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Western Sydney as a Growing Region
Western Sydney is commonly touted as “Australia’s fastest growing region”, “the nation’s third largest economy”, and an “electoral battleground”. Conversely it is regularly rendered in the media as the site of record heatwaves, interminable gridlock and drive-by shootings.
Understanding those experiences is critical in achieving meaningful engagement with the aspirations, ideas and concerns of the region’s residents. That is the objective of Western Sydney University’s vehicle for regional thought leadership and solutions-orientated change, the Centre for Western Sydney.
About the Centre
Since its creation in 2014, the Centre for Western Sydney has established itself as a research entity of profound rigour. The Centre’s work on jobs distribution and related economic, employment and planning policy is authoritative. Equally, it has brought to the fore a range of analysis exploring the impact of, and ways to mitigate, rising heat in Western Sydney.
Drawing on those sound foundations, Western Sydney University re-launched the Centre on 26 November 2020. This renewed focus will see the full range of the University’s, Western Sydney related, collaborative expertise brought to bear to fulfil a unique commitment in our Act and a central tenet of our mission: supporting the development of Western Sydney. The Centre will research and advocacy with, and for, our region.
The reinvigorated Centre for Western Sydney is intended to act as a leading source of collaborative and cross disciplinary research and advocacy on Western Sydney. The Centre will produce long and short form analysis, media commentary and policy engagement on issues of central importance to the continued development of Western Sydney.
Our Priorities
Education and Participation
Education remains the most impactful catalyst for positive change in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, from early childhood through to the tertiary stage.
Health and Wellbeing
Health is a fundamental barometer of community wellbeing. Significant investments have been made, in recent years, in health infrastructure and services at sites like Blacktown-Mt Druitt, Liverpool, Nepean and Westmead.
Housing and Community
The lack of a coordinated, and at-scale, stimulus response to support social housing is worse than a missed opportunity, it risks exacerbating already profound housing challenges experienced throughout the region.
Place and Connectedness
As a markedly dispersed and dynamic metropolitan area, Western Sydney relies on connectivity - via transport links, digital and related infrastructure - to realise the full range of regional priorities the Centre for Western Sydney promotes.
Society and Culture
As an expression of community diversity and dynamism, culture is the characteristic that kinetically defines, reshapes and challenges Western Sydney’s identity.
Sustainability and Economy
Despite numerous government strategies to address job-creation and job-density shortfalls across Western Sydney, the region still profoundly lags Inner Sydney and comparable areas on both counts.