Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) (opens in a new window) was a nationwide assessment of Australia's research performance which highlighted national research strengths in disciplines of critical economic and social importance. For the purpose of ERA, research disciplines were assessed in two-digit and four digit classifications, with two-digit fields the broadest disciplinary classification. ERA was discontinued in 2022.

In the latest ERA evaluation in 2018, 85% of the University’s research was identified as ‘world standard or above’, and at the two-digit discipline level, 90% of our research was assessed at ‘world standard or above’. These results cement Western Sydney University’s standing as a world-class university with a growing international reach and a reputation for excellence.

Disciplines that scored a '5' rating, identifying them as 'well above world standard'

Two-digit Fields of Research: Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences; Biological Sciences; and Environmental Sciences.

Four-digit Fields of Research: Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Cultural Studies; Ecology; Ecological Applications; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Evolutionary Biology; Forestry Sciences; Microbiology; Nursing; Oncology and Carcinogenesis; Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Plant Biology; Soil Sciences; and Zoology.

Disciplines that scored a '4' rating, identifying them as 'above world standard'

Two-digit Fields of Research: Language, Communication and Culture; Mathematical Sciences; Medical and Health Sciences; and Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Four-Digit Fields of Research: Applied Mathematics; Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Communication and Media Studies; Environmental Science and Management; Human Geography; Human Movement and Sports Science; Linguistics; Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry; Materials Engineering; Performing Arts and Creative Writing; Psychology; Pure Mathematics; Sociology; and Statistics.

Overview of Results

Research Spotlight

Delivering better birthing strategies Educating pregnant women about complementary therapies could save millions of dollars every year.	Accidental trip reveals a hidden pathway An unexpected discovery could lead to new predictive biomarkers of drug response for cancer patients.	Realising a dream technology Tackling the condition of sleep apnoea could be as simple as slipping on a T-shirt.
A gut feeling Work to understand the gut bacteria of koalas could enhance survival rates of this vulnerable species.	Focusing on space junk Biologically-inspired cameras can track satellites that even the best optical telescope cannot.	Plan bee In making plans to withstand a globally devastating bee parasite, researchers are finding other ways to help crops thrive.
Blueprint for a land of droughts and flooding rains ‘Stress testing’ pasture plant species to help safeguard Australia’s livestock and dairy industries.	Helping children reach their potential A maternal visiting programme developed in Western Sydney is helping children in Australia, and around the world, thrive.	How an enclave became a cultural hub From a haven for new migrants, to an attraction for curious Sydney-siders, Chinatown is now a cosmopolitan bridge between Australia and Asia.