Sydney facility to raise the bar in medical teaching and learning

The University of Sydney has launched an innovative new facility - purpose-built to bring health students and applied health researchers into the medical heart of Western Sydney.

The state-of-the-art learning facility uses virtual reality and artificial intelligence to better prepare health students for clinical practice and will be a focal point of the Faculty of Medicine and Health’s Western Sydney (Baludarri) Precinct.

The research and teaching space in the Westmead Innovation Centre is set to be a ‘game-changer’ in teaching and learning in Western Sydney and is located at the Westmead Health Precinct as part of the University of Sydney’s investment in the Westmead redevelopment project.

Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology also visited the facility earlier, viewing the cutting edge technology on display.

“This is a space for world leading innovation and teaching, right here in Western Sydney," he said.

“The incredible ideas and the cutting edge technology available in the precinct aren’t just critical to attracting investment and jobs, they’re helping give the university’s graduates better skills so they can eventually deliver better outcomes for patients.”

Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology views technology being used in the media lab. Credit: Sharon Hickey

The facility is a 1190 square metre space featuring 16-bed simulation ward and features virtual reality and artificial intelligence to emulate high-risk scenarios in a safe training environment. The use of life-like mannequins which can ‘breathe’, blink their eyes and ‘speak’—helps to educate students on managing high-risk events such as cardiac arrests or de-escalating aggressive patients.

There is also a Media Lab and Maker Space that will integrate emerging technologies into education and research and facilitate collaboration with industry.

The facility was launched at an event hosted by Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, and Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor Medicine and Health Professor Robyn Ward AM.

The launch event featured the Education and Research Showcase, with examples of Western Sydney partnership projects in action across the precinct, and a tour of the learning centre with demonstrations from educators and students.

Vice Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott said the University is excited to celebrate the new learning space.

“This investment builds on our longstanding commitment to the Westmead Health Precinct, and our partnerships with the Western Sydney Local Health District and The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

“It expands our education presence in Western Sydney as part of our 2032 Strategy,” he said.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professor Robyn Ward said this new resource is to be a game-changer in the way we teach and learn in Western Sydney.

“We’re helping to train the next generation of Australia’s health workers and bring vital new skills into the region.

“By using realistic rehearsal environments and lifelike avatars, the simulation ward and its adjoining media lab will recreate high-stakes, low-frequency events allowing students to practice skills and decision making so they are better prepared when these events occur in a clinical setting.

“This futuristic teaching space really brings together the advantages of AI in a real-life teaching environment which means clinicians can rehearse the skills necessary in a cardiac emergencies and prepares them for formal accreditation, or re-accreditation.

“This teaching is the way of the future,” she said.

The facility is in addition to the $88 million the University has already invested in Westmead Hospital’s Central Acute Services Building.