Town and Gown Gala Dinner to celebrate Western Sydney and cutting-edge health and medical research

In an evening of celebration hosted by Ray Martin, this year’s Town & Gown Gala Dinner will showcase the university’s commitment to western Sydney; outstanding alumni community; and cutting-edge health and medical research projects making an impact on the region, and the world.

Proceeds from the gala event will be directed towards the University’s ‘Western to the World’ scheme, an initiative that will link the university’s health and medical researchers and higher degree research students with respected international leaders.

The scheme will build new, and embed existing collaborations between Western research groups and elite international partner universities. It will deliver a sophisticated two-way knowledge exchange program and support the recruitment of world leading talent to Western. According to Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover, it will help unlock western Sydney’s potential.  

“Western to the World will help build the university’s research capacity and improve health outcomes across our community. Working together with our partners, students, patients and community we will bring the best evidence and breakthroughs in health, to advance outcomes on the ground in western Sydney, Australia and across the world,” says Professor Glover.

Western is rapidly carving out a reputation for the high quality of its health and medical research and for tackling the nation’s challenges in chronic disease; healthy ageing; midwifery, maternal and child health; mental health and wellbeing; and health innovation.

Across the University’s medical, nursing, psychology, health sciences, health management and allied health fields, there are over 12,500 students in clinical or related placements in every major hospital in the region.

Western is fiercely committed to the health and wellbeing of its region – no other institution, educational or otherwise, has made such a large commitment. In the next 10 years, the University will bring more than $5 billion in industry-partnered investment in the most advanced health and educational infrastructure to western Sydney, with more to follow in the subsequent decade.

For the first time, the university’s Alumni Awards will also be incorporated into this year’s Town & Gown Gala Dinner celebration. The Alumni Awards program acknowledges and celebrates the exceptional achievements of our outstanding graduates making an impact both in Australia, and across the world. As Western Sydney University looks to the future, the alumni community plays a vital role in helping secure the University’s ambitious plans.  

The 2018 Town & Gown Gala Dinner is supported by gold sponsors Brydens Lawyers, Charter Hall and PwC Australia.

ENDS.

19 October 2018

Emma Sandham, Senior Media Office