Time to get your skates on this winter, as Western Sydney University invites you to chill at Open Day

THE weather may be chilly but the welcome will be toasty and warm when Western Sydney University opens its doors to thousands of prospective students, their families and friends on Sunday, 2 July, as part of a winter-themed Open Day at the Parramatta campuses.

Prospective students will be able to take part in loads of fun, wintery activities this year, including taking a spin on an iceskating rink. The University has brought Open Day forward to July this year, to ensure current high school leavers can immerse themselves in a fun day out and explore their future study and career options ahead of upcoming HSC trial exams.

Visitors to Open Day will enjoy food trucks, live music and entertainment, prizes and giveaways, and have the opportunity to receive helpful course advice, and participate in interactive tours and demonstrations of the University’s state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities.

These include high-tech nursing and midwifery labs designed to simulate a contemporary hospital ward setting, Pepper the world’s first humanoid robot, and being shown around a working ambulance by paramedicine students.

Importantly, prospective students will have plenty of hands-on opportunities across the day to learn more about what Western Sydney University has to offer and see why it was named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact for the second year running in the prestigious Times Higher Education Impact rankings – a first for an Australian university.

Ainsley Mann, a third-year paramedicine student and Student Services Hub team member, is one of the friendly faces who will be at Open Day. The aspiring paramedic from the Blue Mountains herself attended Western Sydney University’s Open Day as a senior in high school, and found it an invaluable experience.

She said course advice from lecturers and the panel discussions featuring current students are a great way to get helpful tips about the student experience and learn more about the huge range of student clubs and societies on offer at the University.

Those considering upskilling or switching careers can also find out more about the wide range of flexible, industry-relevant microcredentials and short courses that best suit their professional needs, while current high school leavers can learn about early offer pathways such as the highly successful HSC True Reward program, according to Ainsley.

“I walked into Open Day uncertain of the degree I wanted to study – considering either law, criminology and medicine. When I left Open Day, I was confident I wanted to pursue health care,” Ainsley said.

She found studying a Bachelor of Paramedicine at the University provided her with an immense amount of professional and personal experience to prepare for an impactful career as a paramedic.

“I’m a practical, hands-on learner, and studying paramedicine was the perfect combination of theoretical and practical based learning, with simulations in immersive interactive spaces and technology, and practical placements across the state of NSW and the world. I just recently returned from a 6-week paramedic placement in London with London Ambulance Service, and this was a lifechanging experience.”

In addition to her studies, Ainsley is part of a dedicated team at the University’s Student Services Hub that provides support to prospective and current students. She will be among the many students, staff and academics on hand at Open Day to answer questions.

Her advice whether you’re a current high school student or a non-current school leaver, know what degree or career you’re interested in, or are still exploring your options, is to take the first step.

“It’s an awesome opportunity to explore one of our beautiful campuses, chat first-hand with our academics and students, experience the community vibe of Western, and take the first step in finding the right degree and career path for you.”

Sustainability will be a key feature of Open Day to minimise waste and go easy on the environment, including refillable water stations available for all to enjoy. In addition, several solar-powered smart benches around the campus will double as charging stations.

To get to the event, take public transport and make use of the free shuttle bus service that runs to the Parramatta South campus from the Parramatta City campus (169 Macquarie Street), which is adjacent to Parramatta Station.

Free parking will also be available at Rosehill Racecourse with shuttle buses taking guests to campus. Limited parking is available at the Parramatta South campus.

To register or for more information, visit www.westernsydney.edu.au/openday