Work with us

Research partnerships

As a part of its high-impact research culture and commitment to respond to the needs of its region, University of Western Sydney (UWS) undertakes partnership projects for collaborative problem solving. By developing strong links with both government and industry sectors, we have established a wide range of research partnerships within the region, nationally and internationally.

Regionally UWS has several conjoint appointments with the various Area Health Services and the Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit at Parramatta, and the Centre for Applied Nursing research at Liverpool Hospital.

Nationally UWS has been involved in large-scale industry projects. The Centre for Plant and Food Sciences is engaged in large-scale ongoing work evaluating the use of mineral oils for the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of cotton crops. This research aims to significantly reduce pesticide use in cotton and lower pest management costs.

A current example of collaborative research undertaken by UWS:

Backpacker Cultures

At the Centre for Cultural Research (CCR), a three year Australian Research Council (Linkage) study is being conducted by the University of Western Sydney titled "Backpacker cultures, residential communities, and the construction of tourist spaces and landscapes: a regional study of changing tourism dynamics in Sydney" with six partner Councils: City of Sydney, Manly Council, Randwick City Council, Waverley Council, North Sydney Council, and Woollahra Council.

This study is being coordinated by Prof Kay Anderson and Dr Fiona Allon (Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship) and draws on cultural studies, cultural geography and tourism to respond to industry calls for more comprehensive, long-term research on tourism issues, particularly backpacker tourism in the Sydney metropolitan region.

The project will explore tourism as a complex cultural practice through an innovative approach investigating the links between backpacker tourism and the transformation of places and communities. The focus is on backpackers, with a special emphasis on the problems Local Government faces in relation to backpackers within residential communities. The project will generate new approaches to these issues, informing a range of policies for local councils.

As well as academic outcomes, it is considered likely that the study by UWS will assist councils in dealing with and managing backpacker accommodation.