Treasurer opens $13.8m Health and Sport Centre
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan praised the University of the Sunshine Coast’s commitment to the region when he officially opened its $13.8 million Health and Sport Centre on Saturday 26 July.
About 150 people attended the opening ceremony of the five-storey centre that will be used to train many of the Sunshine Coast’s future health professionals and boost community health.
Mr Swan said the Federal Government was impressed by USC’s strong commitment to community engagement and its dedication to finding new ways to benefit the region.
“We’re delighted to be partners in the provision of funding for this building and with your objectives of setting the University up for health and sport,” he said.
“I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen so far at the University of the Sunshine Coast.”
Mr Swan, whose career has included 12 years as a university lecturer in Brisbane, said education was a matter that was close to his heart.
“Education is the engine room of opportunity and fairness,” he said. “It enables us to share opportunities fairly around Australia.”
The opening ceremony also included speeches by USC’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM and Head of School of Health and Sport Sciences Professor John Lowe, who both spoke about the University’s role in providing future health care experts for the region.
The Health and Sport Centre – built over the past nine months by the Evans Harch Group – was funded by government and private funds, including donations to USC’s ongoing Building Excellence Campaign.
It has state-of-the-art testing and research laboratories, a gymnasium and purpose-built teaching spaces for a range of degrees including biomedical science, paramedic science, occupational therapy, nursing science, sport science, nutrition and dietetics, psychology and public health.
A key feature of the Health and Sport Centre is a public psychology clinic that will offer treatment and assessment for a wide range of mental health problems and disorders experienced by adults, adolescents and children.
— Terry Walsh