More nursing and medical students will be able to complete a key part of their clinical training in Daylesford and region following the opening of new student accommodation in Daylesford, the Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today.
The three new units are a collaborative project between Hepburn Health Service, Deakin University and the Australian Catholic University, funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Health and Ageing and Health Workforce Australia.
The Australian Catholic University received $250,000 through Health Workforce Australia’s Clinical Training Funding program to build one of the units, which will be used by nursing students.
The undergraduate nurses will work with the Hepburn Health Service in a number of settings, including aged care, community health, hospital and primary care.
Deakin University received $577,000 from the Department of Health and Ageing to build two units that will house medical students undertaking clinical training placements at the Springs Medical Centre in Daylesford.
Hepburn Health Service contributed an additional $50,000 and the land on which the units have been built to the project.
Ms King, who is also the Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories, said clinical training placements enabled students to develop their clinical skills through on-the-job training.
“This accommodation will allow nursing and medical students to come to this regional community, gain important hands-on clinical training experience and complete a vital step towards professional qualification,” Ms King said.
“There is growing evidence that shows graduates are more likely to remain in the region where they are trained because they are familiar with the area.
“This accommodation is a chance for the community to showcase itself as a place for new, vibrant and trained health professionals to work and live.
“A significant number of these facilities have been built in rural and regional Australia.
“A lack of suitable accommodation has been a significant barrier to clinical placements occurring in the rural health services of the Grampians region.
“Through this project, we are able to provide students with safe, comfortable and convenient accommodation while on clinical placement with Hepburn Health Service.”