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Industry and community projects
- Overview
- 3000 level - types of project units
- 3000 level - eligibility and how to enrol
- 3000 level - projects and partners
- 4000 level - projects and how to enrol
3000 level - projects and partners
The following projects are 3000 level units. If you’re studying in a Bachelor of Advanced Studies, see information on our 4000 level projects.
Because industry and community projects are run in collaboration with partners outside of the University, project partners and topics are subject to change prior to the start of teaching.
If you have any questions about the projects, you can email pvceducation.enquiries@sydney.edu.au or the project supervisor listed in each project.
Availability of projects
Places in each project are limited so we encourage you to register early in Sydney Student to avoid missing out.
You will only see projects that are available for your enrolled shell unit and still have places available. Projects will not be visible if they are at capacity. If you can’t see a project when you register, you will need to select a different project that meets your major or course requirements.
Project availability is subject to change.
Intensives
Intensives are full-time equivalent offerings, and the exact timing of each day is outlined in the intensive timetable below. Students are expected to attend the scheduled class times for the relevant session.
If you have any questions, please contact pvceducation.enquiries@sydney.edu.au.
- January - February intensives take place over four weeks from 19 January to 15 February 2026.
- June - July intensives take place over four weeks from 29 May to 26 July 2026.
Find out how to enrol in an ICPU.
Timetable
January - February intensive projects take place over 4 weeks from 19 January until 15 February 2026.
There will only be one class per project. Please consider the project timetable before registering for a project in Sydney Student and make sure that you are available for the allocated class times. The project timetable below is an indication of the time you will need to be available for scheduled classes and independent groupwork. The specific class-times will vary and be advertised when the canvas site is published.
Projects will be delivered face-to-face on campus and have a 90% attendance requirement.
It will take 7-9 days for your personal timetable to reflect your project registration.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm |
| Week 2 | No classes | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm |
| Week 3 | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm | Independent study day | 10 am – 4 pm | 10 am – 4 pm |
| Week 4 | No classes | ||||
Please note, the above hours include scheduled class times as well as additional hours where students are expected to be available to work independently with their teams.
Students are expected to contribute a total of 120 – 150 hours of effort towards the intensive unit which includes 39 hours of scheduled classes plus an additional 81 – 111 hours (20 - 27 hours per week) outside of class times, including significant independent groupwork as indicated.
Meat and Livestock Australia – Beyond the Chop: Identifying Fifth Quarter Innovations for the Australian Sheep and Goatmeat Industries
In the red meat industry, 20% of carcase cuts deliver 80% of the value. Once processed, 40% of the animal’s liveweight is considered edible. The remaining components, termed the “fifth quarter” comprise parts of the animal that are not conventional meat cuts. This typically includes offal and low-value by-products including hooves, skin, blood and bones. Opportunities exist to leverage the “fifth quarter” to diversify the red meat industry’s market offering and tap into new supply chains, both domestically and internationally. Currently, “fifth quarter” beef products undergo further processing into high-value food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical ingredients. However, limited markets and solutions exist for “fifth quarter” innovations for sheep and goatmeat products. This project invites students from diverse backgrounds to think creatively and collaboratively on how new technologies, sustainable practices, and market-driven solutions can unlock the potential of the “fifth quarter.” Whether your interest lies in developing objective measurement tools, designing new products, or analysing supply chains, you can help shape the future of the red meat industry.
Rotary International District 9675 – Building the Impact of Volunteering for Community
This project is not available for registration by students who have previously completed the project ‘Building the Impact of Volunteering for Community in a Digital World’.
Rotary International is a global humanitarian organisation that was founded in 1905. With over 1.4 million members in over 200 countries, the organisation aims to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education, and grow local economies. Rotary International District 9675 is one of 15 districts within Australia, encompassing over 1050 Rotarians in Sydney, Macarthur, and Illawarra. Rotarians work actively across geographic jurisdictions to make a positive impact on communities locally, nationally, and internationally. In an increasingly digital world, the impact of volunteering is changing, creating challenges and opportunities for the organisation’s traditional volunteer base. While Rotary values diversity, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, colour, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, it continues to struggle to recruit a more diverse and young membership base. In this project, interdisciplinary teams are invited to build on new developments within Rotary, such as ‘e-clubs’, to explore opportunities for impact on communities through voluntary work and programs. Can Rotary extend the reach of its work geographically and across demographics? Students are invited to be creative and bold, but most importantly, to remain focused on enhancing community impact with their research and recommendations.
Timetable
June - July intensive projects take place over 4 weeks from 29 June till 26 July 2026.
Please consider the project timetable before registering for a project and make sure that you are available for the allocated class times.
All projects are delivered face-to-face on campus unless otherwise stated, please check project descriptions for details.
It will take 7–9 days for your personal timetable to reflect your project registration.
The project timetable will be available here in the future.
Students are expected to contribute a total of 120–150 hours of effort towards the intensive unit, which includes 39 hours of scheduled classes plus an additional 81–111 hours (20–27 hours per week) outside of class times. This will include group meetings scheduled outside class hours and independent research.
Details of our 2026 Global projects is available in the Global Campus section.
Global Intensives are run during the July intensive session over a four-week period from 29 June to 24 July 2026.
This year, students have the opportunity to participate in a project run in collaboration between three internationally renowned Universities; the University of Padua (Italy), the University of Sydney (Australia) and the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). This year’s edition will be hosted by the University of Lausanne. The project class will be made up of an interdisciplinary mix of students from each of the three universities and includes 1 week of collaborative online study, 2 weeks of in country study, and 1 week of independent individual and groupwork. The course aims to raise students' awareness of the levers for action that exist within urban context to transform food systems towards resilience and sustainability and will include connection to external industry and community partners.
Rethinking Food Systems for Better Health and Sustainability - In Partnership with Padova University and Lausanne University
Global Campus Destination: Lausanne, Switzerland
The context of urban food systems is characterised by the need to feed population while reducing anthropogenic pressure on natural resources through a shift to healthy and sustainable diets that encourage agroecological practices and ecosystem services. This course will contribute to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 12, which is based on responsible consumption and production. Food and agricultural issues have been thrust into the spotlight by the current health crisis, as well as by commitments to curb climate change and the effects of trade globalisation on food sovereignty. It is in this context that the sustainability of food systems was the subject of a United Nations summit in 2021. Trade globalisation and available technologies are having a profound impact on food systems and pushing the food system to its environmental and social limits. The loss of biodiversity, the depletion of arable land, water pollution, air pollution from greenhouse gas emissions, malnutrition and food insecurity, growing inequalities, food injustice, the desertification of rural areas and rapid urban concentration are causing concern among civil society and ordinary citizens. Beyond the debates, individual commitment is becoming increasingly important: new consumption and production practices are profoundly challenging commercial channels, legal statuses, policies and the multiple social relationships that develop between actors and their food.
If you're interested in applying or want to register your interest, submit our online form. Applications open 2 February and close 29 March 2026.
Semester-long projects
Semester 1 projects will commence 23 February 2026. Semester 2 projects will commence 3 August 2026.
Students are expected to attend scheduled class times for 3 hours per week.
2026 semester-long projects will be delivered face-to-face on campus and have a 90% attendance requirement.
It will take 7 to 9 days for your personal timetable to reflect your project registration.
If you have any questions, please contact pvceducation.enquiries@sydney.edu.au.
Find out how to enrol in an ICPU.
Timetable
| Industry partner and project | Timetable |
|---|---|
| Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Core to Community: Expanding Nuclear Medicine Access for All |
Friday 9 am – 12 pm |
| Bridge Housing Belonging Matters: Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation in Community Housing |
Monday 9 am – 12 pm |
| City of Sydney Designing the 24-Hour City: Sustainability and Equity in Night-Time Economies |
Monday 2 – 5 pm |
| Gilbert & Tobin Towards a Sustainable Energy Transition |
Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm |
| Insurance Council of Australia Balancing Technological Innovation with advocacy to Strengthen Insurance Outcomes for Vulnerable Australians in a Dynamic World |
Wednesday 10 am – 1 pm |
| Jacobs Engineering Group Building Future-Ready Water Infrastructure for a Growing Sydney |
Monday 12 – 3 pm |
| NSW Department of Education Empathy in Action: Destigmatising Pelvic Health in Schools |
Tuesday 12 – 3 pm |
| Paratus Clinical Rethinking Communication Strategies for Recruitment in Clinical Trials |
Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm |
| Producible Advertising for Impact: Making Screens Matter in the Contemporary Mediascape |
Tuesday 12 – 3 pm |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities (RHMC) Caring Smarter: How Can We Amplify Human Care With AI? |
Wednesday 9 am – 12 pm |
| TATA (India) Accelerating AI Adoption for India’s Largest Online Grocer |
Wednesday 3 – 6 pm |
| The Matilda Centre Adolescent Health: Big Problem, Huge Opportunity |
Friday 9 am – 12 pm |
| Westpac Reimagining Banking with Responsible, Human-Centred AI |
Wednesday 9 am – 12 pm |
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) – Core to Community: Expanding Nuclear Medicine Access for All
Australia has been a pioneer in nuclear science and technology, with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at the forefront of producing and distributing nuclear medicines. Approximately 75-80% of the nuclear medicine isotopes used in Australia are sourced from ANSTO’s Lucas Heights campus. These radiopharmaceuticals, including Iodide (I-131) capsules, Technetium (Tc-99m) GenTechs, and Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), play a vital role in imaging, diagnosing and treating serious diseases like cancer (incl. thyroid, neuroendocrine, prostate), and other medical conditions (in bone, heart, kidney). However, access to these life-saving treatments across Australia is uneven, hindered by infrastructure challenges, regulatory complexities, and lack of public awareness. To enhance equitable access to these crucial treatments, this project invites student teams to investigate how Australia can better leverage its nuclear medicine capabilities to improve health outcomes nationwide. Students will analyse systemic, economic, and social factors affecting the adoption and accessibility of radiopharmaceuticals and propose actionable strategies to broaden their availability. Additionally, exploring methods to raise awareness among stakeholders about existing and emerging radiopharmaceuticals will be essential. This initiative aims to foster the adoption of nuclear medicine practices to ensure more Australians benefit from these advanced healthcare solutions.
Timetable: Friday 9 am - 12 pm
Bridge Housing - Belonging Matters – Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation in Community Housing
This project involves discussions and sensitive content related to loneliness and social isolation in community housing, which may be triggering for some participants. If you feel uncomfortable engaging with these themes, we encourage you to consider registering for an alternative project.
Bridge Housing is a community housing provider and charity managing 3,600 properties across Sydney, home to 5,700 people. Its diverse tenant base includes First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, older adults, children, and individuals living with disability or mental illness. Despite this diversity, many tenants—young and old—report feeling lonely and disconnected. Loneliness and social isolation is a growing issue in social housing, affecting those facing life transitions, economic hardship, or social exclusion. Left unaddressed, it can lead to serious mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, compounding existing challenges and reducing overall wellbeing. This project invites interdisciplinary student teams to explore how Bridge Housing can foster stronger social connections and reduce loneliness. What specific barriers do younger tenants face? How can we co-design initiatives that bridge generations and cultures? What role can digital and physical spaces play in fostering connection? And how can we measure impact meaningfully and ethically? Students will design inclusive, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate interventions grounded in tenant-led approaches. Proposals may involve technology, service design, or community-building strategies, and should align with Bridge Housing’s impact framework: improving wellbeing, strengthening community connection, and helping tenants feel safe, supported, and valued.
Timetable: Monday 9 am – 12pm
City of Sydney – Designing the 24-Hour City: Sustainability and Equity in Night-Time Economies
Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) calls for cities that are inclusive, safe, and resilient. Sydney’s Tech Central precinct, spanning Camperdown to Redfern, Haymarket, and Surry Hills, is a state-designated innovation district where research, industry, and community converge to shape this vision. As Tech Central grows, understanding its role as a 24-hour urban environment is critical.
Every night, thousands of people use Tech Central—healthcare professionals, cleaners, first responders, delivery drivers, performers, students, and start-up teams working around the clock. Supporting these diverse users is essential for well-being (SDG 3), decent work (SDG 8), and equity (SDG 10). Initiatives like the University of Sydney’s 24/7 micro markets and self-service kitchenettes show how innovation can improve night-time access to food.
In this project, interdisciplinary teams will design strategies to make Tech Central safe, healthy, and inclusive. How is the precinct working—or not working—for different groups after dark? What priorities should shape a truly 24-hour precinct? How can the City of Sydney support equitable transport, safety, and well-being as the area transforms? Students will apply systems thinking and entrepreneurial approaches to create solutions for a resilient, future-ready Tech Central.
Timetable: Monday 2 – 5 pm
Gilbert & Tobin – Towards a Sustainable Energy Transition
Gilbert and Tobin, an independent law firm in Australia, has a rich history spanning 35 years, during which it has solidified its position as a leader in corporate law, with exceptional prowess in corporate/M&A and banking practices. In the last decade, the firm has expanded its expertise to encompass burgeoning sectors like construction law, energy, and climate change. The contemporary landscape of energy transition presents both a challenge and an opportunity of profound significance. As society pivots towards renewable energy sources to combat climate change, a myriad of intricate questions surfaces. Does renewable energy enjoy widespread social acceptance necessary for comprehensive decarbonisation? How can we effectively manage the intermittency of renewable generation across different timeframes? What is the role of government and public subsidies in delivering energy transition at scale? Moreover, the viability and sustainability of energy storage solutions like hydrogen, and even the contentious role of nuclear energy, beg for further critical consideration. In response, interdisciplinary collaboration becomes important, inviting students to navigate the complexities of delivering a truly sustainable energy transition. Their task is not only to identify key challenges but also to formulate pragmatic recommendations that prioritise societal welfare, environmental preservation, and economic viability. The multifaceted nature of this task demands a holistic approach, considering technological capacities, engineering feasibility, economic implications, environmental impacts, social dynamics, and legal frameworks.
Timetable: Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm
Insurance Council of Australia – Balancing Technological Innovation with Advocacy to Strengthen Insurance Outcomes for Vulnerable Australians in a Dynamic World
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is the General Insurance industry of Australia’s representative body. As industry representatives, the Insurance Council leverages its unique position to build partnerships with governments, communities, and regulators to address the protection gap and ensure the strength and sustainability of the insurance sector.
As technology increasingly universalises business processes in a globalised world, the insurance sector is always looking for ways to create sustainable customer outcomes.
With climate change embedding greater uncertainty into the ever-dynamic state of people’s experiences of vulnerability, insurers are constantly adapting their data processes to account for this. Identifying vulnerabilities, and framing them in their context, is a key priority that insurers are adopting modern and emerging technologies to target.
From incorporating climate uncertainty into its underwriting processes, to rigorously training its claims-handling AI chatbots, insurers have long been at the forefront of technologically driven solutions that bridge the gap between the theoretical and the practical.
Yet as systems that rely on universal quantitative datasets are proliferated, it becomes increasingly difficult to capture peoples’ contextual experiences of vulnerability, in data.
How can the General Insurance industry effectively combine learnings from technology, advocacy and expertise, to create optimal, replicable and scalable insurance outcomes for vulnerable Australians?
Timetable: Wednesday 10 am – 1 pm
Jacobs Engineering Group – Building Future-Ready Water Infrastructure for a Growing Sydney
Greater Sydney’s population is projected to reach 8 million within the next 40 years, with nearly half residing in Western Sydney. To support this growth, we must plan and build smart, sustainable infrastructure. Water utilities across NSW are under mounting pressure to provide climate-resilient, sustainable, and equitable services amid challenges such as climate change, rapid population growth, and aging infrastructure. These factors strain water availability and quality, increase demand for expanded water and wastewater networks, and heighten the risk of system failures, inefficiencies, and rising maintenance costs. In this context, how can NSW ensure that its water infrastructure meets growing demand while remaining equitable, decarbonised (net zero by 2050), and sustainable? This project invites student teams to investigate global solutions that could be adapted locally, and explore innovative approaches that could be developed to meet these challenges? This initiative aims to implement future-ready solutions that balance sustainability, policy changes, innovation, decarbonisation and equity within water systems.
Timetable: Monday 12 – 3 pm
NSW Department of Education – Empathy in Action: Destigmatising Pelvic Health in Schools
This project involves discussions and sensitive content related to health and gender, which may be triggering for some participants. If you feel uncomfortable engaging with these themes, we encourage you to consider registering for an alternative project.
The NSW Department of Education is dedicated to promoting student wellbeing and enhancing pelvic health awareness within and beyond the classroom. According to Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute, 3/10 students assigned female at birth (AFAB) skip class due to painful periods. Australian government estimates show around 1 in 7 (14%) women born 1973–78 were diagnosed with endometriosis by age 44–49—a chronic, often misunderstood condition causing barriers to timely diagnosis and support. This project challenges interdisciplinary student teams to explore how schools can become transformative environments for pelvic health education and destigmatisation. How can schools foster empathy and reduce stigma among students, educators, and parents? What tailored approaches address unique needs of diverse school settings, and how should strategies be adapted for metropolitan, regional, and rural areas? Students will investigate ways to build awareness and empathy through curriculum delivery, making pelvic health education meaningful and inclusive. Could wellbeing days, peer-led programs, lived experiences, or culturally sensitive resources shift perceptions? Teams are encouraged to critically analyse these and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions beyond current resources. The goal is to empower schools and their communities to lead normalising pelvic health discussions, overcoming stigma, and improving understanding for all.
Timetable: Tuesday 12 – 3 pm
Paratus Clinical – Rethinking Communication Strategies for Recruitment in Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are essential for developing evidence-based treatments that put safety, effectiveness and patient care at the forefront. They are vital to develop effective medical interventions for a range of global health challenges including cancer, diabetes and obesity. Yet the success of clinical trials is dependent on the successful recruitment of participants. Delays or lack of participation compromise the robustness and success of clinical trials which inform life-saving advances in medical care. In fact, globally, more than 80% of trials fail to enrol on time resulting in an extension of the study and/or addition of new study sites. Paratus Clinical was established to meet this increasing need for efficient, cost effective and quality delivery of clinical trials within Australia. At Paratus, the primary avenues for recruitment to participation in clinical trials are referrals by medical practitioners or direct applications by individuals. In this project, interdisciplinary teams are asked to consider how enrolment in clinical trials can be enhanced. Does recruitment require different approaches for different health issues and demographics? Either directly or indirectly, what strategies can Paratus Clinical employ to achieve measurable improvements in recruitment? Teams can expect to implement their research skills and apply creative and analytical thinking to formulate practical insights for recruitment innovation.
Timetable: Tuesday 9 am – 12 pm
Producible – Advertising for Impact: Making Screens Matter in the Contemporary Mediascape
In the 1960s, media theorist Marshall McLuhan told us that “the medium is the message”. Producible is interested in how we might apply this concept to the contemporary media landscape advertisers work in. Our media environment is more saturated than ever, but the question is whether advertising has sufficiently evolved in its structure to meet these changing demands. This provocation challenges students to consider how advertisers can better match their messages to the unique strengths, contexts and audiences of different mediums – phones, cinemas, wearable tech and AI – to create more meaningful, inclusive and effective communication. For example, what is the persuasive value of the intimacy of the phone versus the event of the cinema? Interdisciplinary teams might focus on what the affordances of a particular medium are; what happens when we think about AI as a medium, as well as a producer of content; and how different demographics are reached using different mediums, and the depth and inclusivity of this messaging. Anticipated outcomes include strategies for reaching undervalued demographics, developing a framework for the use of AI, and contributing empirical research on the impact of different mediums in advertising. This project bridges academia and industry, offering students real-world experience while delivering evidence-based solutions and insights on the contemporary mediascape.
Timetable: Tuesday 12 – 3 pm
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) – Caring Smarter: How Can We Amplify Human Care With AI?
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) supports thousands of families across Australia during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. With 19 Houses, 19 Family Rooms, 6 Retreats, and a national Learning Program, RMHC’s mission is deeply human: to keep families close, supported, and cared for. As artificial intelligence transforms how organisations operate, RMHC is exploring how it can enhance—not replace—its compassionate work. This interdisciplinary project invites students to consider: How might we use AI to improve the way RMHC welcomes families, empowers its people, and connects with communities—while keeping empathy and human connection at the centre? Students might explore how AI could support families during a time of great disruption to their lives, streamline daily operations for employees and volunteers, or maintain and strengthen relationships with donors. The challenge is to design solutions that are effective, ethical, and enhance human connections. Students will work in teams to evaluate current practices, identify opportunities, and propose AI-enhanced strategies that align with RMHC’s mission and values. How do we ensure technology amplifies—not diminishes—the human touch? How do we build trust with families and communities through innovation? Ultimately, how do we care smarter, together?
Timetable: Wednesday 9 am – 12 pm
TATA (India) – Accelerating AI Adoption for India’s Largest Online Grocer
Big basket, a TATA enterprise, is India’s largest online food and grocery retailer, serving over 15 million customers across 50+ cities and offering more than 25,000 products. From farm-fresh produce and household essentials to beauty, electronics, and quick-commerce delivery, Big basket operates with a workforce of over 40,000 employees and generates annual revenues exceeding ₹10,000 crore (AUD1.7 billion). As AI transforms global retail and e-commerce, Big basket is keen to embed responsible, high-impact AI across its operations to strengthen efficiency, customer experience and competitiveness. This ICPU invites students to examine how a large, fast-moving organisation can scale AI ethically and in human-centred ways. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students need to analyse global best practices in AI adoption, assess Big basket’s current maturity across tools, systems, and user groups (including ~10,000 G1 employees), and explore opportunities and risks in AI-enabled transformation. Students will identify challenges and design recommendations that balance organisational value with responsible innovation. Deliverables include an AI readiness assessment, a phased strategic roadmap with timelines, resources, measurable KPIs and a self-driving playbook for department heads. Solutions should address workforce capability, change management, and success metrics to position Big basket as a leader in thoughtful, accountable, and Future-ready AI adoption
Timetable: Wednesday 3 – 6 pm
The Matilda Centre – Adolescent Health: Big Problem, Huge Opportunity
This project involves discussions and sensitive content related to adolescent health and wellbeing, which may be triggering for some participants. If you feel uncomfortable engaging with these themes, we encourage you to consider registering for an alternative project.
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use is a multidisciplinary research centre at The University of Sydney. It is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people affected by co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, which are currently the leading global causes of burden and disease in young people. While adolescence is a critical period in the lifespan where lifelong health habits are formed, young people report feeling isolated, lonely and disconnected. Rates of mental health disorders have risen dramatically, and physical activity and nutrition remain suboptimal. New challenges also abound. Today’s adolescents are the first human cohort to live their full lives under the shadow of climate change. Increasing digitalisation and global commercialisation has resulted in un-precedented access and exposure to harmful products (e.g. sugar-sweetened beverages, ultra processed food, tobacco and e-cigarettes), while rapid acceleration of digital technologies has led to excessive screen time and reliance on digital communication. In the face of these complex challenges, there are myriad opportunities to make a difference, not least by engaging young people themselves in the co-design of impactful preventative measures and interventions. In this project, interdisciplinary teams are invited to bring fresh perspectives and deliver innovative solutions to help improve adolescent health and wellbeing.
Timetable: Friday 9 am – 12 pm
Westpac Banking Corporation – Reimagining Banking with Responsible, Human-Centred AI
Artificial Intelligence is transforming financial services, with Gen-AI and agentic systems enabling hyper-personalisation, intelligent automation, and autonomous decision-making. Banks use these technologies to enhance customer engagement, strengthen security, and streamline operations. For Westpac, AI is an opportunity—to take action now for a better future—and reinforce its ambition to be customers’ number one bank and trusted partner. This comes amid rising expectations, regulatory scrutiny, and competition from fintechs/global tech firms, requiring a balance of innovation, trust, and ethics. This ICPU invites students to work in interdisciplinary teams to step into the bank’s shoes and design AI-enabled solutions that delight customers and strengthen Westpac’s reputation as a safe, innovative leader. Solutions should go beyond chatbots or budgeting tools to apply Machine Learning, Gen-AI, or agentic AI in ways that create meaningful experiences or improve operations. Proposals should address customer or business needs, align with Westpac’s priorities, and demonstrate ethical AI, data privacy, and transparency. Feasibility and responsible implementation are essential. Students could also demonstrate how current and emerging technologies enable their idea, outline implementation pathways, and consider workforce and change impacts. Solutions should highlight safe, responsible, human-centred AI that strengthens customer relationships, community trust, and Westpac’s leadership in banking’s future.
Timetable: Wednesday 9 am – 12 pm
Timetable
Timetable and projects for Semester 2, 2026 will be available here when they have been confirmed.
Last updated: 12 December 2025