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USC signs agreement with Health Service District
The University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast and Cooloola Health Service District have joined forces in an innovative effort to create a healthier future for the region.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM and SCCHSD District Manager Kevin Hegarty signed an agreement on Friday 1 June to work together for the future health care needs of residents from Caloundra to Gympie.
The agreement will bring about strong job opportunities for graduates, shared research endeavours, University membership of the Health Service District’s planning committees and joint appointments in nursing and allied health areas.
A key objective of the agreement is to reduce the need for acute hospital care by taking a holistic approach to developing healthy communities.
Professor Thomas said the agreement formalised the existing relationship between the two organisations and provided for some exciting cooperative opportunities, particularly with a new hospital planned for Kawana Waters.
“We’re looking at best models elsewhere in the world and we want to make the outcomes of this agreement world-class,” he said.
Professor Thomas said USC’s range of programs in Sport and Exercise Science, Nursing Science, Health Promotion, Nutrition and Psychology – as well as further planned allied health care programs – would contribute to the goal of developing healthy communities and promoting “productive ageing”.
“We can’t go on investing in hospitals without also looking at how to keep people out of hospitals,” he said.
Mr Hegarty said he was keen to utilise the University’s expertise in health promotion and primary health care, both through its researchers and its graduates.
“We want to make sure students flow from the University’s allied health care programs directly into our workforce,” he said.
“We have a demand for more nurses and, with our facilities expanding, we are in a very fortunate situation where the need for nurses is increasing.
“The University has experts in health promotion and in making sure people have the chance to improve and manage their lifestyles, so they won’t necessarily need the acute health care services.”
Mr Hegarty said the Sunshine Coast & Cooloola Health Service District and USC had common challenges that could be best met by working together.
“It takes time for interventions to change lifestyle,” he said. “It is important that we act now, so the community can reap the benefits as soon as possible.”