A new partnership will establish a dedicated UNSW presence at Powerhouse Parramatta, creating a platform for research, public engagement and STEM pathways in Western Sydney.

UNSW Sydney and the Powerhouse Museum have today announced a major new partnership, bringing together one of Australia’s leading science and technology universities with the country’s most significant cultural institution for applied arts and sciences.

The three-year partnership will see UNSW establish a dedicated presence within Powerhouse Parramatta, the new museum currently under construction in one of the world’s most significant new museum projects and set to open in late 2026.

Powerhouse and UNSW will co-design a dynamic program of public events and exhibitions and collaborate on research, education and industry engagement across science, engineering, design and the arts.

The partnership strengthens Western Sydney as a world-class cultural and innovation destination, deepening connections between academia, industry, government and the community.

The program will include summits, public lectures, industry roundtables and exhibitions focused on shared priorities, including innovation, urban development, engineering, cultural policy and education.

As part of the partnership, UNSW will also receive naming rights to St George’s Terrace, which will be known as UNSW House, a dedicated community and learning space within Powerhouse, creating a platform for learning, collaboration and engagement with the University, students, alumni, partners and NSW communities.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to public good, education and innovation, and that the University was proud to be working with the Powerhouse, a truly world-class institution.

“UNSW staff and students come from right across Sydney, and we have had a strong presence in Bankstown, Parramatta and Liverpool for close to 35 years. Over the last decade, the largest student cohorts have come from Western Sydney,” Professor Brungs said.

“This collaboration continues UNSW’s strategy of bringing more of the University to our city’s west in ways that create opportunity and deliver progress for all.

“UNSW engineers, scientists and researchers are responsible for some of the most transformative technological breakthroughs in Australia today. This partnership opens this groundbreaking work to the community, especially the students of Western Sydney who are our future leaders in science and technology.”

Creating pathways for students 

Fourth-year UNSW computer science student Diya Lijo recently completed a work-integrated learning project at Powerhouse. She said she was very excited to see a dedicated space for UNSW within Powerhouse Parramatta.

“Powerhouse is truly a symbol of innovation, and where art and engineering meet. This partnership will be inspirational for UNSW students living in Western Sydney, and I look forward to participating in the many activities that will be on offer,” Ms Lijo said.

Raheek Mosowi agrees. The second-year biomedical engineering student, studying at UNSW with the support of a Sir William Tyree Foundation Women in Engineering scholarship, is thrilled about the possibilities.

“I think the partnership is a brilliant way of tapping into the innovative and creative potential of local students and prompting them into the path of pursuing their passions at UNSW. It’s also a great opportunity for high school students in Western Sydney to physically connect with a range of educational experiences that the university has to offer.”

Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said the partnership with UNSW would further embed learning at the heart of the new museum.

“This innovative partnership will bring research out of the lab and campus, and into the programming and learning experiences at Powerhouse – creating new STEM pathways for school students, industry collaboration and community engagement,” Ms Havilah said.

The NSW Government has backed the collaboration as part of its commitment to strengthening cultural infrastructure and opportunity in Western Sydney. NSW Minister for the Arts John Graham said the partnership represented the scale of ambition driving cultural investment in Western Sydney.

“This partnership between UNSW and the Powerhouse is exactly what Western Sydney deserves: world-class institutions collaborating to deliver opportunity, innovation and leadership,” Minister Graham said.

“Powerhouse Parramatta is a once-in-a-generation cultural investment for NSW and partnerships like this ensure it will be a place where education, arts, science and industry meet, creating pathways for young people, supporting jobs and reinforcing Western Sydney’s role at the heart of our state’s future.”

Key elements of the partnership include:

• A dedicated UNSW-branded community and learning space within Powerhouse Parramatta
• A co-designed calendar of public programs and events, including flagship thought-leadership series and summits
• Collaborative research and access to Powerhouse collections and archives for UNSW researchers
• Industry engagement, innovation challenges and roundtables connecting researchers, industry and policymakers
• Student internships, placements and mentoring opportunities across disciplines.

The University is grateful to the Sir William Tyree Foundation for inspiring this impactful partnership. The Foundation has been a committed partner to UNSW and the Powerhouse for many years. The Tyree family’s long-standing ties to both institutions helped establish the formal partnership and create strong alignment, particularly in a shared commitment to supporting young people in STEM.