The Deputy Prime Minister, Wayne Swan, and Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, today announced a new $4.9 million investment in a medical training facility in Chermside.
A clinical school will be built at Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital which will provide multidisciplinary training for doctors, nurses and physician assistants.
During a visit to the hospital today, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Ageing announced that the Australian Government would provide up to $4.9 million for the project.
Mr Swan and Ms Roxon congratulated the not-for-profit Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital for embracing innovative clinical teaching and training in acute care.
The new multidisciplinary clinical school will increase the hospital's clinical training capacity for undergraduate students and increase the academic support available to students.
It will include a range of simulation equipment to enable students to undertake clinical and academic training outside clinical settings. Facilities will also enable students to watch procedures in the operating theatres via audio-visual equipment.
The University of Queensland, the Australian Catholic University and the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE will be partners in the new clinical school.
The new facilities are expected to be completed in mid 2012.
Improved and expanded education and training for health and medical professionals is an essential ingredient of the Australian Government's investment in a better health system for all Australians.
The Government's strong management of the economy has enabled it to undertake significant reforms to the health and hospital system and increase the health and ageing budget by 8.8 per cent, including $7.4 billion in additional funding over five years.