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Prime Minister announces UNE Rural Medical School
July 13, 2006
“We are delighted by the Prime Minister’s announcement and look forward to establishing the UNE Rural Medical School”, was an initial reaction by UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew on hearing the good news last night.
The University of New England and The University of Newcastle welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement indicating the Australian Government's support for an additional 80 Commonwealth-supported medical places for the Universities to establish a joint medical program.
This commitment, to be discussed at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), involves the funding of 80 places for medical students, and $3 million in capital funding to establish the program. The Commonwealth's offer rests on outcomes to be agreed at the COAG meeting.
Earlier this year, the two universities and the Hunter New England Area Health Service proposed to the Australian Government that it provide up to 80 additional Commonwealth-supported medical student places each year from 2008 for a joint medical program, of which 60 will be enrolled at The University of New England and 20 at the University of Newcastle.
Professor Alan Pettigrew, Vice-Chancellor of The University of New England, said, "I am delighted that the Australian Government recognises the merit of our joint proposal, and the benefits of having rural-trained graduates.
"This is an exciting development for The University of New England," Professor Pettigrew continued. "It will help us move into a new phase of working to support regional Australia.
"This project represents a national vision combining the reputation and strengths of Australia's oldest regional University and the experience of a highly regarded urban-based medical school. The program will deliver up to 80 new medical practitioners into the workforce each year who have been trained - and are therefore more likely to stay - in a rural setting."
Professor Pettigrew recognised the support of the Australian Government Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, and Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, for the proposal, and their "faith in the ability of our two Universities to deliver something really effective".
Professor Nicholas Saunders, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, said the joint medical course was a first for Australia.
"Never before has a medical program been run across two universities. This innovative approach to ease Australia's chronic health workforce shortage provides medical students with rural opportunities with a high quality regional university, and urban opportunities with a high quality city university. We will provide medical students with the best of both worlds.
“The program will attract medical students to the area by capitalising on The University of New England's strong rural standing and expertise in delivering nursing, health, and science programs, and the University of Newcastle's highly respected medical course - one of the first in Australia to emphasise rural medicine." The Universities aim to include a significant cohort of Indigenous students in the program.
The Prime Minister's announcement also included provision at the University of Newcastle for 118 new health related places, six clinical psychology places and 60 mental health nursing places. The University of New England has also received provision for an additional 20 nursing, 12 clinical psychology, and 20 mental health nursing places.
Mr Howard's announcement follows a commitment last month by the NSW Government to support the project.
Photo Caption:
Acting Head of the UNE School of Nursing, Dr. Mary Cruickshank and UNE Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Alan Pettigrew inspect model patients in UNE's Clinical Nursing Laboratory.
Media contacts:
UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, 02 67732144
UNE Executive Dean of The Faculty of Health Education and Professional Studies, Professor Victor Minichiello 02 67733862
Director, UNE Marketing and Public Affairs, Ms Ingrid Rothe 02 6773 3402
Posted by Jim Scanlan at July 13, 2006 03:21 PM from http://www.une.edu.au/news/archives/000542.html
July 13, 2006
“We are delighted by the Prime Minister’s announcement and look forward to establishing the UNE Rural Medical School”, was an initial reaction by UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew on hearing the good news last night.The University of New England and The University of Newcastle welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement indicating the Australian Government's support for an additional 80 Commonwealth-supported medical places for the Universities to establish a joint medical program.
This commitment, to be discussed at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), involves the funding of 80 places for medical students, and $3 million in capital funding to establish the program. The Commonwealth's offer rests on outcomes to be agreed at the COAG meeting.
Earlier this year, the two universities and the Hunter New England Area Health Service proposed to the Australian Government that it provide up to 80 additional Commonwealth-supported medical student places each year from 2008 for a joint medical program, of which 60 will be enrolled at The University of New England and 20 at the University of Newcastle.
Professor Alan Pettigrew, Vice-Chancellor of The University of New England, said, "I am delighted that the Australian Government recognises the merit of our joint proposal, and the benefits of having rural-trained graduates.
"This is an exciting development for The University of New England," Professor Pettigrew continued. "It will help us move into a new phase of working to support regional Australia.
"This project represents a national vision combining the reputation and strengths of Australia's oldest regional University and the experience of a highly regarded urban-based medical school. The program will deliver up to 80 new medical practitioners into the workforce each year who have been trained - and are therefore more likely to stay - in a rural setting."
Professor Pettigrew recognised the support of the Australian Government Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, and Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, for the proposal, and their "faith in the ability of our two Universities to deliver something really effective".
Professor Nicholas Saunders, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, said the joint medical course was a first for Australia.
"Never before has a medical program been run across two universities. This innovative approach to ease Australia's chronic health workforce shortage provides medical students with rural opportunities with a high quality regional university, and urban opportunities with a high quality city university. We will provide medical students with the best of both worlds.
“The program will attract medical students to the area by capitalising on The University of New England's strong rural standing and expertise in delivering nursing, health, and science programs, and the University of Newcastle's highly respected medical course - one of the first in Australia to emphasise rural medicine." The Universities aim to include a significant cohort of Indigenous students in the program.
The Prime Minister's announcement also included provision at the University of Newcastle for 118 new health related places, six clinical psychology places and 60 mental health nursing places. The University of New England has also received provision for an additional 20 nursing, 12 clinical psychology, and 20 mental health nursing places.
Mr Howard's announcement follows a commitment last month by the NSW Government to support the project.
Photo Caption:
Acting Head of the UNE School of Nursing, Dr. Mary Cruickshank and UNE Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Alan Pettigrew inspect model patients in UNE's Clinical Nursing Laboratory.
Media contacts:
UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, 02 67732144
UNE Executive Dean of The Faculty of Health Education and Professional Studies, Professor Victor Minichiello 02 67733862
Director, UNE Marketing and Public Affairs, Ms Ingrid Rothe 02 6773 3402
Posted by Jim Scanlan at July 13, 2006 03:21 PM from http://www.une.edu.au/news/archives/000542.html