India, this cohort was built for you.

Here's what's on the table:
- Fully Funded: 100% supported by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deakin University.
- Real Frameworks: Practical market-entry tools and expert guidance, not just theory.
- Strategic Network: A curated cohort of founders and global innovation partners.
- The Golden Ticket: Shortlisted participants will join a fully funded R&D Centres Roadshow in India to meet industry partners on the ground.

📍 Sydney: 3–5 June
📍 Brisbane: 8–10 June

Know a founder who's serious about India? Tag them or send this their way.

24/04/2026

POV: You join a free AI program and actually learn skills you can use 👀

Here’s what one of our students had to say about SEED AI.

Spots fill fast, don’t miss the next intake.

Register Now: www.deakinsmecentrelms.ai

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SEED AI is a national training program designed to support diverse workers, communities, and enterprises in understanding, using, and governing AI.

The program offers free, foundational training based on Google AI Essentials, complemented by customised content. It is suitable for students, educators, and businesses, with no prior AI experience required.

Please note this is an introductory course focused on building core knowledge and practical skills. For more advanced or in-depth study, we recommend exploring further programs available through Deakin University.

21/04/2026

A big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this important conversation.

The findings are clear, wellbeing across accountants and bookkeepers is sitting below national benchmarks, with many experiencing increasing pressure, burnout, and ongoing workforce challenges.

If you’d like access to the full report, please email: [email protected].

20/04/2026

The latest findings from the Australian Accountants & Bookkeepers Wellbeing Index hosted by Deakin SME Research Centre highlight a profession under increasing pressure: burnout, rising workloads, and ongoing skills demands are taking a toll on wellbeing across the industry.

There’s a clear need for stronger support systems, sustainable work design, and leadership that prioritises both performance and people.

Read the full article: https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/22327-wellbeing-of-accountants-bookkeepers-below-national-benchmark-index-finds

If you’d like access to the full report, please email: [email protected].

An index measuring wellbeing across the accounting and bookkeeping industry has revealed the profession is under strain and burnt out.

16/04/2026

Explore practical AI applications for SMEs, focusing on real-world use cases and measurable business outcomes.

This breakfast panel will focus on practical applications of AI for SMEs, moving beyond the hype to explore real-world use cases and measurable business outcomes.

Key Highlights:
- Real SME case studies demonstrating AI adoption
- Insights from leading AI providers
- Practical, actionable strategies for business leaders
- Panel discussion followed by networking

The panel will be moderated by Professor Rui Torres de Oliveira, Director of the Deakin SME Centre. We are pleased to be joined by the following panellists:
- Mr Yifei Wang MACS CP Wang (Founder and CEO, AIBUILD Pty Ltd);
- Mr Jeremiah Mannings (Founder, MelbourneAI and PromptLeash);
- Mr Tony Bain (Director, ZCS and Co-Founder, Zeaware); and
- Ms Aarti Olsson (Head of Health Advisory, Medibank).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected]

Register Now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/breakfast-panel-ai-in-practice-turning-hype-into-measurable-sme-impact-tickets-1985685067490?aff=oddtdtcreator

16/04/2026

You might know how to use AI… but using it to get better results is a different story.
With SEED AI Free Training, you’ll learn about:
✨ Agentic AI
✨ Grounded AI
✨ NotebookLM
And more importantly, how to use AI ethically, responsibly, and assess AI-generated content before putting it out into the world.

Watch the video to learn more and register when you’re ready:
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16/04/2026

SEED AI - FREE AI TRAINING: JUNE INTAKE NOW OPEN!

Whether you are a student looking to future-proof your career, an SME aiming to scale productivity, or an educator seeking to innovate in the classroom, this program is designed for you.

Why join this cohort?
- Practical Skills: Master Prompt Engineering and AI-driven productivity.
- Business Growth: Learn how AI can optimise SME operations and strategy.
- Certified Excellence: Earn an official certificate from Deakin SME Research Centre.

💰 100% FREE: Fully funded by Google.org and AVPN.

Don't miss the chance to enhance your business and workflow with the latest in AI innovation.
📅 Intake Starts: 9th June 2026
👉 Register Today: www.deakinsmecentrelms.ai