Resources and Facilities

Professional Development Opportunities

One of the strategies in Building Better Relationships with Schools 2008-10 is “Enhancing professional skills - Enhance the skills of GWS school staff through professional development activities and provide opportunities for school and UWS staff to learn from each others’ experience”.

Current opportunities can be accessed through the

• Education Knowledge Network

Beginning Teachers' Guidebook

Partnering with Greater Western Sydney teachers from public, Catholic systemic and Independent schools, and sponsored by the NSW Teachers Credit Union, UWS Schools Engagement has developed Getting Down to Business: A Guide for Beginning Teachers.

Covering essential topics ranging from classroom setup and grading to organising excursions and communicating with parents, the guide aims to give new teachers valuable practical advice to assist them at the start of their teaching career.

“There are aspects in the book that I would not even have considered until my first day of teaching and now I can be prepared,” says Master of Teaching (Primary) graduate Mitchell Watkins.

Contact SchoolEngagement@uws.edu.au to ask for a free copy of the book.

Academic speakers for schools

UWS has developed a register of Academic Speakers for Schools.  The register includes academics from all UWS Schools (faculties) and most Research Centres.  Many are leaders in their fields. 

The register includes information on each academic's areas of expertise, sample topics, suggested audiences and estimated presentation times. It is structured by subject area, with some speakers appearing under more than one heading.

The register is updated as additional speakers join the program.

For more information, please see the Academic Speakers for Schools Register. 

To book a speaker, please use the UWS Academic Speakers 2010 Form. There is no fee involved. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Schools Engagement Unit. We ask that you don't contact the academics directly. This will help us to effectively organise and track use of the register. 

Pictured below is James Arvanitakis, PhD, Lecturer - School of Humanities and Languages, dancing with students during a presentation at the Holroyd Parramatta Youth Forum this year. 

School-related research

UWS is exploring ways to provide wider access to the results of school-related research (subject to confidentiality provisions) and relevant UWS Learning and Teaching projects. Watch this space!

Hire of venues

If you are interested in hiring UWS venues or facilities for your school event, you can contact the Schools Engagement Unit by email on SchoolsEngagement@uws.edu.au or by phone on (02) 9678 7423.

Hire of sporting facilities

Schools can hire uwsconnect sporting facilities on the UWS campuses and gain access to sports programs specifically designed for school groups. Facilities include swimming pools, ovals, an indoor sports hall, athletics track and gym. Schools in Greater Western Sydney are eligible for a discount rate on facilities hire. For more information contact the Connect Fitness Centre on the campus closest to you.