More medical student places for Victoria

Website: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2006-ta-abb043.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2006&mth=4

09.04.06

We welcome the Prime Minister's announcement today that the Australian Government has committed to an additional 160 medical student places commencing in 2008 in Victoria.

The Federal Government will provide an additional 40 places to extend Monash University's medical school into Gippsland and 120 places to establish a new medical school at Deakin University in Victoria. This will enhance the delivery of health and medical services throughout Western Victoria.

Monash University will build facilities for a graduate-entry medical school at its Churchill Campus in Gippsland. Most clinical placements will be in Monash’s existing Rural Clinical Schools in the Gippsland and Loddon Mallee region. The first group of 40 students will begin in 2008.

In addition, the Australian Government will provide Monash University with $5 million this year for infrastructure, subject to a matching commitment from the Victorian Government. This will assist Monash to develop research laboratories, convert teaching spaces, upgrade facilities to support clinical placements, and expand student accommodation.

Deakin University’s medical school has been designed to meet the workforce needs of western Victoria, providing extensive clinical training in both public and private hospitals across Geelong and Western Victoria.

Students at Deakin’s medical school will enrol from 2008, subject to Australian Medical Council approval. The Government will be providing 120 new Commonwealth supported medical places from 2008. These places will grow to 480 by 2011 at a cost of around $23 million over four years.

The Australian Government will also be providing up to $18 million in capital funding for Deakin University’s medical school, subject to a matching commitment from the Victorian Government. The capital funding will be provided in 2005-06, to assist the university with its current construction of a medical and health sciences school at its Geelong Campus.

Deakin’s new medical school will provide opportunities for students from Western Victoria who wish to study medicine and also benefit the local community by providing medical professionals who have grown up in the local area.

Deakin’s program will draw on the teaching opportunities and capacity provided by health services that serve the 600,000 people who live in the Barwon South Western and the Grampians regions of Victoria and will attract students from elsewhere looking to develop skills to practice rural and regional medicine.

"The Commonwealth Government recognises that people in east and western Victoria need a medical school to give their students the opportunity to become doctors and to boost the number of doctors with skills in rural medicine," said Mr Abbott.

Like other medical school programs, a significant proportion of the new medical students would be bonded to spend a period of time after their graduation practising medicine in districts of workforce shortage, including rural locations.

"The new medical school at Deakin University provides opportunities to expand the number of doctors in western Victoria by attracting clinical teaching staff that can enrich the local community," Ms Bishop said.

"Monash University’s expansion into Gippsland will provide local training options for Gippsland students – serving the needs of the community and building the strength of local medical facilities."

This initiative is part of the Australian Government's contribution to the Council of Australian Governments package to reform Australia's health workforce. It reflects the Howard Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Australians have access to high quality medical services, while providing opportunities and choice in education for all Australians.

For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220
Ms Julie Bishop's Office: Murray Hansen 0417 886 155

 

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