Up to an additional 250 medical, nursing and allied health students are expected to be trained in Tasmania each year by 2013 following a $4.5 million commitment for new clinical training infrastructure across the state.
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot and Member for Lyons Dick Adams today toured the Deloraine Hospital which will receive funding to provide students with access to virtual training centres, additional training rooms and accommodation for students in clinical training.
Minister Elliot said: “We believe hard working Australians deserve better. Better health services and better aged care services and that is why we are getting on with the job of reforming our health, hospitals and aged care system.
“We are increasing the numbers of doctors and nurses and improving training for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
“This initiative is one way we are working hard to provide more doctors and nurses. It will help support our additional 1200 GP training places and 1,100 nurses,” Minister Elliot said.
The $4.5 million is being provided through the Gillard Government’s $90 million Innovative Clinical Teaching and Training Grants (ICTTG) program. The program is designed to use innovative models to increase the number of health professionals receiving clinical training.
More than 400 applications for funding were received with total funding requested in excess of $900 million.
Mr Adams said: “A strong economy and decisive action by the Government during the global financial crisis has enabled these important investments to be made, providing a fairer share and more support for Australian families.
“This initiative will allow an extra 128 students to be housed in regional areas each year while they are training, helping to recruit and retain doctors and nurses in areas that we need them most.
“The Gillard Government is determined to deliver better health care and today’s announcement is great news for patients, families and students in Tasmania,” Mr Adams said.
Deloraine Hospital will become one of five new Rural Interprofessional Clinical Education and Training Centres (RICETCs) to deliver the training across regional Tasmania. The four others to be developed are Queenstown, Smithton, St Helens and Oatlands.
Souce: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
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