Western Australian universities have helped build and develop our State, giving students the knowledge and skills that set them up for the jobs of the future. They strengthen our communities and drive innovation – shaping our society, our workforce and our industries, and help to ensure WA’s prosperity and resilience.
The WA Government will undertake a business case into the potential merger of Curtin University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia.
The business case will be undertaken by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, with input from a steering committee, led by Western Australian businessman Mark Barnaba as Chair and medical researcher Professor Fiona Wood AO as Deputy Chair.
The formation of the panel and commissioning of the business case follows the release of two significant government studies into the performance, sustainability and future direction of WA’s public university sector:
- the 2023 University Sector Review and
- the 2025 University Feasibility Study which included a rapid cost-benefit analysis.
Why is a business case required?
The business case will further interrogate the costs and benefits of a potential three-way merger, including the potential for such a merger to be self-funded by the universities.
The work will also examine how a merger would reduce duplication and improve the student experience and the State’s ability to attract more research funding, as well as to improve tertiary education offerings in the seven regional cities outside of Perth.
Why is WA looking at university reform?
Independent reviews have identified several challenges facing WA's university sector.
- Enrolments of local students are declining.
- More than 15% of Western Australians are enrolled at interstate universities, while WA universities attract fewer than 2% of students from interstate. Strengthening WA's university sector would help attract the best and brightest students from across Australia and internationally.
- Undergraduate completion rates are relatively low, with 49% completion rates at Murdoch, 56% at Curtin and 75% at UWA.
- Universities face increasing challenges attracting research funding, impacting their long-term financial sustainability. There are five individual eastern state universities that each receive more of Australia’s research funding than all four WA public universities combined.
- WA universities have the lowest proportion of students from regional and remote locations nationally – 12% compared to an Australian average of 30%.
- Universities face increasing challenges attracting international students – so strengthening to sector will give us a better chance to attract the best and brightest overseas students.
Putting students first
Any reforms would be guided by a business case. The aim would be to put students first, providing access to a financially sustainable and world-class institution with improved course quality, completion rates, employability and access to broader academic pathways including work placements within government agencies. It would also increase access to tertiary education in regional Western Australia, in line with the WA Government’s Seven Cities vision.
It is also an opportunity for a governance reset and the business case will consider workforce, including the staffing profile with a view to ensuring more support for student learning, noting that WA universities continue to have a higher proportion of non-academic staff (59.8%) as a percentage of total FTE as compared to the national average of 57.7% and the Group of Eight average of 57.4%.
Part of wider economic reforms in WA
Reform would support the Cook Labor Government’s broader economic plan designed to strengthen Western Australia’s long-term future. Other initiatives include fast-tracking priority projects through the State Development Act, introducing leading planning reforms, fighting to retain WA’s GST deal to help fund essential services and education, and expanding access to vocational training through fee free and low fee TAFE.
The University reform would help diversify our economy, create jobs, building on traditional course offering while better aligning with critical areas to the state’s ongoing success, such as renewable energy, defence, medical research and advanced manufacturing.
Objectives of the university reform
Upscaling the university presence in WA helps retain WA students, attracts domestic and international students, and also supports students’ degree completions.
Attracting and building stronger research and development, innovation, and collaboration delivers real benefits to local industries and communities while attracting research funding to Western Australia.
Consolidating resources would allow for additional student support, improved access to learning in the regions, greater student choice, and increased adoption of cutting-edge technologies and contemporary teaching methods.
Reducing duplication and competition helps create a more efficient, financially sustainable system with stronger governance.
Ensuring students are prepared for the workforce with industry-informed skills and leadership in key sectors aligns with WA's economic diversification strategy, including defence, medical research, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Reviews to date, a business case and next steps
Recent reviews have looked at possible changes to the tertiary education sector in Western Australia and opportunities for improvement, informed by input from a range of stakeholders including representatives of public universities.
University reviews and reports to date
University Sector Review (2023) - provides insights, analysis informed by stakeholder consultation and recommendations for WA’s public university sector.
University Feasibility Study (2025) - provides an update to the 2023 Report, policy analysis and stakeholder consultation on possible university reforms.
Rapid Cost-Benefit Analysis (2025) - provides a high-level assessment to inform the Feasibility Study by identifying potential costs, benefits and key considerations in the decision-making process as it relates to merging public universities.
Steering Committee appointment
A Steering Committee will be established to provide expert advice throughout the business case process to the Government. The Steering Committee is comprised of 12 members, led by Mark Barnaba AM as Chair and Professor Fiona Wood as Deputy Chair.
University reform business case
The immediate next step is a business case, which will provide the detailed cost analysis for Government to consider a potential merger before making a final decision. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet will oversee the development of the business case.
The business case will be comprehensive and inform the Government’s understanding of the following:
- Detailed costs and benefits in implementing the amalgamation
- Financial sustainability
- Implementation considerations, risks and pathways
Targeted and focused stakeholder engagement will be required to inform the business case and implementation considerations, such as fiscal, service delivery, infrastructure and workforce arrangements.
A range of stakeholders will be engaged, including University leadership, academic and professional staff, students and prospective students, alumni, Student Guild, Unions, industry and research partners, and the broader community.
The business case, together with previous reviews, will inform Government’s final decision.
Timing to the university reform in WA
The business case will begin in late 2026 and will be finalised in 2027.
