HEALTH BOOST FOR ELECTORATE: All smiles in Parkes last week after the announcement of $1.8million in funding to address medical health gaps in the electorate. (Left to Right) – Jacob Cass, Manager – Country University Centre Parkes, Ms Christine Howard, Director -Three Rivers Department of Rural Health, Cr Phyliss Miller OAM, Mayor of Forbes Shire Council, Cr Ken Keith OAM, Mayor of Parkes Shire Council, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, Federal Member for Riverina, Mr Phil Donato MP, State Member for Orange and Professor Megan Smith, Executive Dean – Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University.
Charles Sturt University will expand allied health student training and placements across the Riverina with a grant of $1.87 million announced last week by the Federal Coalition Government.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said ensuring people in rural NSW had access to high quality health care continued to be a priority for the Coalition Government.
“This investment enables Charles Sturt University to provide intensive, high-quality rural education experiences in Forbes and Parkes through its Three Rivers Department of Rural Health,” Mr McCormack said.
“Through the additional local training and placement opportunities, students across a range of allied health disciplines – including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, exercise physiology, speech pathology and podiatry – will have exposure to the delivery of rural health care.”
Charles Sturt, in collaboration with the Western NSW Local Health District, the Primary Health Network and local health providers, identified these opportunities to increase student placements. The program of work will also increase the opportunities for local clinicians to become involved in teaching, supervising and mentoring of students through rich rural health experiences.
“The funding will also be used to purchase a four-bedroom house in Forbes for student accommodation, to ensure students have a place to live when they arrive for their placements,” Mr McCormack said.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said the funding was granted through the Coalition Government’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program, which was boosting the recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural and remote areas.
“It’s a very successful program, because while students get the opportunity to study in rural and remote Australia, they also fill gaps in community health services,” Dr Gillespie said.
Dr Gillespie said there was increasing evidence people are more likely to stay in the bush once qualified.