UQ Health Sciences Learning & Discovery Centre opens in Rockhampton

A new state-of-the-art medical training Centre in Rockhampton aims to improve the medical workforce shortage in regional and rural areas.

The $4 million Health Sciences Learning and Discovery Centre is a joint venture between The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School and the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.

Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies including a Clinical Simulation and Immersion Unit that will enable the training of medical, nursing and allied health students, interdisciplinary learning and also “up-skilling” practicing rural health care professionals.

UQ Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Debbie Terry said the University was proud to play a part in improving the health of people in rural and remote Australia.

“Almost 100 UQ students who graduate to become doctors this year will have had a year or two of rural training,” Professor Terry said.

“Because of this training, they will be more than twice as likely as other graduates to become rural doctors, and nearly four times as likely to practice in a remote location,” Professor Terry said.

“Australian Government support is absolutely vital for UQ’s rural medical training, as is the collaboration of Queensland Health, and I thank both governments for their ongoing partnership with UQ.”

UQ’s Head of the Rural Clinical School Professor Geoff Nicholson said this new Centre will provide a substantial boost to multidisciplinary health training capacity in the Central Queensland region.

“Providing local learning, training and research opportunities has been shown to enhance and sustain the local health care workforce,” Professor Geoff Nicholson said.

“The Health Sciences Learning and Discovery Centre will build the rural health care workforce and ensure its sustainability.

“It also provides a regional hub for a wide range of Health Sciences learning and research activities,” he said.

The Federal Government’s Rural Education Infrastructure Development (REID) Pool and Queensland Health funded the Centre and the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, Federal Minister for Health will today officially open the Centre.

MEDIA: Brian Mallon, Communication Officer School of Medicine, 0403621109/07 3365 5254 b.mallon@uq.edu.au