EOI Campaign Provides Significant University of Canberra Partnership Opportunity

The University of Canberra (UC) is preparing to launch an Expressions of Interest campaign for a 14,400sqm site in its Northwest Health and Wellbeing Neighbourhood, providing a significant partnership opportunity aligned with the university’s long-term campus masterplan.

CBRE has been appointed to steer the EOI campaign for Site 1B, which is expected to appeal to health operators, developers and institutional partners seeking a long-term presence within a growing health and knowledge hub.

The opportunity is expected to be progressed through a long-term partnership model, with UC retaining underlying land ownership.

Site 1B occupies a prominent corner position at the university’s Ginninderra Drive Entrance and forms part of a wider precinct planned to integrate health services, education, research and innovation.

The EOI campaign represents the next stage of delivering on UC’s Neighbourhood strategy following the announcement last year of a partnership with specialist developer Pariter and aged care provider Opal HealthCare to deliver the ACT’s first intergenerational retirement and aged care community.

The proposed Site 1B EOI responds to the increasing demand for contemporary health infrastructure across the ACT, driven by population growth, workforce needs and evolving models of care. The Northwest Health and Wellbeing Neighbourhood is designed to support flexible, future-focused health uses while benefiting from direct connection to UC’s Bruce campus and supporting amenities.

The key differentiator of the opportunity is the potential to partner and collaborate across UC’s faculties and research centres and specialist groups, enabling innovation and learning environments, , clinical education pathways, research translationand workforce development outcomes.

University of Canberra Vice Chancellor and President, Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten, said the proposed development reflected UC’s broader vision for the campus.

“The Northwest Health and Wellbeing Neighbourhood is central to our long-term Campus Masterplan and reflects the University’s commitment and ambition to build a vibrant hub for health, education and innovation that delivers tangible community benefits,” said Professor Shorten.

“This site presents a compelling opportunity for partners to work with the University of Canberra to advance clinical education, grow a skilled workforce and translate research into real-world impact, while creating new jobs and accelerating the growth of small and medium businesses. Together, this will help stimulate economic activity and deliver lasting benefits for the ACT community.”

CBRE ACT’s Managing Director Nic Purdue said the opportunity to partner with UC was a genuine chance to collaborate.

“UC’s vision for the site aligns with a real estate sector that shares a long-term ambition to deliver much needed health infrastructure and can lead to outcomes that work from both an investment and community perspective,” said Mr Purdue.

CBRE anticipates releasing the proposed EOI campaign shortly, with further detail on site parameters and development options to be provided to interested parties.