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, Australia.

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.

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.