Urban Research Centre

Welcome

Welcome to the Urban Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney.

The Centre aspires to be an international leader in research and teaching initiatives involving cities and urban management. Our approach is interdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative. Our methods and data are comprehensive, precise and effective. We take much pride in our work and seek to be known for our quality, creativity and effectiveness.

The Centre has as a priority the development of a team of excellent doctoral researchers and the provision of high quality, relevant academic studies in its Master of Urban Management program and associated short courses.

On behalf of the staff of the Urban Research Centre, I invite you to contact us if you have any questions about our research, our courses or the many other activities that make working with us a challenging and exciting experience.

Professor Phillip O'Neill
MA (Hons), Dip Ed, PhD Macq
Director, Urban Research Centre

News Release

The Urban Research Centre has released its report into Arabic businesses in Western Sydney. The report finds that Arabic and Lebanese businesses make a major contribution to the Western Sydney economy. The report finds that with well-targeted assistance and advice measures, this business group can play a major role in jobs and income generation in some of Sydney's highest unemployment suburbs.

For the press release, please download the An asset, not a problem: Australian Arabic businesses key to economic growth in Western Sydney - Press Release (opens in a new window) (MS Word, 18Kb)

For the full report, please download the Building Arabic Businesses: Alternative Pathways to Employment Generation in Sydney's Auburn-Bankstown Corridor - Report (opens in a new window) (PDF, 1Mb)

About Us

The Urban Research Centre is ideally located in the geographical, economic and socio-cultural heartland of Sydney - a laboratory to understand the challenges and devise solutions about contemporary urbanisation. The Centre undertakes world-class research involving a large team of interdisciplinary, adventurous and engaged staff with high-level expertise in spatial economic analysis, urban performance indicators, demographic change, innovation studies, policy development and evaluation, community consultation, qualitative and quantitative research techniques, and in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Research Activity

The Urban Research Centre engages in research within 2 themes:

• Productive and diverse urban economies  
• Affordable and sustainable housing  

Research activity is funded by a generous grant by the UWS Board of Trustees, as well as from national competitive grants and by direct contracts with government agencies, private firms and the not-for-profit sector.

Contact Us

The Urban Research Centre is located at Level 6, 34 Charles Street, Parramatta NSW. For motr information on our location, please see How to find the URC.

For information on the Centre, please contact +61 (2) 8833-5912 or email urcadmin@uws.edu.au 

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