• The state-of-the-art clinical training facilities Charles Sturt University has built at the Bloomfield Medical Centre in Orange are now complete
• The facilities are part of the Charles Sturt Health Sciences Clinical Learning Centre and will support students in the Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University Joint Program in Medicine
• The Hon. Mark Coulton, Hon. Andrew Gee, and National Rural Health Commissioner, Professor Ruth Stewart, were among the first to tour the centre at a special event held this week

Charles Sturt University’s newest clinical training centre located in the heart of Orange’s health precinct is now complete and ready for use by the University’s inaugural Medicine cohort.

The Charles Sturt University Health Sciences Clinical Learning Centre, which is located on the first level of the Bloomfield Medical Centre (pictured), will support the training of students in the Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University  Joint Program in Medicine (JPM).

The centre has been built by Charles Sturt to accommodate a range of the University’s medical education services within its Doctor of Medicine, including introductions to clinical Medicine and tutorial sessions, as well as professional development activities for clinicians and medical educators in the Central West.

It includes conference rooms, six breakout rooms, and four clinical skills rooms for training. Students also have access to modern kitchen and informal study facilities.

Charles Sturt hosted a special tour of the new centre on Wednesday 10 March.

The event was attended by the Hon. Mark Coulton, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government and Member for Parkes; the Hon. Andrew Gee, Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education and Member for Calare; Professor Ruth Stewart, National Rural Health Commissioner for Australia; and a number of the University’s staff and students.

Minister Coulton said, "The medical school and associated training facilities are important because we know if we can get more students to study in regional Australia, they are more likely to want to live, work and raise a family in regional Australia at the completion of their training.

“These doctors will better understand the specific health needs of rural communities – and that is of immense importance to patients and their families.”

Minister Gee said he was delighted to be meeting face-to-face with the region’s leading medical minds of the future.

“This brand new medical school which we are touring today will continue to transform not only the lives of our regional students, but the communities and economies of Orange and the Central West for generations to come,” Mr Gee said. 

“The doctors who graduate from Charles Sturt University will go on to anchor medical services in the bush and help ensure that our country communities have a future through the vital healthcare they will provide.

“This is a real example of people power securing a fantastic outcome. We fought hard for this facility and it’s a great pleasure to be celebrating these early and important milestones with the community.”

Dean in the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine Professor Lesley Forster said the University was delighted to show Minister Coulton, Minister Gee and Professor Stewart its newest medical training facilities.

“The event was a valuable opportunity for Charles Sturt University to show the Ministers and Commissioner the initiatives and actions we are taking, in partnership with Western Sydney University, to advance healthcare in rural and regional Australia,” Professor Forster said.

“Our Bloomfield site will provide our staff and students with access to an even greater number of state-of-the-art facilities and clinical training equipment and will strengthen our engagement with the Central West’s medical profession. 

“By building this centre, it demonstrates Charles Sturt University’s commitment to providing the highest quality of training to our students, so they are equipped to meet the unique medical needs of communities across rural and regional Australia.”

During the Ministers’ visit they met with several Medicine students at Charles Sturt’s Orange campus and toured the on-campus Medicine facilities.

They also inspected the almost complete $22 million Academic and Research Hub, which is the centrepiece of the JPM in Orange.

This Hub will also house the Institute for Regional, Rural and Remote Health and Medical Research.

Charles Sturt in conjunction with Western Sydney University received $18 million in Federal Government funding to establish the research institute as part of their JPM.

The Bloomfield Medical Centre comprises of six levels and includes state-of-the-art operating theatres, a hospital ward, facilities for general practitioners and medical specialists, a pharmacy and a café.

Construction of the Academic and Research Hub is scheduled to be completed later this month.

The JPM has received funding from the Australian Government under the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network.