The University of Canberra is expanding to a new Sydney Hills Campus that will allow the University’s nursing degrees to be more accessible. File image.

The University of Canberra has announced a new partnership with the Education Centre of Australia (ECA), allowing for the opening of a new Sydney Hills campus.

The partnership with ECA will allow the University’s nursing degrees to be more accessible to those in North West Sydney and the Sydney region when the new campus opens in Castle Hills.

The Bachelor of Nursing degree and a new Graduate Entry Master of Nursing degree are planned to be delivered from Semester One and Two 2022, subject to professional accreditation and regulatory approval.

Students at the Sydney Hills campus will also have access to local and regional clinical placements and employment opportunities as well as excellent student facilities, including computer labs, lab spaces, simulated hospital wards and high-tech teaching spaces.

University of Canberra Pro Vice-Chancellor Students, Partnerships & International, Professor Lawrence Pratchett said the expansion has been well received.

“The partnership with the Education Centre of Australia and the establishment of the new Sydney Hills campus marks a period of growth for the University and an exciting opportunity to take our nursing courses further,” Professor Pratchett said.

“We know there is high demand for health courses, particularly in this locale and internationally, so the establishment of the campus has received strong support from local community groups and council.

“At the Sydney Hills campus, we look forward to providing exceptional student facilities, equivalent to those at the Bruce campus,” he said.

The University’s Sydney Hills campus is 31 kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD and is linked to transport infrastructure. The area is close to major shopping centres, Castle Towers and Castle Mall, Castle Hill, as well as cafes, restaurants and local shops, which will provide a range of services to support the proposed campus enrolments.

It will be housed in a two-storey, purpose-built building with over 2,000 square metres of floor space. The building will be equipped with the facilities and equipment needed throughout the nursing curriculum.

Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne, said “having a university campus in the Castle Hill Town Centre will be a great asset with many added benefits to our Shire, including our residents having access to local tertiary education and having a skilled workforce”.

“It will also create many economic benefits for the area, including driving our day and night-time economy,” she said.

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