Greater Western Sydney Precincts

Health Tech Entrepreneurship Program

UNSW has committed $700,000 to activate a Health Tech Entrepreneurship Program in Liverpool to foster the next generation of innovators.

With 53% of South Western Sydney residents born overseas and over 150 languages spoken, it requires an innovative community-embedded approach to support complex and unique health challenges in these communities. 

Based in Liverpool, this highly successful program is an expansion of UNSW Founders, a dedicated entrepreneurship unit supporting UNSW students, staff, and alumni to build entrepreneurial skills to found and create companies. 

In 2024, 550 participants took part in the capacity building programs on offer, including a breakfast MedTech workshop series, Digital Makers series, two Pitch Night competitions, a New Wave program (targeting female founders) and an Impact X program (specifically designed for early-stage startups and teams), as well as many specialised events. 

During its Pitch Night competition held in Liverpool in August 2024, 6 teams pitched their innovative solutions to address key societal challenges, with first prize going to My Special Needs Dental Home, founded by Zanab Malik. The money will help Dr Malik develop her app, which provides immediate personalised oral care plans for people with special needs, as well as practical training for their carers, such as toothbrushing. 

“UNSW Founders through the Liverpool Innovation Precinct Entrepreneurship Program helps young people who have an idea, regardless of how small it may be. Pitching also has many transferrable skills like public speaking, improving communication skills and networking, so I highly recommend anyone thinking about it, to give it a try”, Dr Zanab Malik said. 

UNSW aims to expand its Health Tech Entrepreneurship Program in South Western Sydney and reach 1100 people in 2025. 

Too hot to play

Playgrounds contribute to the social fabric of communities and provide a valuable resource for kids to develop strength and coordination, but what happens when it’s too hot to play?

UNSW A/Prof Riccardo Paolini, School of Built Environment, Arts, Design and Architecture is investigating this idea in Western Sydney. 

Surface temperatures in sun-exposed playgrounds in Western Sydney are often hot enough to burn skin due to a lack of high-quality shade and inadequate materials used for flooring materials and equipment. Inadequate shading increases the overexposure to UV radiation of children but also parents and supervisors.

Professor Paolini and his team are seeking to identify whether the features of playgrounds such as the quality and quantity of shade have any impact on the use of the playgrounds. 

In partnership with the City of Parramatta Council, 3 playgrounds have been chosen for testing during the warmer months of October 2024 through to March 2025, using people counters to determine the number of attendees, as well as humidity and temperature gauges.

The findings will contribute to future town planning and development plans for playgrounds and public spaces in the area. 

Liverpool Study Hub hosted by UNSW

In late 2025, UNSW will establish a Suburban University Study Hub (SUSH) in Liverpool. This region is experiencing significant growth in health, education, and innovation.

The initiative reflects the University’s dedication to supporting pathways to tertiary education, particularly for migrant groups, First Nations people, students from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those with disability.

Studying maths in Parramatta

UNSW is offering its students diversity of choice when it comes to place-based learning. With a large proportion of students living in Greater Western Sydney, the University has been offering maths students the opportunity to do their tutorials at the Parramatta Innovation Hub (6 Hassall Street) since the start of 2024.

UNSW has held over 40 teaching classes at the space, which offers a range of rooms for study, workshops, events and meetings.   

MATH1081 tutorials are held twice a week in Kensington, with the option to do the board tutorial session at the Parramatta Hassall Street hub once a week. In this tutorial session, students work in groups, with the classes capped at 22 students.

MATH1231 tutorials are held once a week in Parramatta with a class size of up to 30 students. This is a more traditional style blackboard tutorial.

The convenor contacts UNSW timetabling to discuss options and availability for scheduling a local tutorial. If suitable, timetabling works with UNSW Hospitality to book the space. Students can then select their tutorial via the online enrolment portal, at their preferred location.

“This system works well for us. Many of the students who opt for Parramatta tutorials reside in the area or live in the west and appreciate the opportunity to attend locally. Personally, it has cut my commute time in half. In terms of functionality of the space, the students like the use of the digital boards, which is useful for group work. It is also close to public transport, restaurants and supermarkets, which I know the students enjoy.”

Find out more about 6 Hassall St or book the space.

UNSW and Liverpool City Council commit to work together

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) brings strengths in research, education and entrepreneurship to the partnership. 

UNSW Sydney has signed a 3 year MOU with Liverpool City Council, committing to work together to create lasting positive impacts that empower the City of Liverpool and foster regional growth. The agreement helps to embed UNSW as the local Group of Eight Go8 university in South West Sydney, and brings strengths in research, education and entrepreneurship to the partnership. 

“UNSW has a strong, established presence in the South West, and has done for 35 years. But, our vision for the region has evolved and it’s changed more rapidly in recent years. It’s changed because the needs of this community have changed”, Prof. Annesley said. 

“We want to respond to the community through genuine connections. By signing this memorandum today, we reaffirm our commitment to do more– we want to deliver activities that benefit the people of Liverpool and the wider community.” 

UNSW aims to collaborate and co-operate with Liverpool City Council to drive positive socio-economic development and community well-being through collaborative research, education and locally based initiatives. 

Liverpool City Mayor Ned Mannoun was thrilled to announce a closer relationship with the University.

“This is an exciting partnership for Liverpool City. We’re a universities city and this gives kids the best opportunity possible”, he said.

“We want to tackle the biggest challenges that exist with each other.” 

UNSW will work with Liverpool’s leaders to create diverse and high-quality employment opportunities, and enhance the built and natural environments, health and infrastructure. 

Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building - Campbelltown

Construction is nearly complete on a new state-of-the-art facility that will put south western Sydney at the forefront of medical research, with construction nearly complete on the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur.

The partnership involves UNSW Sydney, Western Sydney University, South Western Sydney Local Health District and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, with the support of Walker Corporation. Together, they bring world-leading researchers and clinicians across many disciplines in the same space.

UNSW’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said the new building will offer greater opportunities for collaboration.

“In partnership, and building on our significant health, education and research presence in Greater Western Sydney, the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur will help address some of the biggest health challenges facing the region. This is a momentous milestone for all of us who are working together to improve health for the Macarthur community”, Professor Brungs said.

The Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building - Macarthur is due to open in 2025.