November 12, 2026
Education Minister tours UOW Liverpool as new campus development takes shape
Minister Jason Clare gets first look inside the new Liverpool campus as demand for university education grows
The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) commitment to increasing access to higher education was in focus this week as Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, toured UOW Liverpool’s new campus development on Wednesday 11 November with Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Max Lu AO and UOW Global Brand Ambassador Adam Gilchrist AM.
In March, Minister Clare officially opened UOW’s new Liverpool Civic Place campus, enabling student growth following the University’s move from Moore Street where it had been located since 2017. The new Helix Hub development, just next door at Civic Place, is the second stage of UOW’s campus expansion, and will futureproof its footprint in the region.
[L-R] Adam Gilchrist, Minister Jason Clare and Vice-Chancellor Max Lu
Professor Lu said there is a strong student demand in Liverpool, and the UOW campus development will enable us to increase higher education participation in communities where university qualification rates are lower.
“In Liverpool, just 20 per cent of adults have a degree, compared with 33 per cent across Greater Sydney. Since 2017, UOW has been helping bridge that gap, and our new campus at Liverpool Civic Place will take that to another level,” said Professor Lu.
“We want to work alongside the community, schools, industry and government to ensure that local students can access the skills and qualifications close to home. We are very excited about supporting the aspirations of young people and the future workforce needs of South Western Sydney.”
The new vertical campus will include expanded teaching and specialist learning spaces, student common areas, a sports hall, event and engagement spaces, and a dedicated student level with a terrace.
Minister Clare said the new campus would help expand access to higher education in one of Australia’s fastest growing regions in line with the Universities Accord’s ambitions.
“Growing up in Western Sydney a lot of my friends felt like university was somewhere else for someone else,” Minister Clare said.
“Campuses like UOW Liverpool bring university closer to where people live and open the doors wider to students from the outer suburbs. That’s what I’m trying to do as Education Minister.”
The new Liverpool campus is set to open in early 2028.