July 18, 2024

University of Wollongong launches Local Community Partner Program

Program recognises contribution of local not-for-profit organisations to community

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has launched a community partner program that recognises local not-for-profit organisations and their contribution to communities through a range of initiatives.

The UOW Local Community Partner program was launched today (Thursday 18 July) at a signing ceremony with five leading Illawarra not-for-profit organisations: Raising the Bar Foundation, Healthy Cities Illawarra, The Disability Trust, Illawarra Academy of Sport and Greenacres.

UOW Acting Chief Operating Officer Matthew Wright said the program aims to build strong partnerships for greater impact, creating opportunities for engagement that will enrich Illawarra communities.

“This partnership is a testament to our commitment to building meaningful relationships with local organisations,” Mr Wright said.

“We have engaged with all of these organisations for many years across a range of endeavours, from research partnerships to student placements and partnered on local and charity initiatives.

“The UOW Local Community Partner program formalises our relationship and enables us to build on this partnership for the benefit of each organisation.

“For UOW the opportunity to assist our students with workplace training and placements is invaluable. It also gives us the opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of our research, particularly that which has practical applications for the not-for-profit sector.

“We are privileged with the facilities and grounds we have here at UOW, and through this program we can now share access to these facilities with our partners, so that they can enjoy a different experience for their yearly workshops, induction days or to host international visitors.”

One of the key initiatives by Raising the Bar Foundation is to offer free training to UOW students working in the hospitality industry, ensuring accessibility and promoting mental health awareness among young professionals.

The Disability Trust and Healthy Cities Illawarra will engage in workplace training and placement programs for UOW students. These programs align with the business objectives of both organisations offering students valuable training and a high likelihood of converting to employment outcomes.

Healthy Cities Illawarra CEO Kelly Andrews said the Community Partner Program with UOW Local signifies an authentic commitment to partnerships and collaboration. 

“Healthy Cities has worked closely with UOW for decades to support one another’s work in research, teaching and learning,” Ms Andrews said.

“Our staff provide input into subject development, guest lectures for example, and we enjoy student placements from social work, health promotion, public health, nutrition, dietetics, business and marketing students offering them real world opportunities to put theory into practice.

“We are also fortunate to work with UOW academics from a range of disciplines who assist us in measuring the impact of our programs through evaluations and publications.

 “Genuine partnerships between key organisations and institutions strengthens our collective impact.  We are stronger together, and we bring different strengths and opportunities to common goals, so I’m looking forward to working with UOW Local to improve the health and wellbeing of our vulnerable communities in particular.”

UOW is working closely with local organisations and seeks to provide students with practical training and real-world experience, enhancing their employability while simultaneously addressing community needs.