The Australian National University, the University of Canberra and the Southern General Practice Network have received joint funding of $31 million to improve medical care infrastructure in the Canberra region.

 

Awarded by the Department of Health and Ageing’s Health and Hospitals Fund, the funding will go towards upgrading clinical and training facilities in Moruya, Bega and Cooma. The project will also develop e-Health infrastructure to support shared medical records, local workforce education and specialist tele-health services for patients.  

 

Dean of the ANU Medical School Professor Nicholas Glasgow said the partnership has a strong focus on training medical, nursing, pharmacy and allied health students as future health professionals who will work in the region.

 

“The generous funds that are being provided by the Federal Government will support essential infrastructure including accommodation for medical and other health professional students training in the region, new clinical facilities and educational infrastructure” he said.

 

“It will also result in enhanced opportunities for our medical students to experience practice in rural and regional Australia. It provides really exciting opportunities for our students to work with students in other health disciplines, developing inter-professional working relationships across health disciplines.

 

Construction of the new training facilities will commence this year and is expected to be completed by 2014.