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USC gains $3.43 million for health training
The University of the Sunshine Coast has received more than $3.4 million in Commonwealth funding to be spent from this year to the end of 2013 to boost the region’s health workforce.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the University had already started an implementation schedule following the recent approval under Health Workforce Australia’s (HWA’s) Clinical Training Funding Program.
HWA was set up by the Council of Australian Governments to coordinate planning to meet the future challenges of providing a skilled, flexible and innovative national health workforce that meets the needs of communities.
Professor Hill said USC was ideally placed to fulfil the aims of the program.
“In terms of education and geography, USC is at the centre of this fast-growing region with its burgeoning health needs and the huge new public and private hospital precinct to be built at Kawana,” he said.
“USC is continuing to expand student enrolments in its health-related degrees while ensuring graduates are trained to the highest standards to fill new jobs and broaden expertise in the Sunshine Coast community.
“This three-year project will fund big increases in the availability of supervised clinical training positions in local workplaces to cater for higher student numbers. For example, the places available for students of midwifery will triple by 2013.”
Six professions served by USC degrees are targeted: Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Psychology (Clinical), Nursing, Paramedic Science and Medical Laboratory Science.
Professor Hill said the money would assist the coordination of placement programs, enhance the preparation of students before attending placements and provide more resources for the professional development of USC staff and workplace clinical supervisors.
“It’s designed to boost USC students’ practical experience and enhance their graduate attributes,” he said.
Placement providers will include Queensland Health, Blue Care, Churches of Christ, CRS Australia, Ozcare, Regis Group, Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim and USC.
The University also will work cooperatively with Integration Regional Training Networks.
— Julie Gatehouse