The University of Queensland has opened its new medical training centre in Rockhampton, which aims to combat the growing medical workforce shortage in regional and rural areas.

 

The $4 million Health Sciences Learning and Discovery Centre is a joint venture between the University of Queensland and the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services.

 

The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as a Clinical Simulation and Immersion Unit.

 

UQ Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Debbie Terry said the University was proud to play a part in improving the health of people in rural and remote Australia. 



“Almost 100 UQ students who graduate to become doctors this year will have had a year or two of rural training,” Professor Terry said. 



“Because of this training, they will be more than twice as likely as other graduates to become rural doctors, and nearly four times as likely to practice in a remote location,” Professor Terry said. 



“Australian Government support is absolutely vital for UQ's rural medical training, as is the collaboration of Queensland Health, and I thank both governments for their ongoing partnership with UQ.” 

 

UQ's Head of the Rural Clinical School Professor Geoff Nicholson said this new Centre will provide a substantial boost to multidisciplinary health training capacity in the Central Queensland region. 



“Providing local learning, training and research opportunities has been shown to enhance and sustain the local health care workforce,” Professor Nicholson said.