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Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

ChemCentre

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Perth, WA
ChemCentre

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ChemCentre is WA's leading chemical and forensic science facility.

22/09/2026

ChemCentre helped build our state’s emergency response capabilities at the 2026 WA Fire and Emergency Services (WAFES) Conference earlier this month.

The conference, hosted by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA , brought together emergency personnel from across WA to share insights, tackle industry challenges, and recognise outstanding contributions by individuals and teams in the sector.

ChemCentre was honoured to be involved across both days of the conference, to build emergency response capabilities and share our scientific knowledge with industry colleagues.

On day 1, ChemCentre welcomed approximately 30 DFES volunteers to our offices, where we co-hosted emergency response sessions with DFES. This included:

• a presentation and discussion about the emerging risks of lithium batteries and how specialist chemical knowledge can support efficient response
• an overview of HAZMAT response, including the DFES Field Liaison Officer vehicle and ChemCentre’s Mobile Laboratory
• a tour of the ChemCentre organic chemistry laboratory.

On day 2, Mitch Walker, Emergency Response Team Leader, co-presented with the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the WA Department of Health on how a swift and cohesive interagency response is crucial to resolving serious and complex incidents.

ChemCentre is relied on by many WA Government agencies for our specialist chemical knowledge, and we take this role very seriously, particularly when it involves helping to keep our community safe.

17/09/2026

ChemCentre is thrilled to be a finalist in the ‘Government Innovation’ category of the 2026 WA Innovators of the Year Awards.

The innovation turns Western Australian sandalwood seeds, which have traditionally been discarded, into premium therapeutic and skincare products: lotions, serum, scrub, and even a hydrating mist.

This project:

🔸mapped a world-first genome sequence of this species
🔸used analytical chemistry, biological testing, formulation science and TGA-aligned regulatory criteria for product development
🔸created new revenue opportunities for sandalwood growers
🔸supported regional and Aboriginal employment, and local manufacturing
🔸positions Western Australia as a leader in natural sandalwood therapeutics
🔸created sustainable value from underutilised resources.

A huge shout-out to Dr Manjree Agarwal, Senior Scientist and Project Leader, for her innovative thinking and dedication, and to all our project collaborators.

Congratulations to all participants and finalists in the 2026 WA Innovators of the Year Awards, and a huge thanks to everyone involved in this journey.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/46uQ35r

03/09/2026

We were delighted to host Dr Sandra Pavón, Group Manager of Hydrometallurgy Recycling and Raw Materials Chemistry at Fraunhofer IKTS, Dr Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Chemical Engineer / Lecturer at Edith Cowan University (ECU), and Mr Steve Elias, Industry Relationship Manager at ECU, at ChemCentre earlier this week.

CEO Paul Nicholls, Dr Sophie Hancock and Dr John Moursounidis engaged our guests in a lively discussion about ChemCentre’s work in recovered resources, analytical chemistry, the circular economy, and alignment with the ECU-Fraunhofer partnership announced earlier this year.

Dr Pavón gave an excellent talk on her research around development of more efficient hydrometallurgical processes to extract lithium from primary and secondary sources. This had a particular focus on processing raw materials from end-of-life batteries, and a strong alignment with ChemCentre’s focus on reusing valuable resources.

This was followed by a tour of ChemCentre’s inorganic laboratory where the group discussed potential areas for collaboration, including evaluating recovered materials for suitability in the built environment and newer techniques in PFAS detection.

As an extension of the Ideas to Industry Lab partnership between ECU and Fraunhofer IKTS, the visit provided an opportunity to further strengthen the robust ChemCentre-ECU relationship and showcase Western Australia’s high-quality chemistry infrastructure and capacities with colleagues in Germany.

26/08/2026

Applications now open for ChemCentre's 2026/27 Student Officer Program!

The program runs for 3 months between November 2026 and March 2027, and is open to tertiary students who are in their final year of a chemistry degree (third year or honours) and have Australian working rights.

Gain real-world practical experience working alongside mentors in our Forensic Science Laboratory and Scientific Services Division. All while you get paid over the summer holidays and have access to paid leave and public holidays.

⏰ Closing: Monday 14 September 2026

👉 Read more and apply: https://bit.ly/4qDtxAn

19/06/2026

We were thrilled to host our very first High Achievers Day earlier this week at ChemCentre!

Students from across WA joined us for a day of science, discovery, and hands on learning, with presentations from our expert Scientific teams and guided tours through our different laboratory spaces.

We were also delighted to welcome the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC and the Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Professor Sharath Sriram, who helped highlight the importance of STEM in shaping our future.

It was fantastic to see so many engaged and curious young minds exploring what a future in science could look like.

A big thank you to our staff for bringing the day to life, and to the Western Australian schools, teachers and students who joined us. We hope everyone walked away inspired!

We can’t wait to build on this program in the years ahead.

27/05/2026

ChemCentre is All In!

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week, and the 2026 theme, "All In", is a powerful reminder that reconciliation is something we all need to actively commit to…together

It’s not a passive process. It asks each of us to step forward, take responsibility, and play a part in creating lasting change. Advancing the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a shared responsibility

At ChemCentre, we’re committed to listening, learning and working together to build respectful relationships in our everyday work

Through our research and innovation, we support a stronger and more sustainable Western Australian economy, while also seeking to better understand traditional knowledge systems alongside modern science, and acknowledging the world’s oldest continuing cultures

Reconciliation takes collective action. It won’t happen by itself, it happens when we are all “All In”.

17/03/2026

Good luck to the Matildas as they take the field tonight! ⚽

At ChemCentre, we’re proud to be cheering them on with a little help from our friends at Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre who kindly shared their iconic quokka mascots to help spread the Matildas spirit across our team today.

It’s a great reminder that strong collaborations, whether in science, research, or sport, bring people together and create moments we can all get behind.

From everyone at ChemCentre, we’re cheering you on tonight - go Matildas! 💚💛

15/03/2026

Harmony Week is an opportunity for all Western Australians to celebrate our State’s rich cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, and to reflect on the importance of inclusion, respect and belonging.

In Western Australia, Harmony Week celebrations are held from 15–20 March, recognising the importance of celebrating diversity, while also acknowledging the need to challenge racism, remove barriers to inclusion, and promote fairness and equity.

Harmony Week aligns with ChemCentre’s ongoing commitment to respect, fairness and inclusion, and serves as a reminder that each of us plays a role in creating a workplace where people feel safe, valued and supported to contribute their skills, perspectives and experiences.

17/12/2025

🎄 Festive Season Update

From 17 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, our social media channels will be monitored less frequently.

If you need assistance during this period, please reach out via phone or email. Our team will be available on all non–public holiday business days.

Wishing you a safe, happy, and relaxing holiday season! ✨

05/12/2025

🎉 Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Ian Ritchie Staff Awards! 🎉

ChemCentre is excited to recognise the outstanding achievements of our staff who go above and beyond in their work, demonstrating excellence, integrity, innovation and collaboration across our organisation.

This year, we were proud to host the awards ceremony with CEO Paul Nicholls and Board Chair Tress Walmsley, and we were honoured to have Professor Sharath Sriram, Chief Scientist of Western Australia, join us to congratulate our award winners and finalists and take official photos with them on the day.

🥇 Ian Ritchie Early Career Award – Dr Catherine Rawlinson

Recognised for her exceptional technical expertise, professionalism and positive contribution to forensic toxicology. Catherine is admired for her collaborative approach, resilience and support of colleagues — a true ambassador of One ChemCentre.

🥇 Ian Ritchie Achievement Award – Dr John Moursounidis

John, Manager of Research & Innovation, is celebrated for his leadership and role in advancing research projects in waste reuse and the circular economy, while helping expand ChemCentre’s capability and partnerships across industry and government.

A huge congratulations to Catherine, John and all nominees for their dedication and contribution to science in Western Australia. We are incredibly proud of the work you do.
👏

Address

Corner Manning Road And Curtin University South Entrance
Perth, WA
6102

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+61894229800

Website

http://www.chemcentre.wa.gov.au/

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