NSW is home to the largest number of defence bases and capabilities of any state or territory and is home to one quarter of Australia’s military and defence civilian personnel. All three services have significant bases throughout the state, including major sustainment hubs for the Australian Army at Holsworthy Barracks, the Royal Australian Navy at Garden Island and the Royal Australian Air Force at Williamtown.

Each service has operational level headquarters and significant training units located across the state.

Greater Sydney provides a harbour for the Royal Australian Navy base, Victoria Barracks, Randwick Barracks, Liverpool Military Area, and RAAF bases Richmond and Glenbrook.

Research and Development related to defence is conducted at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at University of Sydney, the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T) at the University of NSW and the Centre for Autonomous Systems at the University of Technology Sydney.

Greater Sydney has advanced manufacturing capacity in technologies identified as critical to the success of the Defence Force in the coming years.

These include:
• acoustic technologies and systems
• complex system integration
• cybersecurity
• advanced materials and optics
• helicopter and jet engine maintenance and simulation
• intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
• electronic warfare
• space technologies
• small arms manufacturing.

Sydney is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. The Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and Royal Botanic Garden nearby.

Tour the Sydney Opera House, climb the Harbour Bridge, swim at Bondi Beach, visit the zoos and aquariums, explore aboriginal culture and watch whales frolic off the coast.

Waste is a significant and increasing contributor to emissions. Moving to a circular economy will reduce emissions and improve sustainability of our cities and infrastructure. This will require major changes to waste management, recycling, and reuse across the six cities.

Increasing the separation of household food and organic waste can generate renewable energy and reduce emissions. This may require innovative solutions in higher-density areas where fewer households have access to their own garden, including through the development of community-led ‘maker spaces’ or ‘circular economy hubs’.

Australian and international research organisations agree that the world's climate is changing. Some of these changes have been linked to human influences due to the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels is causing an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases and consequent warming of the atmosphere.

Observed changes in climate include an increase in average temperatures, a decrease in cold temperature extremes, an increase in warm temperature extremes, an increase in extreme high sea levels and an increase in the number of intense rainfall events in some area.

The impacts of climate change highlight the need to protect land for its future productive capacity particularly where there is a combination of biophysical assets such as water, topography and soils.

The Central West supports high value agriculture now and will be important to sustain production of more specialised agricultural and horticultural enterprises into the future.

Farm adaptation options are already being developed with the Grains Research and Development work on farming systems, and the cotton industry. A critical concern to irrigated agriculture is securing water for production in terms of quality, quantity and delivery.

Bathurst has a rich history of supporting creative arts and creative industries. Charles Sturt University's School of Communication and Creative Industries has been a significant contributor to national and international talent pools for decades, with well-known alumni reaching the top of their field in journalism, communication, PR, and media management.

Outside Charles Sturt University, Bathurst has a strong field of creative professionals in architecture, design, graphic design, film and sound production, advertising and marketing, illustration, 3D animated design and more. Bathurst’s proximity to Sydney enables our creative professionals to not only serve the Central West and Orana Regions but also the nearby Sydney and Canberra metropolitan markets.

The Central West region of New South Wales is renowned for its food and wine and excellent agricultural produce. It covers an area of 63,000 square kilometres starting at the temperate, elevated Central Tablelands on the western side of the Blue Mountains and extends almost 500km to the semi-arid Central West plains.

The region is home to over 181,000 people within the 11 council areas of Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.

Unique in its diversity of economy, the Central West Region of NSW is rich in natural resources with agriculture, mining and tourism significant drivers of jobs and opportunities. Increasingly, health and education have taken on a significant role in the region’s economy.

The agriculture and mining industry output is underpinned by abundant natural resources within rich soil and mineral deposits. Additionally, varied topography and climatic conditions across the region provide various opportunities ranging from forestry, cool climate produce, dairy, sheep and beef livestock, as well as a variety of irrigation and broad acre crops.

Charles Sturt University in the Central West has campuses in Bathurst and Orange, focused on agriculture, health, business, creative industries, engineering, ICT and arrange of science subjects.

Orange
Set in the foothills of Mount Canobolas, Orange has a relaxed country atmosphere combined with boutique shops, sporting facilities, and quality educational and health services.

Charles Sturt in Orange has a farm and a range of state-of-the-art facilities, including an award-winning health building. Small class sizes at Orange Campus ensure you get the best out of your study experience and quickly settle in to life at Charles Sturt, while outside the classroom, you can catch up with friends at the Templer’s Mill bar on campus.

Bathurst
A rich heritage of bushrangers and gold rush days combines with the excitement of the V8 Supercars and numerous local sporting competitions to make Bathurst a great place to live and study. There are also plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to catch up with friends and a busy shopping scene.

About 2,500 students are completing their degrees at Charles Sturt’s Bathurst Campus, where a range of facilities offer the latest technology in fields like communication, exercise science and nursing. A range of on campus accommodation options is available, and you can relax in the student bar or food outlets, or enjoy the open spaces around campus.

Mt Canobolas, near Orange, is the highest peak at 1398m. The remaining land in the central tablelands of the study area comprises steep and undulating terrain. Mt Canobolas provides sloping basaltic soils, a cool climate, and consistent rainfall which are highly suitable for cool climate grape and fruit production. The production of fruit, cherries, grapes, nuts, cut flowers, some vegetables and eggs have contributed to the ‘food Basket’ image of the area which has promoted the agritourism industry.

The western slopes and plains consist of rolling hills which flow onto open plains. The combination of good rainfall, reliable water supply from the Belubula and Lachlan River as well as high temperatures create an optimal environment for crop production. Wheat, barley, oats and canola are important crops in this area.

Health Care and Social Assistance is largest employing industry across the Bathurst Region, accounting for nearly 14% of total employment. Employment across the health sector has almost doubled over the past 10 years, with the sector worth $318 million to the Bathurst economy. The strategic location of Bathurst makes the city well positioned to supply health services to the surrounding areas.

The Bathurst Base Hospital is a major health node for the wider Central West Region, providing over 100 beds. Both Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University offer work placements at the major public hospital.

The area is also served by the Bathurst Private Hospital, where two operating theatres are provided. A wide variety of general practitioners, medical specialists and allied health providers operate throughout the Bathurst Region.

IBM is setting up a regional innovation centre at Charles Sturt University, which will provide the Central West with greater job opportunities, by offering opportunities closer to home now and into the future.

Mining has been present in Orana and Central West NSW for more than a century, with some workers’ families having been in the sector for generations. The region has a well-established culture of mining, and many workers live and work locally.

The resources sector is the leading contributor to the region’s economy, accounting for $4.3 billion (or nearly 25%) of the area’s total economic value.

Orana and Central West NSW host a number of commodities including coal, copper, silver, lead, zinc, gold and critical minerals. There are 16 established mines in the region, with another handful being developed or going through feasibility studies.

Notable mines include Northparkes Mines, Cadia near Orange, and Springvale and Clarence Colliery.
Other projects in the region under development include Sunrise Energy Metals Sunrise Battery Materials Complex and McPhillamys Gold Project.

From the slopes of the Central Tablelands out to the western flats, here you’ll find delicious produce, excellent wine and fascinating stories aplenty.

There’s also the lively student city of Bathurst, with its impressive heritage and need for speed when it comes to car racing. Discover the captivating stories of Cowra, once the site of a daring escape by Japanese prisoners of war.

Located on the banks of the Macquarie River just three hours’ drive west of Sydney, Bathurst is the site of Australia’s oldest inland European settlement. Now a vibrant country city with a rich cultural heritage, Bathurst manages to combine rural, manufacturing and education industries with a lifestyle rich in sport, art and tourism facilities. Home to one of the great motor racing circuits in the world, Mount Panorama, Bathurst is synonymous with motorsport.

Agri-tourism in the form of low-key farm stays and bed and breakfast establishments can provide an alternative income stream of agricultural producers while also educating the community about the activities that occur on farm.

The Hunter is one of NSW’s most popular destinations, located just two hours’ drive north of Sydney. Newcastle, Maitland and Lake Macquarie are the major cities, surrounded by the regional centres, which include Cessnock, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens, Scone, Singleton and Taree.

The Hunter features coastal and valley landscapes, internationally renowned wine production, important natural areas, both urban and rural lifestyles and extensive mining resources. Together with its global companies, these features make the Hunter an attractive place to work, live and play.

The region is also home to a multi-million dollar thoroughbred horse breeding industry, world-class wineries and national parks, and its river estuaries are the largest oyster producers in the state.

The Port of Newcastle is the largest coal export port in the world, with its overall exports valued at almost $18.5 billion in 2016-17.

Williamtown RAAF base sits at the heart of the region’s defence sector and is supported by a hub of important defence and aerospace companies. It is co-located with the Newcastle Airport, currently servicing 1.2 million passengers annually.

The advanced manufacturing sector in the Hunter-based industries continues to develop new products and processes in many traditional industries including medical, energy, food, wine and supply chains using smart technologies.

Advanced manufacturers in Greater Sydney provide the most valuable and skill-intensive parts of the production process, including high-tech design and development, innovative research, product customisation, client-focused support and repair services.

Greater Sydney has strengths in advanced manufacturing in the aerospace and food and beverage sectors. To build on Western Sydney’s thriving manufacturing industry, the NSW Government, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, are developing a high-tech, state-of-the-art Aerospace and Defence Industries Precinct, adjacent to the new Western Sydney Airport.

The UTS Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) supports Australian manufacturers on this journey, helping them to embrace digital transformation and drive increased self-sufficiency/on-shoring of manufacturing in a post-Covid-19 world.

Located in the Engineering precinct of the University of Sydney's Darlington campus, the Sydney Manufacturing Hub is a manufacturing-focused research facility that works with industry to deliver cutting-edge R&D in additive manufacturing and materials processing.

The Hub provides capabilities for design, topological optimisation, the 3-D printing of metals, ceramics and polymers, as well as post-processing heat treatment, advanced characterisation and more, paving the way for new technology in industries like aerospace, autonomous vehicles, biomedical, defence, maritime, and robotics.

The UNSW Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory covers teaching, research and consulting in various manufacturing processes. This includes advanced laser and laser-hybrid processing of materials, high pressure water jet and air jet processing of materials, mechanical machining, additive manufacturing, and friction and wear.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face. It impacts our natural environment and ecosystems, our economy, our infrastructure, and our way of life. As we plan for the future, we must ensure that we achieve sustainability for the long term, transforming to meet the challenge of realising net zero emissions, while ensuring our cities are resilient and adaptable in the face of the escalating climate change impacts we are already experiencing.

Reaching net zero emissions by 2050 will require a major shift towards private, public and heavy electric vehicles and more trips by public transport, walking and cycling.

The 2019–2020 bushfires across eastern Australia caused loss of life, property, infrastructure and devastating impact on communities, vegetation, wildlife and ecosystems across our region. There were additional health and economic impacts from the thick smoke blanketing the region for months.

Recycled water, including recycled stormwater, can help mitigate urban heat in a way that is less reliant on rainfall and drinking water supplies. Currently, only seven per cent of wastewater in Greater Sydney is recycled. Making greater use of recycled water, and water conservation measures will be critical to keeping our communities cool and green.

Creative businesses choose NSW due to its cluster of filmmakers, artists, designers, writers, musicians, dancers and advertising agencies. The state also has a thriving museum and art gallery culture.

Sydney has twice been voted the world's top festival and events city by the International Festivals and Events Association. It offers an exciting fusion of leading performance companies, venues and facilities including:

• Sydney Festival
• Chinese New Year Festival
• Vivid Sydney light and music extravaganza
• Sydney Biennale
• Writers' Festival
• Comedy Festival
• Film Festival

Sydney is also home to world-renowned performance companies such as:

• Australian Chamber Orchestra
• Bangarra Dance Theatre
• Opera Australia
• Sydney Dance Company
• Sydney Theatre Company

Sydney is recognised as Australia’s only global city and the leading knowledge-based economy in the nation.

Innovation districts, including health and education hubs, remain priority areas for building knowledge intensive jobs growth across the six cities. A number of current projects will set the scene for improved economic dynamism and future knowledge intensive jobs growth across the Central River and Western Parkland Cities. This includes the recently announced Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility at Bradfield, as well as investment in the Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility at the Westmead Health and Innovation District.

Focus industries will include agriculture, tourism, technology, health industries, defence and aerospace, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and materials, smart freight and logistics, agriculture and tourism.

Innovation districts will complement the Aerotropolis, centred on semiconductors, defence, aerospace and modern manufacturing. Tech Central, which has a focus on deep tech, software as a service, quantum cyber and information and communication technology,
and Westmead, which drives health innovation, building on Westmead’s strengths in advanced therapeutics, translation cancer, immunology, vaccinology clinical trials and digital health.

Sydney hosts six world-class universities offering a wide range of courses for international students across undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree levels.

The University of Sydney is one of the top universities in Sydney, Australia, and is consistently ranked in the top 50 universities in the world.

UNSW is ranked 2nd in Australia and 27th in the world for Graduate Employability. Browse our range of study options and find the perfect one for you.

Western Sydney University is one of Australia's leading institutions, ranked in the top 250 universities globally.

University of Technology Sydney is Australia's no 1 young university, focused on making a difference through leading research, and inspiring education.

Macquarie University is a public research university based in Sydney, Australia, in the suburb of Macquarie Park.

The Australian Catholic University is a publicly funded university with several campuses around Australia.

The City of Sydney is now powered using 100 per cent renewable electricity generated from wind and solar farms in regional NSW. All our operations – including street lights, pools, sports fields, depots, buildings and the historic Sydney Town Hall – now use 100% renewable electricity from locally-sourced clean energy. Roughly three-quarters of the City’s power is wind-generated, and the rest will come from solar power.

As the bushfires from the summer of 2019-20 remain fresh in people’s minds, proactive steps are needed to improve the city’s climate resilience. By decarbonising metropolitan systems and embracing renewable energy sources, Greater Sydney has the opportunity to lead a green post-pandemic recovery. Some cities, Sydney included, have made moves to decarbonise public transport fleets.

NSW is home to 11 universities, with 2 ranked in the top 50 for medicine and health. Australia is ranked 8th in the world for life sciences research.

Significant capital investment in health precincts dispersed across Greater Sydney in Westmead, Camperdown, Randwick and Liverpool, offers economic and productivity advantages to businesses.

Precincts are where research institutions and companies can cluster and connect with startups, business incubators and accelerators. This creates a culture that supports the commercialisation of products and services and grows the future skills pipeline.

The NSW Government is targeting priority sectors including:
• medical devices
• biotechnology
• clinical trials
• gene and cell therapies
• digital health.