Region. Older uni staff a financial concern

The proportion of older baby boomer academics is markedly higher at the University of Western Sydney and four other of the state’s 10 universities, which face financial implications when they retire. Rhonda Hawkins, UWS deputy vice-chancellor, said it had been actively addressing its ageing workforce problems since 2006, targeting recruitment of under-40s. She said the university was planning an international ''Preparing for Academic Practice'' conference next year to attract early career academics. "We have embarked on a major academic staff recruitment campaign which will see 100 new staff appointed. This recruitment will target early career academics to boost numbers in key areas of demand,'' she said in The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW Auditor General’s annual report said UWS has 54 per cent of its academic staff over 50.

Silverwater. $53 million expansion completed

The State Government has officially opened the new $5 million Visits Centre at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre (formerly Mulawa), completing the final stage of the six-year $53 million upgrade of the maximum security facility, which houses up to 228 maximum security female offenders and is the state’s largest correctional centre for females.

Werrington. New car park and upgrade

Minister for Transport, John Robertson, officially opened the 74-space Werrington commuter car park and said the station would receive a $2 million transport interchange upgrade. He said car parks in Katoomba, Emu Plains, Quakers Hill, St Marys, Seven Hills, Blacktown, Schofields, Mt Druitt and Penrith either under construction or in the planning stages. “Western Sydney benefited significantly from (the) budget, with more than $400 million to be invested in new transport infrastructure for Western Sydney,” he said.