Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) and Powerhouse Parramatta are joining forces to boost tourism, attract national and international visitors to Western Sydney and bolster STEM education as part of a new Visitor Economy Partnership Agreement.
This ground-breaking partnership between two major Western Sydney infrastructure projects will see the largest museum in NSW and a leading STEM museum in the Southern Hemisphere collaborate with Western Sydney’s world-class international airport on joint initiatives, research and strategic programs in the areas of STEM, First Nations and aviation.
Under the agreement, Powerhouse Parramatta and WSIA will provide leading STEM educational resources and immersive, engaging aviation education experiences for students in Western Sydney. It offers opportunities for students and young people to engage with more than 500,000 Powerhouse collection items alongside learning experiences offered by aviation industry experts.
Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey said the collaboration will create STEM and aviation learning opportunities for students.
“We are very excited to partner with Powerhouse Parramatta in an initiative which will inspire young minds to set their sights on one of the tens of thousands of highly skilled jobs being created in and around Australia’s newest global gateway right here in Western Sydney,” he said.
“This strategic partnership between two of the state’s most significant infrastructure projects will be instrumental in cementing Western Sydney’s status as a major tourism destination for domestic and international visitors.”
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah welcomed the partnership with Western Sydney International Airport.
“With Powerhouse Parramatta expected to attract more than two million visitors in its first year of operation in 2025, Western Sydney International Airport is a key strategic partner for bringing interstate and international visitors to the museum and positioning Western Sydney as an international tourism destination,” she said.
“The collaborative tourism economy initiatives and STEM education opportunities underpinning this partnership will provide a significant uplift for Western Sydney as a hub of economic, social, cultural and 24-hour visitor activity.”
WSIA and Powerhouse Parramatta will be landmark destinations for NSW, actively contributing to the renewal and redefinition of the Western Sydney visitor experience. Powerhouse Parramatta will be a contemporary world-class museum and vibrant 24-hour precinct, presenting an ever-changing program including large scale cultural and community events for up to 10,000 people.
Western Sydney International Airport will open to international, domestic and air cargo services in late 2026.
Images of the MOU signing here and vision of the airport here
