Western Sydney has taken another major step in becoming Australia’s engine room for the jobs of the future.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday announced that the state’s first Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths school [STEM] will be established right here in our backyard – Sydney Science Park, Luddenham.
It is scheduled to be ready by 2021.
Those behind it say it is set to deliver a unique learning environment unlike anything in the entire country a stone’s throw from Western Sydney Airport, which is now just a few years away.
Sydney Science Park is located just three kilometres away from the Badgerys Creek site of the airport.
Christopher Brown, chairman of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, says having STEM at Luddenham as part of Sydney Science Park will provide an ideal platform to help develop the booming region’s next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
STEM at Luddenham will be a partnership between Celestino, developers of Sydney Science Park, and the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.
“This is cutting edge education, a place where students can study things like how to code robots or discover the latest in IT programming – it will equip them with the skills and knowledge needed for the jobs of the future,” Mr Brown said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The infrastructure boom in Western Sydney has just kicked off and it’s going to continue to explode over the coming decades, especially with Badgerys Creek Airport coming online within the next decade,’’ he said.[/social_quote]
“To have a school which can specialise in the development of the next wave of engineers, scientists and problem solvers right on the doorstep of all this activity is an enormous asset.
“Another benefit of this learning environment is that it will be co-located with other innovators, researchers and businesses within the Sydney Science Park, where they’ll be able to share resources and gain real-world learning experience.”
The STEM school at Sydney Science Park will be “pre to post” (preschool to beyond Year 12) and draw on the collaboration and resources of businesses, research organisations, educational institutions and community groups within the precinct.
It will deliver personalised learning that is grouped by stage, not age.
Sydney Science Park is set on over 280 hectares of land at Luddenham.
On completion it will employ more than 12,000 staff, in mostly high skilled, high paying jobs, educate 10,000 students in key scientific and technological disciplines, and provide more than 3,000 homes.
Last month, Sydney Science Park announced a partnership with CSIRO, to develop an urban living lab, providing a testing ground for researchers, industry, government and communities to collaborate and examine ideas, concepts and inventions.
Mr Brown says Sydney Science Park is well on its way to establishing a vibrant, innovative and creative community.
“Celestino has proven to be one of the region’s most progressive corporate leaders,’’ he said.
“In such short time, its Sydney Science Park has managed to attract world class professionals and organisations, which will undoubtedly be the catalyst for more high quality development and opportunities in Western Sydney,” he said.
