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ACU Blacktown opens new information centre at 22 Main St

The centre this week marked its official opening at 22 Main St, Blacktown, the site of the university’s interim campus, which will welcome students from semester 1 next year.

The new ACU Blacktown campus information centre at 22 Main St, Blacktown. Picture: Supplied
The new ACU Blacktown campus information centre at 22 Main St, Blacktown. Picture: Supplied

It’s a vision that’s been years in the making, and soon the Blacktown CBD will have its first university campus, with ACU marking the opening of their new information centre.

The centre this week marked its official opening at 22 Main St, the site of the university’s interim campus, which will welcome students from semester 1 next year.

Monday’s opening of the centre marked an important milestone in the development of Blacktown City’s first CBD university campus, with the site accommodating a future students team, drop-in centre for inquiries, a chapel and office space.

ACU Provost and Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis and Patrician Brothers College Blacktown staff and students. Picture: Supplied
ACU Provost and Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis and Patrician Brothers College Blacktown staff and students. Picture: Supplied

Redevelopment of the Main St site will continue into the new year, when the university will take on its first students, with a permanent tower set to open in the Warrick Lane precinct in 2024.

Year 12 students from Nagle College and Patrician Brothers College Blacktown were among the first visitors to check out the new information centre this week.

ACU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis said the new campus would provide local opportunities for tertiary studies for the thousands of students who leave Blacktown for their universities studies every week.

“Our students will no longer need to leave Blacktown to study. Currently 18,000 students leave the area to study each year,” Professor Skrbis said.

The new ACU Blacktown campus information centre at 22 Main St, Blacktown. Picture: Supplied
The new ACU Blacktown campus information centre at 22 Main St, Blacktown. Picture: Supplied

“The founding of this university will allow our students to study – it will cater to their needs and those of future generations.

Blacktown state Labor MP Stephen Bali said the journey in establishing Blacktown CBD’s first university campus had been significant.

“This has been a five-year journey,” Mr Bali said.

“ACU has a fundamental role in bringing allied health into the area.

“It was clear from their bid that ACU offers education that is fundamental to this city.

ACU Provost and Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis and Patrician Brothers College Blacktown Principal Frank Chiment signed a “Letter of Intent” to formalise a collaboration between the two education institutions. Picture: Supplied
ACU Provost and Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Zlatko Skrbis and Patrician Brothers College Blacktown Principal Frank Chiment signed a “Letter of Intent” to formalise a collaboration between the two education institutions. Picture: Supplied

“In their bid ACU was head and shoulders above the rest. They wanted to be involved in and part of the community.”

Once the campus opens its doors, students will have the opportunity to study about 30 courses in the faculties of Education and Arts, Health Sciences, Law and Business, and

Theology and Philosophy, both undergraduate and postgraduate.

The ACU Guarantee program will see offers made as early as this month, and even earlier next year. Offers will be made to students based on their Year 11 results.

Three information sessions will be held over the coming months on September 26, October 10 and November 21.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/blacktown-advocate/acu-blacktown-opens-new-information-centre-at-22-main-st/news-story/fee38db3b90e8402b5bd4548d36a0eda