News Archive

The University of Western Australia will celebrate a successful decade at its Albany Centre on Monday.

The Governor of Western Australia, Dr Ken Michael AC, Chair of the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC) Board, Peter Rundall, and City of Albany, Mayor Milton Evans, will attend the anniversary tributes, along with UWA's Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Winthrop Professor Bill Louden.

A civic reception, hosted by the City of Albany, will be held on Monday evening and an afternoon tea with the Governor, hosted by the Great Southern Development Commission, is being held at the UWA Albany Centre in the afternoon.

The celebration of the anniversary closely coincides with the award to its Director, Barbara Black, of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council citation ‘for a sustained, outstanding commitment to improving access to higher education in regional areas and providing high-quality learning experiences for regional students'.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the University was thrilled to be celebrating 10 years in Albany and thankful for the ongoing support of the City of Albany, the GSDC and the local community.

"UWA in Albany has gone from strength to strength, with our Rural Clinical School and Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management being twin pillars of excellence in UWA's offerings in Albany," Professor Robson said.

"Our relationship with this community is a dedicated and continuing one."

During the 10 years the University has operated in Albany, it has built up strong relationships with local, State and Federal Government agencies as well as community groups.

One of the Centre's strongest supporters has been the GSDC which, along with the Shire and Town of Albany, lobbied to have a university presence in the town more than 10 years ago.

Highlights over the decade include:

• The establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management;
• The inauguration of the Great Southern Program of the Perth International Arts Festival;
• Funding for a UWA Albany Sciences Building;
• An Australian Award for University Teaching;
• The opening of the UWA Rural Clinical School providing a year-long placement for fifth-year medical students.  This is now the Rural Clinical School of WA (RCSWA) in partnership with Notre Dame University;
• A Premier's Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management ‘for creating jobs and economic prosperity' to the RCSWA.

Media references

Barbara Black (Director of Albany Centre)  (+61 8)  9842 0801
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716