Multi-million dollar Federal funding investment for medical, allied health student training in Taree

The Federal Coalition Government has announced an injection of $32.9-million over three years into the University of Newcastle’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program which will train many more student doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals in Taree.

Funding for the Taree-based University of Newcastle’s Rural Clinical School and University Department of Rural Health will support 18 local staff and significantly boost the region’s health workforce. 

The investment in medical, nursing and allied health in Taree builds on the Federal Coalition Government’s $7.5-million investment in expanding university and higher education through the Taree Universities Campus.

Making the funding announcement in Taree, Federal Minister for Regional Health and Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie met with medical students at the university’s High Street centre.

Dr Gillespie said by extending the health training program for a further three years, students were being supported in a range of career paths, as well as increasing health care access for local patients.  

“In one year alone, the university’s rural training facilities in Taree hosted more than 20 trainee doctors for 12-month training placements, considerably boosting the local medical workforce,” Dr Gillespie said. 

“More than 310 nursing and allied health students also had placements in Taree.

“In the longer term, we know that training in a rural or regional area like Taree makes it more likely these students will choose to live and work outside the major cities, once they are fully qualified.

“That’s why expanding rural training is a key part our government’s strategy to increase the number of doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals serving our rural communities.”

Dr Gillespie said before the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program was created, most training across health disciplines was concentrated in the major metropolitan teaching hospitals.

He said the Government’s decision to extend the RHMT program reflected its commitment to boost the rural regional medical workforce and improve the health and wellbeing of regional communities.