New Shepparton medical school
Tue 19 April 2011
The Health Minister David Davis today officially opened new state-of-the-art medical training facilities in Shepparton and a University of Melbourne GP clinic.
Mr Davis opened the GP medical centre at the University of Melbourne Rural Health Academic Centre. He also opened the Rural Health Academic Centre’s recently extended main building and the University of Melbourne and Goulburn Valley Health shared clinical training facility.
“These new facilities will play a critical role in the training of the future health workforce and improving the supply of qualified health professionals in rural and regional areas,” Mr Davis said.
“The ability for rural Victorian students to train as health professionals close to home creates opportunities to work in the local community.
“This provides a significant contribution to the health of rural communities and ensures a sustainable and well-prepared rural health workforce.”
In 2006 an additional 220 medical places were allocated to and located within rural Victoria.
Mr Davis welcomed the University of Melbourne’s commitment to train medical students that are motivated to pursue careers in regional areas.
“This new teaching school is a positive partnership between the University of Melbourne, Goulburn Valley Health and the Victorian Government to improve linkages between academic education, research and clinical services,” Mr Davis said.
The Government has allocated $1.2 million to establish the University of Melbourne Rural Health Academic Centre’s Shepparton Medical Centre. It has also allocated $528,000 to establish the shared specialist clinical facility on the Goulburn Valley Health site.
“These new teaching facilities will be integral to the delivery of clinical training, in particular for the medical students that are located at the Melbourne University Rural Health Academic Centre.
“The new medical centre will improve access to GP services in the region, whilst the additional tutorial rooms and teaching spaces will enable students, graduates and staff to learn within state-of-the-art training facilities.
