• Griffith health services receive boost with new health student accommodation
• Students completing rural health clinical placements to feel welcomed and supported
• Students receive taste of living and working in regional Australia

Griffith will see a greater focus on improving health services available locally with the official opening of the first health student accommodation to be located in the Riverina town.

Operated by the Charles Sturt University Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health (UDRH), the accommodation aims to increase the opportunities for a range of health students to undertake clinical placements in Griffith and surrounding towns in western NSW.

The site will be officially opened by The Hon. Sussan Ley, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories and Federal Member for Farrer, at 10am on Friday 10 May.

Three Rivers URDH director, Ms Chris Howard, said the accommodation will assist students to undertake placements required to become professionals in nursing, midwifery allied health and dentistry.

“The healthcare workforce is of major concern in our region, with universities and government agencies working hard to ensure there are adequate training positions and opportunities for students to experience living and working ‘in the bush’,” Ms Howard said.

“We want to encourage more health professionals to live, study and work in regional Australia.

“One way we can do this is to ensure students completing a work placement for one of our courses for the health professions feel welcomed, supported and connected to others.”

The student accommodation will be located at 15 Gallipoli Street in Griffith.

Three Rivers UDRH is a Commonwealth Department of Health initiative designed to increase the recruitment and retention of health professionals in regional Australia. It is an alliance that combines the geographical knowledge and expertise of Charles Sturt University and its partners Western Sydney University, The University of Notre Dame and University of NSW.

“Charles Sturt University and the consortium education partners understand the rural health agenda, as we teach, research and live in rural and regional areas,” Ms Howard said.

Event details

Date: Friday 10 May

Time: 10am to 11am

Location: Three Rivers UDRH Student Accommodation, 15 Gallipoli Street, Griffith.