Charles Sturt University (CSU) is set to implement a major expansion of its Allied Health Clinic in Albury, with nearly $5 million from the Federal Government.

 

Federal Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, The Hon. Simon Crean, will announce the funding at CSU in Albury-Wodonga at 9.30am on Thursday 4 November.

 

CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter, said the funding will allow the University to build a new health facility next to the dental clinic recently completed on its Thurgoona site.

 

“The new ‘Health Clinical Training Facility’ will include a surgical suite, primary health care spaces as well as training spaces and additional health teaching spaces for Charles Sturt University students and staff, while sharing facilities with the adjoining dental clinic,” Professor Goulter said.

 

“The facility will allow Charles Sturt University to significantly expand opportunities for our nursing, allied health and dental students to do their placements in regional Australia. We have shown that students educated in regional areas are more likely to subsequently practice their professions in regional areas, so we continue to address the health workforce shortages in the regions.”

 

Acting Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science, Associate Professor Julia Coyle, said the new facility will enhance the readiness of CSU students to work across regional Australia.

 

“The reality for health professionals in Australia, such as physiotherapists, speech pathologists, podiatrists, occupational therapists and nurses, is that they need to be able to effectively work in interdisciplinary teams. Effective team practice has been shown to enhance client care. Being able to work collaboratively is even more vital in rural and remote areas, which is an important focus for Charles Sturt University’s approach to health education” Professor Coyle said.

 

“The University has already piloted a number of inter-professional clinical training programs with podiatry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students. In the new facility our students will work in teams, allowing them to appreciate the roles and responsibilities of the various professions and preparing them for their work in the ‘real world’.”

 

CSU will also contribute to the project by building an additional six-room residence for CSU students from its other campuses to undertake training in the facility.

 

“The existing clinic on our former Albury City site is too small to include all our health students in interdisciplinary education and too far from our Thurgoona site to effectively use the other facilities already available there, such as the new movement analysis laboratory. We are really looking forward to our move to Thurgoona,” Professor Coyle said.