2005 Media Releases
Tuesday, 6 December 2005
La Trobe and Ballarat Universities Lodge Bid for First Regional Medical School
La Trobe University and the University of Ballarat are stepping up their push to establish the first regional medical school in Victoria.
The Universities have formally lodged a joint submission with the Federal Government detailing their proposed model for a Regional Medical School
to alleviate the growing shortage of doctors in regional and rural areas.
The two Universities have announced they will contribute $29Million in funding over three years to establish the Regional Medical School based at Ballarat and Bendigo and are seeking a further $34Million in State and Federal funding.
If successful, the Universities plan to introduce a new four-year graduate entry program in 2008 with an annual intake of 100 students with 50 enrolled at each University campus. The aim is to have a full complement of 200 students enrolled at each campus after four years.
Announcing the joint bid, La Trobe University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Development), Bob Goddard and University of Ballarat Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kerry Cox, called on the regional community, businesses and organisations to get behind the proposal.
Professor Cox said there was a desperate shortage of medical professionals in regional Victoria.
“We need to train doctors who are willing to work in regional areas and the way to do that is train them in the regions.”
Mr Goddard said the impact of a new Regional Medical School on the regional economies of Ballarat and Bendigo would be dramatic.
“The School would generate 25 new staff positions at each University once fully operation. In addition, a team of regional and rural general practitioners will be formally trained by the Universities to be employed as teachers.
“During the short term construction phase, total growth in the Bendigo and Ballarat regional economies will be $82 million and 470 jobs will be created.
“In the longer term, both economies will grow by some $20Million annually, creating around 130 new jobs in each city.”
Professor Cox.said the missions of the University of Ballarat and La Trobe University had a very strong regional focus.
“We have the largest regional presence of all Victorian universities and are uniquely placed to establish a truly regional and rural medical school.
“The great strength of the University of Ballarat/ La Trobe University partnership is the strong and enduring links both universities have with regional hospitals and healthcare providers throughout Victoria through their existing health science programs.
“This partnership and the curriculum to be used will embed the entire medical program within the regional and rural health community.
“We are putting forward a very strong proposal that will deliver significant benefits to regional Victoria.”
He said a joint planning committee had been established, co-chaired by the Universities’ Vice Chancellors to progress the initiative.
“The next step is to establish a Regional Advisory Committee to ensure community involvement in the Regional Medical School’s development.
“Membership will be drawn equally from Ballarat and Bendigo and include representation from other key regional centres in Victoria.”
A Medical Liaison Committee will also be established to work closely with regional hospitals and general practitioners and with existing providers of medical education in the Goldfields.
SUMMARY OF THE LA TROBE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT PROPOSAL
The Model
Four-year graduate entry program with an annual intake of 100 students from 2008.
Funding
• Combined, the University of Ballarat and La Trobe University will contribute $29M over three years.
• The proposal seeks:
1. $17M grants from both the Federal and Victorian Governments over three years for infrastructure
2. 40 Commonwealth-supported medical places in 2008 rising to 160 places in 2011
3. Agreement for La Trobe University to adjust its student profile to accommodate another 160 places by 2011
4. Agreement to an additional 20 full fee-paying places in 2008 rising to 80 places in 2001
5. Access to Federal Government funded medical training programs in rural and regional areas.
Curriculum
• Community oriented and community based model adapted from the Wollongong University (Sheffield University model) curriculum and shaped by regional and rural GPs and specialists
• The Regional Medical School will:
1. Recruit students from the local and other Australian regional and rural
areas
2. Teach students in the local area
3. Use local GPs and specialists to teach
4. Teach medicine with an understanding of rural health and rural health services with an emphasis on primary care
Research
• National centre of excellence in regional and rural health research to be established
• Will draw on La Trobe University’s strong biosciences and health sciences capabilities (recognised as 86th in the world in the UK Times Higher Education Supplement rankings)
• Will draw on the University of Ballarat’s strong telecommunications research profile
Indigenous Education
• Strong commitment to Indigenous education and pathways into medical and health related degrees
Unique Partnership
• One School run across two Universities
• Combined responsibility for higher education delivery across most of the west, north-west, north and north-east of Victoria – home to over 600,000 people, one-third of whom live in Bendigo and Ballarat
• Existing health science programs at both universities have strong links with health care providers across this area
• Largest regional presence of all Victorian universities means both are uniquely placed to establish a truly regional and rural medical school
• Most key subjects and courses already offered by both Universities
• 70% per cent of students enrolled at the University of Ballarat and at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus are from the immediate area and 83% are from rural and regional areas.
• Ease of staff and student mobility between Ballarat and Bendigo
• Joint Medical Liaison Committee will work with regional hospitals, GPs, specialists and existing providers of local medical education – the University of Melbourne and Monash University – to ensure complementarity of education programs.
Local Community Support
• Strongly supported by community groups, human service agencies and local business in Ballarat and Bendigo and regional towns and rural areas where students will train and work
• Both Ballarat and Bendigo economies will grow by some $20M annually creating around 130 new jobs in each city