New Labor-funded accommodation opened today in Ballarat will help make the region a more attractive destination for medical students and provide a long term health benefit to the region.
Federal Member for Ballarat and Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King said the project was part of the former Labor Government’s investment of $6.2 million across the Ballarat region to provide accommodation for medical students.
“This investment makes it even more attractive for a greater range of postgraduate medical students to come and train in our region,” Ms King said.
“While they are training the students make an important contribution to our major hospitals and medical facilities, helping them provide the very best service to the people of that region.
“The experience medical students have during their time here will encourage them to stay and practice in Ballarat and other regional areas.”
Funding provided by the former Labor government to the University of Melbourne and Deakin University was combined to develop eight energy efficient townhouses in Alfredton, providing 32 beds.
The townhouses will accommodate medical, nursing and allied health students close to the main training site at the Ballarat Health Service, with rooms for both single students, and those with partners and families.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Health Stephen Jones, who joined Ms King at the launch said the new accommodation is a demonstration of Labor’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure and resources in regional Australia.
“Labor is committed to ensuring all Australians have access to the very best in health care and this investment is part of delivering on that,” Mr Jones said.
“It’s now well established that when students train in regional and rural areas, they are much more likely to practice there when they graduate.
“The accommodation Labor helped fund for medical students throughout this and other regional areas will help maintain a high quality health workforce across Regional Australia.”