Australian Catholic University has formally opened the Josephine Bakhita Campus in Blacktown. Students and leaders of local schools are excited about the opportunities that the new facility offers to young people in western Sydney.
“This not only makes tertiary education more accessible for people in Western Sydney but also opens up so many possibilities for students,” Nagle College Blacktown South Vice-Captain Erika Yu reflected. “I don’t think it could have opened in a better location!”
“In the heart of Blacktown, we’ll be able to learn and grow through the modern facilities provided, while still remaining close to home,” Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown Captain Danny Layoun said.
Nagle College Principal Delma Horan is particularly encouraged by chances for her students to experience university while still at school and for staff through the university’s School of Education.
“We’re so excited to welcome ACU to our beautiful community,” Delma said. “The Josephine Bakhita Campus brings lots of new learning opportunities to young people in Blacktown.”
Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown Principal Frank Chiment is looking forward to collaborating with ACU’s Blacktown campus on upcoming projects.
“Our College community is excited about having ACU in our neighbourhood as it provides increased transformational learning options for our boys,” Frank said.
From March 2021, pathways, undergraduate and postgraduate courses are available for study in the Faculties of Education and Arts, Health Sciences, Law and Business, and Theology and Philosophy.
The centre of the campus is a property at 22 Main Street shared with Blacktown City Council. It is a university campus in the heart of western Sydney, providing a place to study close to home for more than 18,000 tertiary students who would otherwise travel across the city to attend university.
Bishop of Parramatta, Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv, blessed the campus, which is named for Saint Josephine Bakhita, patron saint for slavery and human trafficking. ACU has selected someone whose social, moral and spiritual charism speaks to the local community.
ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis said the university was embarking on a mission to deliver a centre of higher education to serve the community, in a spirit of collaboration and togetherness.
“Standing at the cultural and geographical heart of Blacktown, our facilities and our students will add energy and colour to the city itself. We want to be partners and collaborators, to lead this community forward into a confident future.
“We will be future-focused, working together in novel ways to prepare our students for the jobs of the future, helping them to find innovative solutions to meet the challenges of our age.”
“Most of all, we will aim to be an inspiration to young people in this community, offering world-class higher education and research – in a state-of-the-art learning facilities in a place that feels like home.”
The campus is well supported by the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta and collaboration with Blacktown City Council.
With thanks to Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.
