ABOUT WESTIR

ABOUT US

WESTIR Ltd is a not-for-profit community organisation, standing for Western Sydney Regional Information and Research Service. Since 1981, we have been committed to enhancing accessibility to social research and data for everyone in Greater Western Sydney (GWS) and beyond. We address current and potential issues by collecting, analysing, and interpreting information, making it readily available to the community. Our guiding principle is to ‘let the data run free.’

Where is Greater Western Sydney

Greater Western Sydney consists of thirteen Local Government Areas (LGAs): Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith, The Hills Shire and Wollondilly. In addition, to Greater Western Sydney, WESTIR Ltd includes in data, Lithgow and Wingecarribee LGAs, as these areas fall within the NSW Government service district boundaries for the region.

While WESTIR Ltd’s focus is Greater Western Sydney, we also undertake social research and data projects for people and organisations outside this area.

OUR PURPOSE

WESTIR Limited is a not for profit community organisation, partly funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. Established in 1981 (and becoming a company limited by guarantee in 1989).

WESTIR Limited provides enhanced and equitable access to social research and data for people and organisations in Greater Western Sydney.

Our Values

  • We provide high quality data and research

  • We are ethical

  • We celebrate diversity

  • We collaborate

  • We are responsive

Our Goals

  • We are research leaders in the community services and related sectors
  • We deliver research and related services to support informed decision making by the community services sector
  • We build our influence and learnings through collaborations
  • We are innovative, dynamic and creative with effective leadership and governance

What We Believe

  • Enhanced and more equitable access to statistical and other information for people and organisations, especially those in Western Sydney.
  • The potential for constructive and well-resourced planning to improve the quality of life in Western Sydney.
    Provision of high quality and timely service to our clients.
  • We believe in collaboration and not competition, with likeminded organisations and individuals, especially in planning for and activities in the Western Sydney region.
  • Improved and more equitable access to human services and physical infrastructure for the Western Sydney community.
  • Ethical and non-exploitative research practices.
  • Socially inclusive practices, including affirmative action and equal employment opportunity.
  • Opposition to negative discrimination and prejudice based on race, colour, creed, gender, age, sexuality, disability/ability, marital status, income, social and political associations, geographic location and position in society (both actual and perceived).

OUR BOARD

Erich Weller

Chairperson

Erich Weller retired from employment at Penrith City Council in 2019, where he served as the Community and Cultural Development Manager for 15 years. See more

Charles Casuscelli RFD

Vice Chairperson

Charles Casuscelli is the CEO of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) representing the collective interests of Local Government in Western Sydney.  See more

Shaun Beckley

Treasurer

When not working with and supporting WESTIR, Shaun is the Executive Planner – Business and Investment at Wollondilly Shire Council. See more

Dr Emma Power

Board Member

Dr Emma Power is an Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Studies in the School of Social Sciences and Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University. See more

Katherine Tye

Board Member

More info coming soon... See more

Sharmily Nagarsekar

Board Member

Sharmily Nagarsekar, a passionate advocate for learning and development, has over two decades of expertise in workforce development and organisational capacity building within the not-for-profit sector. See more

Margaret Tipper

Company Secretary

Margaret Tipper has worked in the community sector for over 30 years, after initially working in the corporate sector. See more

OUR STAFF

Margaret Tipper

Executive Officer

Margaret Tipper has worked in the community sector for over 30 years, after initially working in the corporate sector. See more

Niki Baroy

Senior Social Researcher

Niki is a researcher and data analyst. She researches issues in community and international development and does coding for statistical analysis and data visualisation. See more

Rajesh Bhusal

Social Researcher

Rajesh holds a Master's in Social Work (MSW) from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Prior to joining WESTIR as a social researcher, he gained valuable experience in Nepal by working on various community projects, including research. See more

Christina Klassen

Social Researcher

Christina is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she completed her MSc in Transcultural Psychiatry (2020). See more

Vince Suarez

IT Communications

Vincent Suarez is a graduate of Westem Sydney University, where he studied a Bachelor of Business. See more

Life Member

Ron Alder

Life Member

Ron first commenced on the WESTIR Board as a Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) Councillor Representative from the Blacktown City Council in May 2001. See more

Peter Rogers

Life Member

WESTIR's former Executive Officer, Peter Rogers, sadly passed away on the 27th December 2018. Peter retired in September 2018 after working at WESTIR for 28.5 years. See more
2022 - 2023
READ MORE
2021 - 2022
READ MORE
2020 - 2021
READ MORE
2019 - 2020
READ MORE
2018 - 2019
READ MORE
2017 - 2018
READ MORE
2016 - 2017
READ MORE

ANNUAL REPORTS

Please see WESTIR Limited’s most recent annual reports. Contact us on (02) 9635 7764 or mail@westir.org.au should you require information on the organisation’s financial reports:

Skip to content