Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday 1 August 2004
Notre Dame welcomes Federal support for Sydney campus
The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Vice-Chancellor Dr Peter Tannock has welcomed Federal
Government support for its proposed Sydney campus.
Prime Minister John Howard today approved and supported Notre Dame’s proposed Sydney campus which
would be established on two sites - the historic St Benedict’s church and school in Broadway, Chippendale and
the Sacred Heart parish site in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, opposite St Vincent’s Hospital.
Dr Tannock said the Archdiocese of Sydney was making these sites available to support this important new
development in Catholic higher education in Australia.
“The project will see the introduction by Notre Dame in 2006 of courses in law, business, teaching, and
nursing,” he said.
“ In 2007 it will seek to establish a Medical School based on the Darlinghurst site, which will service the longterm needs of Catholic hospitals and health care services in south eastern Australia, including Sydney,
Brisbane, Melbourne, and the regional Catholic hospital and health care system in New South Wales and
Victoria.
“This new Medical School, which will require formal Australian Medical Council assessment and accreditation
before it can commence, will have an initial intake of 80 students.
“It will be an important contributor to the long-term viability and mission-focus of the Catholic health care
system in eastern Australia.
“Like Notre Dame in Fremantle, this new Sydney-based Medical School will aim to develop graduates for areas
of general community need.
“It will train people for work in Catholic, private and public hospitals, and especially for general practice in
outer suburban and country areas.”
Dr Tannock welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it would support the new university
development with an allocation of 60 Commonwealth supported commencing HECS places in medicine, 60
commencing HECS places in nursing, and 80 commencing HECS places in teaching.
The University of Notre Dame Australia • 19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225), Fremantle Western Australia 6959 • Tel: (08) 9433 0555 • Fax: (08) 9433 0544
Email: enquiries@nd.edu.au • Internet: www.nd.edu.au • ABN: 69 330 643 210 • CRICOS PROVIDER CODE: 01032F
“The Federal Government’s capital grant of $4m towards the cost of developing the two campus sites in
Chippendale and Darlinghurst will be particularly helpful in meeting the substantial capital costs involved.”
“The Archdiocese of Sydney will be contributing more than $20m to the project in the form of the value of
existing land and buildings, and $5m in direct cash support.”
Dr Tannock said Notre Dame was already well advanced in its discussions with a wide range of individuals,
groups and universities in the development of this exciting and potentially groundbreaking project.
“It’s anticipated that Notre Dame’s Sydney based campuses will grow to an undergraduate and postgraduate
enrolment of up to 3000 students,” he said.
“Most of these will be fee-paying and will benefit from the very significant Fee Help Scheme recently
introduced by the Commonwealth as part of its Higher Education reforms.”
Dr Tannock expressed his gratitude to Cardinal George Pell for his vision, enthusiasm and generosity towards
this important development in the University’s history.
He said that Notre Dame was delighted to be able to support the work of the Church in Sydney and south-east
Australia.
ends
(Media contact reference – Tracy Peacock 0408959138)
The University of Notre Dame Australia • 19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225), Fremantle Western Australia 6959 • Tel: (08) 9433 0555 • Fax: (08) 9433 0544
Email: enquiries@nd.edu.au • Internet: www.nd.edu.au • ABN: 69 330 643 210 • CRICOS PROVIDER CODE: 01032F