The West gets a world class education & research boost

Media release

The Western Parkland City Authority (WPCA) and the NSW Vice Chancellors’ Committee (NSWVCC) have formalised an agreement to boost education and research opportunities across the Western Parkland City.

This agreement will ensure that local communities in the eight Western Parkland City council areas will benefit from having leading education facilities and ground-breaking research opportunities closer to where they live.

Chair of the Western Parkland City Authority, Jennifer Westacott, said the agreement builds on strong partnerships the NSW Government already has with NSW universities.

“Australia’s tertiary education sector is world class. We are developing the Aerotropolis, next to the 24/7 Western Sydney Airport, to turbocharge innovation and industry in the Western Parkland City,” Ms Westacott said.

“This agreement will ensure that the Western Parkland City will be underpinned by world class education facilities and research opportunities which in turn will secure economic prosperity for all our communities.

“We want to work together on leading edge research and training opportunities across Western Sydney while drawing on the full strength and capability of our world class Australian university sector.”

Convener of the NSW VCC, Professor Barney Glover AO said this agreement will be part of a larger commitment to support new research opportunities to drive innovation across the sector.

CEO of the Western Parkland City Authority Dr Sarah Hill said the Aerotropolis will become one of the country’s most significant manufacturing hubs.

“The Aerotropolis will be where the nation’s brightest minds will gather, with leading edge technology and equipment. It will boost education, employment, and economic prosperity across the whole Western Parkland City,” Dr Hill said.

The agreement between the WPCA and the NSWVCC is focussed on research in advanced manufacturing technology. It will be centred around the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) being developed in Bradfield City Centre – Australia’s newest city centre in the heart of the Aerotropolis. The first offering of its kind in Australia, the AMRF will bring industry and universities together, alongside Australia’s national science agency the CSIRO, to access the latest technologies and research in advanced electronics and manufacturing, including robotics, additives, and automation.

The agreement also includes the NSW Government’s $37 million New Education Training Model (NETM). The NETM is being delivered by WPCA in collaboration with industry, universities, vocational education and training providers and government. It is industry-led and designed to fill the gaps in traditional training. It allows businesses to create specific short courses to plug gaps in their workforce training in new and emerging industries.

The Western Parkland City covers eight local government areas including the Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly.

The NSWVCC includes the Vice-Chancellors of fourteen universities based in NSW and the ACT.