Parramatta. Hotel to be rebranded

The Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels Group, owner of the 196-room Crowne Plaza Parramatta, in the Parramatta CBD, will rebrand the hotel as the Parkroyal Parramatta, in November. Pan Pacific owns and/or manages more than 30 hotels, resorts and serviced suites with over 10,000 rooms in Asia and North America under the Pan Pacific and Parkroyal brands.

Bankstown. New UWS teaching hospital

The Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital has become a teaching hospital of University of Western Sydney medical students, who will join UWS nursing students who are already receiving clinical experience at the hospital. "This is a major step forward for healthcare in the Bankstown-Lidcombe area, which will enhance hospital services in the local community," said the hospital’s GM, Mark Shepherd. Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital joins hospitals, GP clinics and other healthcare facilities across Greater Western Sydney, Bathurst and Lismore in providing clinical training places for UWS medical students.