University of Sydney paid company it part-owns for mental health app and used students’ data for research

The Innowell mental health app was developed by the company Innowell Pty Ltd, whose major shareholders are the University of Sydney, pictured, and consultancy firm PwC. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

The University of Sydney paid a for-profit company it part-owns to provide a mental health app to staff and students while using their de-identified data for research, a move the tertiary union has described as a “violation of the university’s relationship with its students”.

The Innowell mental health app was developed by the company Innowell Pty Ltd, whose major shareholders are the University of Sydney (32%) and consultancy firm PwC (45%). University of Sydney professors Ian Hickie and Jane Burns are also minor shareholders.