In a strategic move expected to have significant positive impacts on long term health outcomes of communities in the central and far western regions, Vice-Chancellor and President Ian Goulter yesterday announced a $6 million expansion of the University’s health education programs at Charles Sturt University in Orange.

 

Under the plan, Charles Sturt University will offer two new degrees in Orange in 2010: Physiotherapy and Health and Rehabilitation Science. The University will admit 40 students to the new Physiotherapy program and 20 students to the new Health and Rehabilitation Science program in 2010. The aim is to increase the intake for the Health and Rehabilitation Science Course to 50 students a year.

 

According to the most recently published NSW Physiotherapy Labour Force Survey (2006), the Greater Western area of NSW had the lowest ratio of physiotherapists to population in the State, with just 116 registered physiotherapists. There are just 34.4 physiotherapists per 100,000 of population in the Greater West, compared to more than 80 per 100,000 in Northern Sydney-Central Coast area.

 

Physiotherapy and Health and Rehabilitation Science are currently offered only at Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga. This expansion to Orange will also help the University to meet student demand for these courses from regional and metropolitan students. The University has consulted with the Australian Physiotherapy Council about the planned expansion as Physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University is a fully accredited course.

 

Professor Goulter said: “These specialities will further consolidate Charles Sturt University in Orange as a distinct interprofessional health science hub. This will benefit the region significantly when you consider that more than two-thirds of our rural-origin, on-campus health students will take up their initial employment in rural and regional communities.”

 

“It was particularly important for Charles Sturt University to act now,” he said.  “Research shows that the need for physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals will increase due to ageing populations, mobility of practitioners, attrition from the profession and emerging health conditions.”

 

“Charles Sturt University will offer the State’s only physiotherapy program west of the Great Dividing Range.

 

Consistent with its mission, Charles Sturt University committed in 2009 to investigate the expansion of allied health programs in the Central West to meet labour force needs and student demand in its Inland Health Strategy – Central Western Health Education Plan.

 

“This is a tangible example of how Charles Sturt University is responding in a practical and timely way to address health labour force needs,” said Professor Goulter.

 

“Only a local University has the long term commitment to work with the Central Western communities to deliver real solutions. We cannot rely on others to solve these serious challenges for us,” he said.

 

 

The $6 million expansion has been welcomed in Orange and across the Central West. Orange Health Service Community and Allied Health Manager Judy Lovenfosse said the University’s move to offer Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Health Science is “great for the long term”.

“We look forward to increased opportunities for our staff to participate in interprofessional networking and research through the University,” she said.

Orange City Council Mayor, Councillor Reg Kidd said: “These courses will enhance Orange as a major regional medical precinct and hopefully having training available in Orange in the health sciences will ensure sustainability of medical services in regional New South Wales.”

 

Bathurst Mayor Cr Paul Toole commended the University on the new courses, saying the move would go a long way to addressing the increasing health needs of residents across the central western region.

 

Professor Ian Goulter said: “Charles Sturt University has greatly appreciated the extraordinary support from councillors and staff at the Orange City Council, the Greater Western Area Health Service, private health practitioners and members of the community.

 

“This has been a significant and rapid expansion of our programs to include Pharmacy, Mental Health Nursing, Clinical Science, Dentistry and now Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Science at the Orange Campus.

 

“Consistent with Charles Sturt University’s far-reaching Inland Health Strategy – Central Western Health Education Plan, construction will start later this year on the Bathurst and Dubbo Dental and Oral Health Clinics and significant work is underway to develop plans to expand paramedical science and interprofessional health education in Bathurst,” he said.