Region. UWS as lead institutiion

The University of Western Sydney is the lead institution of a project involved on the Bridges to Higher Education project to increase the numbers of students from low socio-economic backgrounds in higher education. The University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney, Macquarie University, and the Australian Catholic University are also involved.. The five universities will work together, with the announcement of $21.2 million in federal government funding over four years.

Blacktown. Student placements

Stephen Frost, MD, of the Blacktown Regional Economic and Employment Development (BREED) Taskforce has placed over 3500 students from 21 different high schools, TAFE WSI and trade schools, into businesses for Structured Work Placement, across 13 different vocational frameworks. BREED has worked with over 400 businesses and numerous organisations as partners, and has assisted over 100 students to stay at school and finish year 12, find employment or helped them into other educational pathways.

Region. Vocal advocate for greater Sydney

Chris Jordan, chairman, of the new look Committee of Sydney, said reliance on the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House had been the focus for far too long, and other parts of Sydney, particularly Western Sydney needed to be part of the picture. Dr Tim Williams, the committee’s strategic adviser, said: "The global city is greater Sydney, and that’s the message we want to get out.” The committee wants to be “a vocal advocate for greater Sydney” and perceived less as a "lunch club", according to a report in The Australian Financial Review

North West. Push resisted

The NSW government has resisted a push by Infrastructure NSW to allow the private sector to run trains on the planned $8.5 billion North West Rail Link under a proposal that would see the rest of the rail line’s operations outsourced.

North West. 'Pure nonsense'

The headline of an editorial in The Australian Financial Review (December 15) said: “O’Farrell should rethink rail plan.” The paper went on to say: “NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell’s claim that his government’s planned $8.5 billion North West Rail Link is as important to Sydney as the Harbour Bridge is pure nonsense. The project is an expensive misdirection of taxpayers” money that was proposed by the Coalition only to win seats in the area from Labor ant the last state election.”

Region. Stores to close

Fletcher Jones stores at Campbelltown and Rouse Hill are among those to be closed nationwide following the Victorian clothing manufacturer being placed in receivership, owing about $10 million in debts.