Australian Catholic University has welcomed the federal Labor Party’s pledge to dedicate $7 million to support the establishment of ACU’s new Blacktown campus in the heart of Western Sydney.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Universities and Equality Senator Louise Pratt announced on Wednesday 24 April that the ALP would allocate the grant from its $300 million University Future Fund. Senator Pratt said this was part of the party’s wider commitment to remove caps on university places.
“We are going to lift university caps by 2020, which is when you are hoping to enrol your first students here in Blacktown.”
ACU has partnered with Blacktown City Council to establish a comprehensive University campus with four faculties and more than 30 courses.
The grant will assist ACU to fit out an existing building as the start of its new campus, providing facilities for students from Western Sydney.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Hayden Ramsay outlined the importance of this infrastructure funding for serving the local community. The ACU development will provide access to university for the next generation of university students without having to travel across the city.
“The university can now build the nucleus of an ACU Blacktown campus even more quickly and with great confidence.
“It is time now for a university option in Blacktown so people who live here, work here and have commitments here can go to a university on their own doorstep.”
Professor Ramsay thanked Senator Pratt and Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland MP. He said the new campus would thrive and grow with fresh Commonwealth Supported Places which would come with the reestablishment of the demand-driven system promised by Labor.
Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali MP said Blacktown City Council welcomed the announcement by the Federal Labor Party.
“ACU’s Blacktown Campus is a vital part of Council’s vision for transforming Blacktown.
“The new campus will ensure the 18,000 university students living in Blacktown City will be able to live, work, play and study at their doorstep.”
ACU will open the Blacktown CBD campus in 2020 with pathway and business leadership programs, and full degree programs from 2021.
Michelle Rowland said: “This announcement is a strategic investment in the long-term future of Blacktown City, providing students in Greenway with first-rate university access close to home.”
Photo: From left – Shadow Minister for Universities and Equality Senator Louise Pratt, Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland MP, ACU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Hayden Ramsay, Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP.
