Labor Leader congratulates Western Sydney University Nursing students

Professor Deborah Hatcher, Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery; Opposition Leader, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP; Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens MP; Nikki Meller, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Today, Western Sydney University welcomed the Leader of the Federal Opposition, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, to its Parramatta South campus, to meet with School of Nursing and Midwifery staff and students and learn more about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joined by the Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens MP, the Leader of the Opposition highlighted the students’ outstanding commitment to the needs of the community and commended the University’s efforts in supporting students’ pandemic preparation.

“It’s a real honour to meet these outstanding Western Sydney University students who could never have anticipated they would be training to be frontline workers in the middle of a pandemic.

“Their commitment to the community, enthusiasm for their work and ability to adapt to extraordinary circumstances is a credit to this University,” said Anthony Albanese MP.

Western Sydney University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, congratulated the School of Nursing and Midwifery students for their dedication and tireless work. He thanked the Leader of the Labor Party and Julie Owens for recognising the University’s contributions to the COVID-19 community response.

“Western Sydney University is ranked number one for Nursing in Australia and continues to be a world-leader in education and student experience.

“In partnership with Local Heath Districts and some of the largest hospitals in NSW, we have more than 12,500 Western Sydney University students in clinical or related placements in every major hospital throughout Western Sydney. The University is best-placed to ensure our region is equipped with a highly-trained and dedicated health workforce,” said Professor Glover.

Western Sydney University has 10 teaching campuses, many embedded in CBD locations. Over the last 30 years, the University has grown to more than 48,000 students, 3,000 staff and a strong cohort –locally and globally ­– of 200,000 alumni.

The University is ranked in the top two per cent of universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, and ranked third in the world for social, ecological, and economic impact in the 2020 THE University Impact Rankings. Western Sydney University is globally focused, research led, and committed to making a positive impact in the communities it serves.

ENDS

12 August 2020

Clare Patience, Senior Media Officer

Photo credit: Sally Tsoutas