Mrs Audrey Hardman, OAM, Co-Chair of the Community Consultative Committee for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) proposed medical and health education precinct, will launch the Doctors4theBush website and Facebook page in Orange tonight.

 

 “At the first meeting of the Community Consultative Committee we agreed that it was critical that we engage with rural communities about the rural doctor shortage, and the benefits of Charles Sturt University’s proposal,” said Mrs Hardman.

 

“We initially thought about doing a regular newsletter that would keep people informed. But we quickly realised that while this was a good way of getting information out, it was not going to get the rural communities actively involved in the initiative.

 

“The online initiative includes two web sites.

 

“The Doctors4theBush web site sets out the issues and Charles Sturt University’s planned solution.

 

“The Doctors4theBush Facebook page gives rural Australians a unique opportunity to post their views and comments, as well as share their stories and ideas with the Committee and each other. 

 

“Committee members and others will post news and provide comments, and the University can let rural communities know how the initiative is progressing.

 

“Rural people and others can also sign an electronic petition calling on the federal government to back Charles Sturt University’s proposed rural medical and health school.

 

“Engaging across rural communities is important because we know from Charles Sturt University’s experience with veterinary science that it attracts students from across rural Australia, and that those rural graduates go back to work right around the country.

 

“It is therefore a proposal that will create new opportunities for rural students, and deliver new doctors and health professionals, right across rural Australia.

 

“Charles Sturt University’s proposal is therefore a solution that rural communities around Australia can embrace. If successful, we believe it is a model that can be developed and implemented in other rural communities as well. 

 

“The value of this online initiative goes beyond the specific support we can give to Charles Sturt University’s medical school proposal. 

 

“Rural Australians are 30 per cent of the population. By working together, we have an opportunity to show the Government that our priorities cannot be ignored or placed in a queue.

 

“If we can make this work, it will become a template for engaging across rural communities and building bridges to get solutions that can benefit all rural Australians.

 

 “On behalf of the Committee and the University, I invite all rural Australians to support this initiative by becoming a Facebook friend and signing our online petition,” Mrs Hardman said.

 

CSU submitted a detailed proposal to the federal government to gain support for the establishment of an Integrated Health and Medical Education Precinct in Orange, and a Medical and Health Services Precinct in Bathurst, that will serve the communities of rural NSW. The proposal aims to provide medical and health training for students and boost the number of health professionals for rural Australia and redress the shortage of doctors in the bush.

 

CSU health programs are delivered across six rural locations in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Griffith, Orange and Wagga Wagga.