The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP
Assistant Minister for Health
Member for Lyne
The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Agriculture & Water Resources
Member for New England
Work is progressing on the establishment of the North-West New South Wales Regional Training Hub which will provide medical students the ability to study, work and live in Tamworth, Armidale and Taree.
Assistant Minister for Health, Dr David Gillespie, said that significant progress has been made in establishing the Hubs, and the University of Newcastle will look to build local rural pathways into the long term medical workforce while targeting specific areas with identified shortages.
“University of Newcastle has signed on to the project, and is meeting with local health and medical providers about this new program,” Minister Gillespie said.
“The Tamworth, Armidale and Taree hubs will work with healthcare providers, specialist colleges and local health authorities to develop training pathways for our future doctors.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Mr Barnaby Joyce, said each hub will receive initial funding of around $1 million to 31 December 2018.
“This initiative will create more jobs within the University of Newcastle for the operation of Regional Training Hubs.
“This initiative will create more jobs within the University, and training investments like Regional Training Hubs are essential to the health workforce of regions like Tamworth, Armidale and Taree into the future,” Mr Joyce said.
“This Coalition Government initiative supports high quality rural placements for health students from across Australia, to help ensure rural communities have access to doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in the future,” Minister Gillespie said.
“Supporting rural health training is an important way to address rural health workforce shortages.
“I’d particularly like to acknowledge the work and strong advocacy Barnaby Joyce has played in arguing the case for a Regional Training Hub in the region,” Dr Gillespie said.
“These initiatives will help the Coalition Government deliver on its commitment to provide first rate health and medical services to all Australians – regardless of where they live.”
(ENDS)