2006 Media Releases
Monday, 26 June 2006
$1 million oral health teaching laboratory opened in Bendigo
Regional students wishing to study oral health therapy have been given a boost with the completion of a new 31 chair oral health teaching laboratory at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mr Daniel Andrews, today officially opened the $1million new facility on Level 3 of the Health Building at the Bendigo campus and launched the new oral health degree being delivered for the first time this year at Bendigo.
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Hal Swerissen, said the support of the Victorian Government, in partnership with Dental Health Services Victoria and Bendigo Health, was instrumental in enabling the commencement of the Bachelor of Oral Health at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus this year.
“This is only the second dental teaching facility to be launched in Australia in 60 years.
“The new 31 chair oral health laboratory has been built on the campus along with the refurbishment of the existing nursing laboratories to accommodate the oral health course. It provides a first-class environment to enable students to learn the intricate techniques of oral health therapy."
Professor Swerissen said the Bachelor of Oral Health is innovative and exciting.
“Oral Health students are studying alongside allied health students which will enable the graduates of this program to be active and knowledgeable professionals in the community."
He said some 50 people applied for the 12 places offered this year. Applicants came from a variety of backgrounds mostly from regional Victoria.
“La Trobe University is pleased to announce that 20 places will be available in 2007 and 30 places in 2008. In the next few years, the Bachelor of Oral Health has the potential to train 90 Oral Health therapists over the six semesters."
Professor Swerissen said an important feature of the course is the hands-on real-life experiences that clinical placements provide. The clinical placements utilise both public and private dental settings across Victoria.
“Plans are progressing for the development of a new ten-chair dentistry teaching clinic and pre-clinical laboratory at Bendigo Health scheduled for completion next year.
“The University has been delighted by the significant support we have received from the State Government and from Dental Health Services Victoria in providing funding for the building of the teaching clinic and support for clinical teaching and scholarships for students.”
Professor Swerissen said the program paved the way for a new generation of dental professionals trained to meet the needs of regional Victoria.
For further information:
Professor Hal Swerissen, Tel: 03 9479 1932 or email: h.swerissen@latrobe.edu.au