Christian Burden, Executive Director, Office of Advancement, Western Sydney University; Michelle Peh, Global Chief Brand Officer and Chief Operating Officer of MindChamps; Distinguished Professor Anthony Uhlmann, Associate Dean Research, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University; Professor Saba Bebawi, Dean, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University; David Chiem, Founder, Group CEO and Executive Chairman of MindChamps and Executive Chairman of Actors Centre Australia; Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO; Professor Michele Simons, Dean, School of Education, Western Sydney University; and Lawrence Tan, Chief Global Partnerships Officer of MindChamps and CEO of Actors Centre Australia.
Western Sydney is set to reclaim its place at the forefront of actor training with the return of the prestigious Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting), delivered by Western Sydney University and Actors Centre Australia (ACA) – part of the MindChamps group.
After a hiatus of 18 years, the iconic training ground of some of the world’s best actors is returning to the region. Building on the legacy of Theatre Nepean – whose distinguished alumni include Joel Edgerton, David Wenham, Yvonne Strahovski, and Celeste Barber – the new program will offer students dynamic and industry-relevant experience.
The partnership was celebrated at a special event on 25 August 2025 at the University’s Parramatta South campus, attended by Western Sydney University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Chairman of ACA and Founder and CEO of MindChamps, David Chiem, and industry representatives.
The Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) will be delivered by the School of Humanities and Communication Arts in partnership with ACA – a leading institution with a more than a 35-year heritage of excellence in actor training and whose storied alumni include Hugh Jackman, Daniel Henshall, Harriet Dyer, Emma Harvie and many others. This professional degree taught at the University’s Kingswood campus will offer students an immersive, conservatory-style education, commencing in Semester 1, 2026.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, said the University was proud to bring back world-class performing arts training to Western Sydney and to support the next generation of creative leaders.
“Western Sydney has a proud record of producing world leading creative artists, and this investment by the University recognises that our region deserves its own dedicated, world-class performing arts program,” said Professor Williams.
“This landmark program honours the legacy of Theatre Nepean and, combined with ACA’s industry-driven training model, will produce highly skilled graduates ready for the demands of today’s exciting creative industries.”
“With deep connections to the Australian theatre and entertainment industries, and real-world learning through internships, guest lectures, and student productions, this program will support diverse talent from our region and equip them to thrive locally and globally.”
Michelle Peh, Global Chief Brand Officer and Chief Operating Officer of MindChamps; Distinguished Professor Anthony Uhlmann, Associate Dean Research, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University; David Chiem, Founder, Group CEO and Executive Chairman of MindChamps and Executive Chairman of Actors Centre Australia; and Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO.
David Chiem, Chairman of ACA and Founder and Chairman of MindChamps, who is also an alumnus of the University, highlighted we are living through an era of unprecedented transformation, as AI reshapes every industry, including the performing arts.
“In such a world, the ability to think creatively, adapt fearlessly, and connect deeply with others will become more valuable than ever. This degree fuses the craft of acting with the neuroscience of the Champion Mindset, empowering our graduates to see opportunities where others see nothing, to mind-judo challenges into stepping stones, and to thrive in an AI-dominated future as authentic storytellers, innovators, and leaders,” said Mr Chiem.
Hugh Jackman, ACA Patron and Alumnus said:
“This partnership between Actors Centre Australia and Western Sydney University is a game changer for the Australian arts education sector. I am an alumnus of Actors Centre, and both of these institutions are powerhouses, but together, they’re going to create an educational environment for students to thrive, and they are going to enter the industry way above industry standards.”
The program features 20 intensive core subjects focused on stage and screen performance, and four electives of complementary skills. It integrates traditional acting technique with the opportunity to learn from performance, industry expertise and the latest insights from performance research, including neuroscience and cognitive studies.
This approach empowers students to unlock their full creative potential, building the confidence, adaptability and vision to thrive in the challenging new world of AI and shifting models of new and established media, as authentic storytellers and leaders.
Students will enter through audition-based admission and have access to world-class facilities, elective flexibility, and built-in opportunities for internships, mentorships, and industry collaboration.
For more information about the Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting), please visit the webpage (opens in a new window).
Christian Burden, Executive Director, Office of Advancement, Western Sydney University, with panel, Lawrence Tan, Chief Global Partnerships Officer of MindChamps and CEO of Actors Centre Australia; David Chiem, Founder, Group CEO and Executive Chairman of MindChamps and Executive Chairman of Actors Centre Australia; Professor Michele Simons, Dean, School of Education, Western Sydney University; and Distinguished Professor Anthony Uhlmann, Associate Dean Research, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University.
ENDS
26 August 2025
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