The Regional Universities Network (RUN) has today welcomed the Coalition’s pledge to support more general practice doctors and healthcare workers being trained in regional Australia.
RUN Chief Executive Officer Alec Webb said that the commitment to invest $100 million into upgrading regional medical training facilities, alongside an additional 200 regionally-based medical Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), will enhance regional Australia’s capacity to develop its own critical health workforces.
“We know that when you train a GP or a healthcare worker in Australia’s regions, they are far more likely to remain working in the regions long after graduation, Mr Webb said.
“RUN universities see 70 per cent of their regional students remaining in the regions five years after graduating, establishing their careers and contributing to regional workforces.
“Conversely, only 30 per cent of regional students who relocate to the cities for their studies will ever return to work in the regions again.
“The evidence is clear – if you want to maintain a sustainable regional health workforce, the training must occur in the regions.
“Regional Australia’s hosting of strong, well-resourced and highly responsive universities is therefore a critical component in addressing the regional and rural health workforce shortage,” Mr Webb said.
The Coalition’s announcement will see Australia’s regional universities share in $100 million of funding to upgrade teaching facilities, laboratories, and student accommodation to support the training of medical, nursing and allied health workforces in regional locations.
“RUN acknowledges the Coalition’s commitment to addressing regional health workforce shortages with their announcement today, and their understanding of the key role played by regional universities in meeting these shortages,” Mr Webb said.
Regional Australia plays host to many world class universities who lead the country in producing graduates who not only demonstrate regionally-inclined career paths, but who also enjoy better graduate outcomes – rates of employment and starting salaries – that exceed the national average.
For media enquiries:
Alec Webb, Chief Executive Officer, 0408 482 736
Molly Tuy, Communications and Office Administration Assistant, 0493 890 747