Extra staff and funding to deliver clinical training in the Riverina
5 July 2017
WORK is progressing on the establishment of a Regional Training Hub, which will provide medical students the ability to study, work and live in Wagga Wagga.
Member for Riverina and Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack said that significant progress has been made in getting the initiative operational, and the University of Notre Dame will work to ensure there is a seamless transition for medical trainees through all stages of training and provide guided career pathways for students and junior doctors in the region.
“The University of Notre Dame have signed on to the project, and are meeting with local health and medical providers about this new program,” Mr McCormack said.
“The hub in Wagga Wagga will work with healthcare providers, specialist colleges and local health authorities to develop training pathways for our future doctors.
“It’s fantastic that the hub will see the University of Notre Dame continuing to work with key partners including the Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital and Calvary Health Care.”
Assistant Minister for Health, Dr David Gillespie said the hub at the University of Notre Dame will receive initial funding of around $1 million to 31 December 2018.
“This initiative will create more jobs at the university for the operation of the Regional Training Hub and training investments like Regional Training Hubs are essential to retaining the health workforce of Wagga Wagga into the future” Dr Gillespie said.
“The Liberals and Nationals support high quality rural placements for health students from across Australia, to help ensure rural communities have access to doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in the future.
“Supporting rural health training is an important way to address rural health workforce shortages and I’d like to acknowledge the work and strong advocacy of Michael McCormack in this space.”
ENDS