Winim Guides Westmead Catholic Community Growth

Sydney’s Westmead health and innovation hub is undergoing a remarkable transformation—with education at its centre.

At the heart of this transformation is the Westmead Catholic Community (WCC), a major initiative by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) to deliver state-of-the-art education infrastructure within a growing urban centre.

Project management firm WINIM was appointed to help deliver on its objectives: expanding educational facilities, establishing valuable partnerships, enabling evidence based pedagogical approaches and creating a campus that benefits the broader Westmead community.

WINIM project director Wilma Leahy is leading the consultancy team, providing strategic project and stakeholder management.

The WCC project aligns with CSPD’s commitment to meet the growing demand for new schools and deliver impactful change that expands access to high-quality educational opportunities in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Central to this is the focus on a Catholic community at the service of families in Australia’s most diverse and growth focused region. 

“We’ve been working with this leading client since 2017, initially supporting their broader masterplanning for student growth, church parish, and community requirements,” Leahy told The Urban Developer.

Construction of the primary school began in October 2024, with the initial stage scheduled for completion by mid-2026.

The new building and grounds will include the relocation of Sacred Heart Primary School from nearby Ralph Street, which will merge with the existing Mother Teresa Primary School to form the new school, called Sacred Heart Primary Westmead.

The new facilities, designed by architects Alleanza, incorporate extensive open space and play areas, as well as shared facilities integrated throughout the building and on the rooftop — maximising land use and promoting collaborative learning to uplift the experiences of students, families and staff in a connected community.

Engaging students through real-world learning

The project team includes WINIM as lead project management consultant, Kane Constructions (head contractor), Alleanza (lead design), Ground Ink (landscape architect), and Erbas (building services).

“We’re not just building behind hoarding,” Leahy said. “The students are involved at key milestones, making the development a learning experience in itself.”

This includes initiatives such as regular construction updates for the schools and workshops with Kane Constructions giving students real-world exposure to the construction industry.

WINIM has also supported the promotion of construction career pathways for female students at Catherine McAuley Westmead, partnering with Kane’s design manager Brie Ranchhod, a National Women in Construction Award winner.

This initiative complements Leahy’s broader industry involvement through Tomorrow’s Women in Construction (TWIC) and her membership in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

TWIC has launched the Experience Construction initiative offering guaranteed work experience for every female Year 10 student in NSW from October 2025. The program aims to give students hands-on exposure across more than 50 trades and professions.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to explore career pathways and gain real-world insights into the construction sector,” Leahy said.

This integration with Westmead’s broader development is significant, as the area continues to transform into a leading health, education, innovation, and residential hub.

Building in live educational environment

To roll out this project, WINIM is leveraging its extensive experience managing construction within fully operational environments—an approach Leahy has honed through work on previous education and retail developments.

“The biggest priority is maintaining safety in a live environment,” Leahy said.

“We have more than 2000 people accessing the site daily across three schools, including before and after school.”

A key component of the development also includes addressing traffic and parking through a new multi-level car park and supporting the campus in developing a green travel plan to encourage a greater uptake of public transport options

The NSW Government’s Westmead Place Strategy aims to create a world-class district by 2036, with new jobs, diverse housing options, and improved heritage and green spaces.

Major infrastructure projects—including the recently opened Parramatta Light Rail and the coming Sydney Metro West (due by 2032)—are driving this transformation, positioning the Westmead Catholic Community as a critical part of the area’s future.

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