A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its education partners in the Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health (UDRH).

Spanning central and southern NSW, the Three Rivers UDRH focusses on the recruitment and retention of nursing, midwifery, allied health, and dental professionals in rural and remote Australia.

Key facts:

- Three Rivers UDRH education partners are CSU, The University of Notre Dame Australia, University of NSW and Western Sydney University.

- A MoU was signed at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 14 March by the four consortium education partners.

- The aims include: to implement programs to lift the number of rural people enrolled in health courses; boost the number and quality of rural training placements for students through the Clinical Training Unit known as the ‘Positively Rural’ program; work with Indigenous partners to see more Aboriginal people in health education; and to conduct collaborative research by the education partners through telehealth technology.

Three Rivers UDRH Director Professor Megan Smith, said, “This MoU is important because it represents our shared commitment to rural health.

“We value the rights of our families, friends and communities to good health. The challenge for us as education providers is to work together and prepare our graduates to be an effective workforce for the region.

“The Three Rivers UDRH has already achieved a growth in accommodation options for students on placement in key locations such as Griffith and Dubbo.

“We want students to have positive experiences in our rural communities and it is important to support their welfare as well as their education by giving them access to things like accommodation.”

Background

CSU was named in April, 2017 as the University to lead the Three Rivers UDRH which is funded through the federal Coalition's Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training program.

The Three Rivers UDRH covers CSU's regional footprint, and both the Murrumbidgee and Western Local Health District Primary Health Networks.