UNSW’s Estate Management has a handy guide to what’s open and closed during the holidays on the Kensington and Paddington campuses.
The UNSW year-end shutdown begins at 5pm on Monday 22 December 2025, and the University will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. As in previous years, Estate Management (EM) is implementing streamlined building access and reduced services during this period.
EM help desk
The EM help desk phone number 9385 5111 will continue to operate 24 hours a day during shutdown. Emails sent to estate@unsw.edu.au will be answered when the University reopens on Monday 5 January 2026.
UNSW reception
UNSW reception will be closed during the University shutdown period. Emails sent to reception@unsw.edu.au will be answered when the University reopens on Monday 5 January 2026.
Building access
All buildings on the Kensington and Paddington campuses will operate in secure mode. Swipe access will match your existing access on Sundays. Staff and HDR students must have permission to be on campus, with approval from their Dean or divisional head, or their delegate.
Like last year, some spaces within buildings may be locked down at the request of the faculty or division. Students and staff won’t have access to these areas.
If you’ve been granted approval to be on campus and you currently don’t have Sunday access, please arrange for your manager or administration team to request access by emailing id.cards@unsw.edu.au before Thursday 18 December 2025. After this date there is no guarantee access will be added to your card and access can’t be added during shutdown.
The Health Translation Hub (HTH) bridge will be closed for the duration of the shutdown. Please plan alternative routes if you need to access areas on either side before the break begins.
The Law Library will remain open with reduced operating hours from 9am to 5pm daily, except on Christmas Day.
Cleaning
All buildings will have a full clean at the end of the year. The last full clean will be the night of Monday 22 December 2025. After this, General Services will provide a basic clean only to areas used by students and staff, including kitchens, bathrooms and general waste bins. This can be done by raising an Archibus request by Friday 12 December. There will be no other cleaning services during the year-end shutdown. The full cleaning service will recommence at the end of the break.
Waste collection
There will be no scheduled waste collection for buildings during the year-end shutdown. Waste collection will occur for all buildings prior to and at the conclusion of the break.
Collection of general and food waste from external waste points will continue as usual during the shutdown period, excluding public holidays.
Paper and cardboard won’t be collected during the shutdown.
There will be no scheduled chemical waste collections during the shutdown period. The final scheduled collection for 2025 will take place on Monday 22 December 2025 and requests for this collection need to be submitted by 12pm Thursday 18 December 2025. The first scheduled chemical waste collection for 2026 will be on Monday 12 January 2026.
Biological waste will be collected only from the bio-dock waste room, excluding public holidays.
Permanent skip bins won’t be serviced during the shutdown.
Air conditioning
During shutdown, air conditioning will continue for business-critical requirements. Areas that are non-research critical spaces (such as office areas) won’t have air conditioning, unless an exemption has been requested. Buildings with standalone air conditioning systems will operate as normal. All other units will operate on after-hours mode, which will require push-button activation.
Lighting
Lights will be switched off for all buildings. Lighting can be switched on manually if required. Some lighting around campus will remain active for security purposes.
Security
UNSW Security Operations will operate throughout the year-end shutdown. For assistance, visit the Gate 2 Security Office on High Street. Alternatively, call 9385 6000, or in an emergency dial 9385 6666. You can also use the SafeZone app to raise an alert in emergencies.
Critical Incident Team
The Critical Incident Team (CIT) will continue to operate throughout the period. For any emergencies or incidents, please contact the Security Control Room on 9385 6666.
UNSW shuttle bus
The last regular UNSW shuttle bus service between Kensington and Paddington campuses for 2025 will depart from Paddington at 9.30pm on Friday 12 December. Regular service will resume on Monday 9 February 2026. During this period, UNSW Security will continue to provide the on-demand safety escort service, operating from Gate 14, Monday to Friday from 4pm to 12am (excluding public holidays).
Mail Centre
The Mail Centre will be closed during the UNSW year-end break. It will close at 4.30pm Monday 22 December 2025 and reopen 8.30am Monday 5 January 2025. Friday 19 December 2025 is the last collection for outgoing mail and courier bookings. Incoming mail will be suspended during the shutdown.
Relocations
Relocations are available until 22 December 2025 if arranged with General Services, with an Archibus request submitted no later than Monday 15 December 2025. Requests submitted after Monday 15 December 2025 won’t be actioned during shutdown. Services will resume from Monday 5 January 2026.
Grounds
Grounds contractors will be on campus throughout the year-end period, except for public holidays.
Estate Management appreciates your cooperation during shutdown.
We wish you all a happy, safe and relaxing holiday season and look forward to welcoming you back to campus in 2026.
For more information, please contact Estate Management:
Telephone: (02) 9385 5111
Email: estate@unsw.edu.au
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